WHAT: Thundertruck, Shahman, Slam Dinner
WHERE: Memphis on Main ($5)
WHEN: Tuesday, September 2nd at 8 p.m.
Canadian outfit Shahman come back through to C-U this week and are joined by a couple of bands that have been busy in recent weeks. Thundertruck is a skuzzed out garage rock outfit, and Slam Dinner is a math/emo outfit that apparently has music “coming soon” according to the Facebook event page. This is a good one at Memphis on Main happening tonight.
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WHAT: Sloths, King Worm, Slam DInner
WHERE: Dingbat Dungeon ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, September 4th at 8 p.m.
Portland’s metal/hardcore outfit Sloths (awesome name, by the way) headline this one on Thursday night in a location you’ll need to find for yourself. Springfield’s King Worm will be performing for the first time in C-U, and Slam Dinner have another show in addition to the Tuesday night show. Double duty this week for that crew.
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WHAT: Groundation, 77 Jefferson, Sneezy
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($14 advance/$16 doors)
WHEN: Thursday, September 4th at 9 p.m.
Jazz/reggae outfit Groundation hail from Sonoma County, California, and they are on a bit of a tour here and Champaign-Urbana falls in the middle.
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EDITOR’S PICK: DAVID BAZAN
Cafeteria & Company ($20) — Friday, September 5th at 8 p.m.
David Bazan is coming back through Urbana this week after performing at the same venue back in the middle of March. If you’ve never seen Bazan live, this is the time to do so, as these living room shows are done without a PA, and in front of a limited audience. Fans of Pedro the Lion should obviously be aware of this show, as this is right up your alley. Personally, I think these “living room” performances are pretty neat and intimate, so get your tickets at the link above, as there are only a few spots left for the show on Friday night.
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WHAT: Resinater, Jerkagram, Capys, Woodie
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Friday, September 5th at 9 p.m.
Resinater, a stoner rock crew featuring ex members of Hank., have been pretty busy as of late. Releasing an EP, plus performing last week for free at Cowboy Monkey, plus a handful of other shows, they are getting in a groove as of late. They’re joined by New York’s Jerkagram, local-ish outfit Capys, and locals Woodie.
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WHAT: Smookie Illson, Positive Vibr8ions, Kyral x Banko, PHNM, PsyFi
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($5 advance/$10 door)
WHEN: Friday, September 5th at 9 p.m.
The next installment of the Chalice Dubs Masquerade series at the Canopy Club is happening on Friday night. This weekend it features Smookie Illson and handful of other familiar acts that have performed in recent installments.
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WHAT: Lyle Lovett
WHERE: The Virginia Theater ($40-60)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 7:30 p.m.
Country singer-songwriting legend Lyle Lovett is taking his show, plus his Large Band, on stage at the Virginia Theater this week. Although the price is a bit steep, this should be one that you’re paying attention to this week that would be worthwhile. Lovett has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album, and his last record, Release Me, came out back in February 2012.
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WHAT: Guido Sanchez-Portuguez
WHERE: The Upper Bout ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s a performance that is scheduled at the Upper Bout on Neil Street in Champaign. Sanchez-Portuguez is an award-winning guitarist, and will be performing songs from his album Trazos, as well as leading a guitar workshop following the performance.
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WHAT: I am God., Courtesy, Nephrons
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 9 p.m.
Local glitch/pop outfit I am God. has a show lined up on Saturday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s. They’re joined by Courtesy out of Memphis and Chicago, and Nephrons out of Springfield.
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WHAT: Turnpike Troubadours, Corb Lund, Neoga Blacksmith
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($18 advance/$20 doors)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 9 p.m.
Folk/roots outfit Turnpike Troubadours hail from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and this is their last show that they’l be playing before returning home to said hometown next week. They’ve hit Peoria and Carbondale, and now they’re hitting Urbana on Saturday night. They’re joined by Corb Lund and locals Neoga Blacksmith.
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WHAT: C-U Pride Fest
WHERE: Downtown Champaign (varies)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 9 p.m.
The UP Center of Champaign County is presenting the 5th annual C-U Pride Fest and Parade in Downtown Champaign on Saturday night. They’ll have a variety of activities happening around Downtown, which you can see in full at the Facebook event linked above, but there will be drag shows at Boltini, and Carivale Debauche will take the stage at Chester Street, Upshot will be playing at Memphis on Main, plus more.
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WHAT: Say Reggae
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey (free)
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th at 9 p.m.
There will be a lineup of reggae-infused artists performing at Cowboy Monkey on Saturday night. The lineup features Star One, Abeng, Sticky Wells, DJ Assassin Star, and The Grape Ape.
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WHAT: WEFT Fest
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s (free)
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th at 3 p.m.
This year’s celebration of the community radio station WEFT is happening on Sunday evening this week. We love what they do, so you should support them, too. This year’s lineup includes Kilborn Alley, Jeremy Harper & Friends, and Jiggy & The Source.
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WHAT: Interpretations of Light
WHERE: The Living Yoga Center ($20)
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th at 4 p.m.
A new album is coming out this week, and is going to be released at the Living Yoga Center (which recently opened, and we recently featured). The album is an instrumental record that was composed for a yoga class, and local yoga teacher Maggie Taylor came up with the concept, which features local musicians.
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WHAT: Secret Sisters, The Fights
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($12 advance/$15 doors)
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th at 8 p.m.
The duo of Laura and Lydia Rogers invade Canopy Club on Sunday night, and their most recent record, Put Your Needle Down, which came out on Rupublic Records, was produced by T Bone Burnett. They’re joined by local Americana/country favorites The Fights.