WHAT: Heitler/Gobbo Quartet Live Recording
WHERE: The Iron Post (free)
WHEN: Monday, August 7th at 7 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to be part of a live recording? Well here’s your chance. This Monday, Donnie Heitler will be playing piano accompanied by the Gobbo Quartet, adding guitar, bass, and drums to his set. The music is kid friendly, making the whole family invited to this show at The Iron Post. It’s free, making it the best way to spend your Monday night.
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WHAT: FREE PIZZA PARTY – Bottom Bracket / Keegan Gulick / Short Handed / Runt
WHERE: Blips and Chitz (donations suggested)
WHEN: Monday, August 7th at 8 p.m.
This set is all Illinois native bands, ranging from Chicago to Springfield to our very own C-U. The bands bring that classic emo sound, attracting anyone who enjoys American Football. Get your ass to the Blips and Chitz basement, not only for great music but also FREE FUCKING PIZZA. Should I have started with that?
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WHAT: The Chickadee Sermon and Royal Vibes
WHERE: The Iron Post ($5)
WHEN: Tuesday, August 8th at 6 p.m.
Is O Brother, Where Art Thou? one of your favorite movies? Well, it just so happens that The Chickadee Sermon specializes in music from the film’s soundtrack. They also bring a variety of originals and great covers, but you know you love them Soggy Bottom Boys. They’ll be joined by a younger, acoustic band called Royal Vibes, from C-U.
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WHAT: Corduroy
WHERE: Clark Bar (free)
WHEN: Tuesday, August 8th at 6:30 p.m.
Clark Bar opens their beer garden to the folky tunes of Corduroy. Grab a beer, some hot wings, and relax in the summer air as Corduroy creates a unique experience by kicking a bass drum, using on stage effects, and strumming away at his guitar while singing along. You gotta see this one.
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WHAT: Infinite Me, Gleemer, Winder + Earthholder
WHERE: Blips and Chitz ($5)
WHEN: Tuesday, August 8th at 7 p.m.
This one is 50/50. Half locals half touring bands. Infinite Me and Gleemer come through C-U on their summer tour, from Minnesota and Colorado, respectively. There’s a good reason these bands are traveling so far, and that’s because they kick major ass and the local support is just as noteworthy. At $5 this is a steal of an emo/post-hardcore show. Plus, maybe they’ll have some free pizza still laying around from the last show? You can’t go wrong.
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WHAT: Soma Summer Nights #5 (ft. CJ Run, OG Temple & more)
WHERE: Soma ($3 suggested donation at the door)
WHEN: Wednesday, August 9th at 8 p.m.
This Wednesday makes for the fifth installment of Soma Summer Nights. In this series, the shows are all about giving local talent a stage and comfortable environment to perform in, which means an attentive, quiet crowd without cell phones. The current lineup includes CJ Run, OG Temple, KiddSoul and more are to be announced.
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WHAT: Connla House Concert
WHERE: Piper Hut’s Concerts (message for address, $10-20)
WHEN: Thursday, August 10th at 7 p.m.
Are you a fan of Irish music? Then this unique type of show is right for you. At an undisclosed address in Champaign, fans are allowed to reserve a spot for an Irish house show/potluck. Connla, the Irish quintet is currently on the rise and worth the mystery that this house show presents. Grab your seat while you can, $10 for students and $20 for adults.
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WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($10, 21+)
WHEN: Thursday, August 10th at 8:45 p.m.
The championships of Bring The Paign are finally here. The last two MCs are Black Mage and Desi Baker and the last two DJs are Monstreau and Shane Canfield. The show will be complemented by plenty of other live performances including other DJs and MCs, as well as a visual artist.
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WHAT: Live Music Thursdays with New Souls
WHERE: Blackbird Urbana (free)
WHEN: Thursday, August 10th at 9 p.m.
One of C-U’s newest music venues/bars continues to provide free, live music every Thursday night. This week the New Souls will take the stage and show you what a good time is all about. The New Souls perform a range of covers that all promise to get you on your feet and teach you what true soul music is all about. Come check out one of C-U’s newest bars and enjoy some great music.
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WHAT: Jazz Happy Hour with New Orleans Jazz Machine
WHERE: Blackbird Urbana (free)
WHEN: Friday, August 11th at 5 p.m.
Come on back to Blackbird for another one of their weekly music events This time Jazz Happy Hour, which takes places every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., showcasing some of the best jazz musicians in the area. This Friday features New Orleans Jazz Machine.
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WHAT: Champaign-Urbana Days Gospel Fest
WHERE: Douglass Community Center (free)
WHEN: Friday, August 11th at 6 p.m.
Gospel Fest is hosted by WBCP (1580AM), celebrating their 25th year in radio.This is also in conjunction with Champaign-Urbana Days, which extends to Saturday. This is a very family friendly event celebrating everything that represents C-U. A great summer event for the family.
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WHAT: We The Animals with Alex & The XO’s and Brian Hilderbrand
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7, 19+)
WHEN: Friday, August 11th at 9:30 p.m.
C-U locals Brian Hilderbrand of Grand Ambassador and We The Animals join Alex and the XO’s from Bloomington-Normal this Friday at Cowboy Monkey as part of their summer tour. The bands all have a very dancy, alternative sound that makes for a great bill. Be ready for this one.
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WHAT: Ghoul Jr. / Retirement Party / Wenslow (IA) / Lizz Morris / Bristle
WHERE: Blips and Chitz ($5 donations for touring band)
WHEN: Saturday, August 12th at 8 p.m.
Another fun show at Blips and Chitz, damn do the crank them out. Wenslow is coming through from Iowa on their summer tour and Retirement Party comes down from Chicago. The locals consist of Ghoul Jr, Lizz Morris (a young, ukelele player) and Bristle (the dad band).
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WHAT: Sambolo and Bones Jugs on the Back Porch
WHERE: The Iron Post
WHEN: Saturday, August 12th at 8 p.m.
Two bands couldn’t pair more perfectly together. Sambolo and Bone Jugs bring one hell of a party to the back porch at The Iron Post. This will be a fun show for anyone, Sambolo specializing in jammy/Brazilian tunes and Bone Jugs being the party that they are, full of sounds you won’t hear anywhere else. This is one you really need to attend.
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WHAT: King’s Highway + James Jones Trio
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5, 21+)
WHEN: Saturday, August 12th at 9 p.m.
Bringing the hard rocking blues, King’s Highway will tear up your Saturday night in downtown Champaign. The James Jones Trio will help get you ready for what’s to come, but your ears will be pleased no matter what. Get on down to Cowboy Monkey this Saturday and be guaranteed a fun night.
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WHAT: Euriah solo//Lost Kingdoms solo//Michael Kramer
WHERE: Exile on Main Street (free)
WHEN: Sunday, August 13th at 3:30 p.m.
Come out to Exile on Main Street to browse their music collection while enjoying live solo acoustic acts, two local and one touring from NYC. Eric Stanley from Euriah, Michael Kramer from The Dry Look, and a solo set from Lost Kingdoms is on the agenda. You really can’t go wrong here, music everywhere.
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WHAT: Tara Terra with Matthaus and Sleeping Okami
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7, 19+)
WHEN: Sunday, August 13th at 7:30 p.m.
To end this week, Matthaus from Chicago joins locals Tara Terra and Sleeping Okami for one tight show. The bill is diverse with folk, jazz, to more alternative sounds. This is one way I would vote to spend a Sunday evening in C-U and I think you should too.