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.
MONDAY, July 22nd
Clark Gibson Quintet
► The Iron Post // free // 7 p.m.
► Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 8 p.m.
TUESDAY, July 23rd
Jose Guzman Quintet
► The Iron Post // free // 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, July 24th
Anika Emily
► Red Herring // free // 12 p.m.
Chip McNeill Quintet
► The Iron Post // free // 6 p.m.
Eric Devey Quintet
► The Iron Post // free // 8 p.m.
Andrew Ryan
► 25 O’Clock Brewing Company // free // 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, July 25th
Katie Flynn Quartet
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // free // 5 p.m.
Andy McDowell and Bob Watson, Jake Fleischli
► The Brass Rail // free // 7 p.m.
Peter Tijerina Nonet, Sarah Wigley
► The Iron Post // $8/$3 for students // 7 p.m.
The Darts, The JetBeats, The Dry Look
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $8 advance/$12 door // 7:30 p.m.
Woven Hollow, Nate Staub, Castle Finn
► Rose Bowl Tavern // donations // 8 p.m.
Overworry, Praying, Life Pile, Of Course You Realize
► Blips and Chitz // $6-$10 // 8 p.m.
Dearie
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, July 26th
Chip McNeill Group
► Blackbird // free // 5 p.m.
Friday Night Live
► Downtown Champaign // free // 6 p.m.
Dustin Lynch, Dylan Scott, Jimmie Allen
► Champaign County Fairgrounds // $35+ // 6 p.m.
Dead End Lights, Logan Schrapf, The Spend, Daniel Watkins
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $6 // 7:30 p.m.
Big Nothing, Kowabunga! Kid, Prevalence
► Polyvinyl Records // $7 // 8 p.m.
Though Polyvinyl has hosted a few pop up record shops in the past, this is new-ish territory for the label: hosting a show in their annex. PV HQ is at 717 S. Neil Street, and Philadelphia’s Big Nothing heads through C-U for a show with a couple of solid locals, Kowabunga! Kid and Prevalence.
Photo by Jared Castaldi
Neoga Blacksmith, Ryan Koenig, Rebekah Songer, Honky Tonk Angels
► Rose Bowl Tavern // $5 // 8 p.m.
Conor Oberst, Joanna Sternberg
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $30 // 8 p.m.
Though Conor Oberst’s year has been occupied by the excellent project he’s put out with Phoebe Bridgers, Better Oblivion Community Center, he’s doing a solor tour that hits nearby Bloomington later this week. You might know Oberst from his work with Bright Eyes, but here’s your shot to see him as a solo act just up the road.
Photo from the Facebook event page
Kavi Naidu Group
► The Iron Post // free // 8 p.m.
DJ Belly
► Blackbird // free // 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 27th
Down River, The Chickadee Sermon, Professor Watson and the Urbana Pickers
► Rose Bowl Tavern // $10 // 5 p.m.
Alex Hoffer
► Pour Bros Craft Taproom Artist Alley // free // 8:30 p.m.
The Life and Times, Centaur, Our Landmark
► Loose Cobra // $10 suggested donation // 9 p.m.
This will most certainly be the highlight of the week in live music in C-U, as Chicago’s Life and Times heads through on Saturday night. Their last release was 2017’s self-titled effort, and they are joined by Matt Talbott of HUM’s project Centaur, which rarely performs these days, as well as another local act Our Landmark.
Photo from The Life and Times’ website.
► The Iron Post // free // 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 28th
Jake & Jackson
► Mattis Park // free // 6 p.m.
Khemmis, Cloak, Drude, Shazu
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $10 advance/$15 door // 7:30 p.m.