The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in the Champaign-Urbana area (and the outskirts) each week. All of the information is as accurate as we can publish, but all shows and performances are subject to change at any time. Thank you for understanding.
Have a show you think we should know about? Email us at music@smilepolitely.com with the details.
TUESDAY, September 3rd
Traditional Jazz Orchestra
► The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, September 4th
Chip McNeill Quintet
► The Iron Post // cover // 6 p.m.
Junkyard Samurai, Probcause, The Palmer Squares
► The Canopy Club // $10 advance/$12 day of show // 9 p.m.
Ian Shepherd, Mitchell Killough, Jesse Brown, Clayton Thompson
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, September 5th
ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Sept. 5-7 // price varies
One of the crown jewel festivals in this community arrives later this week: Krannert Center’s every-other-year guitar extravaganza, ELLNORA. This year’s lineup includes Buddy Guy, Pat Metheny, and many, many more. You can stay tuned to a preview of what’s to come from one of our writers tomorrow, but head over and start planning your weekend now.
Photo provided by Krannert Center; Top photo from ELLNORA 2017 by Anna Longworth
After Funk
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, September 6th
Jordan Kaye
► The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
Eric Devey Quintet
► Blackbird // free // 5 p.m.
Burden of the Sky, The Zealots, Cole Hollow
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $7 advance/$10 door // 7 p.m.
Diane Coffee, The Data Waves, zoo
► The Canopy Club // $12 advance/$15 day of show // 9 p.m.
Polyvinyl Record Company’s Diane Coffee heads through C-U at Canopy Club on Friday night on the heels of his newest release, Internet Arms. The new album came out just a few months ago, and Shaun Fleming & co. aren’t strangers to the area, as they played PYGMALION 2015, and another time a year or so later at the Accord. They’re joined by a couple of solid locals in funk outfit The Data Waves, and indie pop project zzo.
Photo by Alexa Viscius
DJ Belly
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
Reckasto
► The Iron Post // free // 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, September 7th
EG Phillips, Paul Kotheimer
► Exile on Main Street // free // 6 p.m.
Almost a Quintet
► The Iron Post // cover // 6 p.m.
Tom Boil, Plastic Psalms
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7:30 p.m.
Steady Flow, EGi
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $15 // 8:30 p.m.
Dan Hubbard Band
► Pour Bros Craft Taproom Artist Alley // free // 8:30 p.m.
Superior State, Falbonauts, Evil Tents
► Rose Bowl Tavern // donations // 9 p.m.
Here’s a nice trio taking the stage on Saturday at Rose Bowl, including a rare set from Evil Tents, who have been quiet since Isaac Arms departed from C-U. Superior State is the project of Aron Stromberg, who appears to be celebrating a birthday on this very eve.
Photo from the Facebook event page
Terminus Victor, Gonzo Diablo
► Loose Cobra // donations // 9 p.m.
Here’s a ripper at the Loose Cobra on Saturday eve, which will only cost you a few bucks thrown into the neon orange donation container. Terminus Victor still rips, and this is worth your time in a sea full of options this week.
Photo from the Facebook event page
Richie Dagger’s Crime, gogetum, Karena Tse
► Sipyard // free // 9 p.m.
The Hangovers
► The Iron Post // cover // 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, September 8th
Matsuri Festival
► Japan House // free // all day
Although Japan Houses’ Matsuri Festival is much more than music — food, family friendly activities, cultural programming, and more — once again they will be incorporating a lot of live music into the festival. The 5.6.7.8.s are back — read up on them here — as they performed alongside Shonen Knife in 2018. There’s a bunch more to check out, head over to the link in the title of the listing and you will find all the info about music at Matsuri 2019.
Photo by Eric Frahm
Big Mo & The Phat Group, New Souls, Brad Wheeler Group, Anika Emily
► WEFT // donations // 2 p.m.
Jordan Reyes, Damaged Body, Apsal’ara, suncloud0, HAL9K
► Urbana // $5-$7 // 6 p.m.
Urbana Backdoor Cajun Band
► The Iron Post // cover // 6 p.m.
One Eleven Heavy, The Golden Fleece, Encounter
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $7 // 7:30 p.m.