Music

The C-U punk scene runs on house shows and cheap beer. Joel sat down with a quartet of the community’s pillars to see what’s shakin’.

Will Maring and Robert Bowlin provide a happy outlet for C-U’s thriving folk scene.

This week it’s damn slow, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out underground post-rock from Brooklyn-via-Detroit, or underground hip hop from your own backyard. Oh, and we’re throwin’ down, too.

We’re clearing out the living room just for you. Come on over and help Gillian celebrate her birthday in style with your favorite C-U bands.

George Clinton brought a sprawling, confusing cast of characters with him to the Canopy last night. William’s still trying to sort it all out.

It’s not every day that a musical institution comes to town, so here’s a beginner’s guide to George Clinton for the uninitiated, and a recap for the devoted.

What’s in a label? Coy Wentworth gets indie about being indie.

Joe Pug and Horse Feathers take different approaches, but the tour mates put on a cohesive show in the Void Room on Sunday night.

Cristy and her dad don’t have much in common, but when it comes to the Bottle Rockets, they see eye to eye.

It’s a huge week for shows in C-U, from a midweek gig from Dan Deacon and George Clinton to a couple of weekend bluegrass concerts, with a healthy dose of local showcases mixed in. Dan Deacon update inside.

The Bottle Rockets’ Brian Henneman assures us that tomorrow’s show will be their normal stellar live effort, but leave your recorders at home.

Let your preconceived notions about what is good or bad about “hip-hop” and “rap” fall by the wayside. Coy Wentworth has the solution.

In this podcast, Doug Hoepker considers new releases from Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Dan Deacon, The Bats, Bill Callahan, Arthur Russell, and others.

Boston’s Audrey Ryan brought a standout set to a windy Friday evening at Mike ‘n Molly’s. Check out our exclusive video of her performing with Ryan Groff.

Some electronica tonight, a bunch of Dylan on Sunday. And enter to win tickets to the Bottle Rockets DVD filming concert at Highdive on Saturday.

Iron & Wine, Ra Ra Riot, and The Books top the list of 30 bands announced today who will perform at Pygmalion Music Festival, September 16 to 19.

Singer-songwriter Audrey Ryan performs tonight at Mike ‘N Molly’s. She may be the most engaging musician to grace a Shadowboxer Collective bill yet.

Julie Fowlis and her band won over the Highdive crowd with their virtuosity and charm on Monday night.

Robyn Hitchcock is having a late-career resurgence with the Venus 3. William & Cristy review their new album, plus last week’s concert in Chicago.

IMC Fest condensed a ton of activity into a small window of time. Zack needs rest, but he shares some highlights.

This week go Gaelic on Monday, spread some Appleseed on Thursday, head to Tolono for Whiskey on Friday and top it off with a Caucasian on Sunday.

Julie Fowlis comes to town on Monday, spreading goodwill from Scotland and singing in her mother tongue. We have a chat with the lass.

… then stay away from the Highdive tonight. Those Darlins are headed north from Murfreesboro, Tenn., for some good-time rockabilly.

Super 8 movies and vibraphone should go great with a walk through an art gallery, and local duo Good Night and Good Morning will provide just that tonight.

Want to win a pair of weekend passes to IMC Fest? Know a good beer caterer? The grand poobah tells all about festivals past and present.

An art opening, a free Monday night show, and nearly every local band worth seeing.

Musician Jonathon Childers has tackled his share of obstacles in life, but it’s music and his genuine demeanor that help him make it though each day.

Tuesday night, David Bazan brought his laid-back charm to the Champaign leg of his national house-show tour.

Now back home, Erin Hayes wraps up the last of a whirlwind Spring Break tour that saw Morgan Orion head into the deep south.

The Courtyard played host to its second big show in as many nights on Friday, and The Hold Steady didn’t disappoint.

Find out about the week in live music and how to win tickets to The Academy Is’ sold out acoustic show.

Lively banter outshone the so-so music Thursday at the Courtyard Cafe, as two sensitive, charismatic men won the audience through sheer likeability.

More than anything else, The Hold Steady would like to put on a great show for you — and we believe them.

Indianapolis bands Everything, Now! and Everthus the Deadbeats brought the spirit of ’70s glam rock to Champaign last night.

The Mountain Goats will perform tonight at the Courtyard Cafe, and they have a lot of songs to choose from.

The Hold Steady, The Mountain Goats, a benefit show, and the best band from Indiana comes to town.

Shadowboxer continues to offer value, as two local acts and two out-of-towners take the stage for five bucks tonight at 9 p.m. at Mike ‘n Molly’s.

The tour doesn’t stop in Tennessee. Continue reading her journey with Morgan Orion through the Delta.

The Parthenon, a flash mob pillow fight and a singing saw all down in good ole Tennessee.

Ten years after Hum ended of its own peaceful accord, Matt Talbott teaches the ins, outs, and all-arounds of the music biz to Millikin students.

Local band, Morgan Orion’s tour diaries told through the eyes of Erin Hayes.

This week we await the arrival of Bowerbirds on Sunday. In the meantime, some local ladies take to the stage on Friday and Saturday.

Withershins wants to be less of a drinking club and more of a band. Their name means “doomed” in Irish folklore. More fun trivia ahead…

The latest release in the Guitars from Agadez series spotlights music from Niger that only gets better with repeated listens.

Music from Ireland, Australia, and a band named after the greatest dessert ever made. Find out about the week’s best shows.

Erin Fein chatted with us about the hot dirty fun that awaits them at SXSW and the weirdness involved in one-night stands in your hometown.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy, aka Louisville songwriter Will Oldham, graces a Champaign-Urbana stage for just the third time in his 16-year career.

The son of an icon with nothing to lose, Justin Townes Earle speaks with Zack Adcock about his love for Nirvana, the evolution of song, and why he wouldn’t feel so bad about punching The Boss.