FRIDAY, APRIL 26
Red Herring Fundraiser, The Red Herring, 5:00 p.m.
Check out Jeremiah’s feature on this event, and then come out and enjoy live music, pizza, snacks, and baked goods, coffee, tea, Jarritos, and Coke de Mexico.
The Red Herring is a beloved restaurant in C-U and they need this support in order to implement some much needed updates to their kitchen and menu.
Following the fundraiser, there will be a performance of Cyrano de Bergerac by the What You Will Shakespeare Company in the Channing-Murray Chapel at 8:00 p.m. The entry fee for the play is $5. (TN)
Withershins, Tarantulahawk, Victory Verdun, From The Mire, Error Records, 7 p.m., $5
A pretty awesome show going down at the Error Records space to round out the week. Headlined by local post-rock dudes Withershins, joined by a trio who are on their own small tour together. There’s the poster to the side. All ages show, as always, at Error Records, plus no shenanigans in terms of booze and stuff. No need for that here. A fairly early show as well, so you have time post-show to celebrate the start of the weekend in addition to this. (PS)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Parkland College Theatre, Friday–Saturday, 7:30 p.m., $8-14
You can read all about this play from Mathew’s preview. The Mystery of Edwin Drood won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show has 426 possible outcomes. You could see every performance and not see the same show twice. I’ve been to plays at Parkland, and they’re impressively great. Check this one out.
Make your reservations here. (TN)
The Threepenny Opera, Krannert Center Tryon Festival Theatre, Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
The School of Music Opera Program Series presents The Threepenny Opera, “a wickedly funny story of betrayal upon betrayal, climaxing in one of the most unusual and hilarious finales in modern theatre.” I saw this musical many years ago at the Krannert, and truly enjoyed it. It’s gruesome and cruel. Great fun! (TN)
Rock Out Against Rape, Mike ‘N Molly’s, 8:00 p.m.–Midnight, $5
This concert benefits R.A.C.E.S. There’s also a raffle for an iPad mini and a Nexus 7 tablet. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. (Do not need to be present to win). Call to buy tickets in advance: (217) 344-6298. (TN)
The night will feature music by:
- The Curses
- Mille Nomi &
- Year of the Bobcat
-
DJ Isaac Arms
Nate Holley live, Boomerang’s Bar & Grill, 9:00 p.m.
From the Facebook event page: Nathan Holley is a versatile musical talent out of central Illinois, now based in Saugatuck MI, and regularly touring in Illinios, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida. Mixing acoustic jams with his looping magic is a sight you have to witness to understand, and even then you are hard-pressed to explain it in a way that does it justice. Nate brings great musicianship and vocal power to both his original music and his unique covers. Nate’s goal as a musician is to capture his listener from the first note to make sound that won’t leave the audience where it found them. For him, music is the one thing that not only takes us deep within, but also far, far away, leaving behind the trouble and turmoil that everyday living can bring. (MG)
Provocative Party with OR-G, Emerald City Lounge, 10:00 p.m.
I’m not really sure what this party is all about. But just look at that awesome snake! The ad says that “OR-G invites you to Party Provocatively @ Emerald City. Join us for a night of provocative sights & sounds, sexy people, and refreshing cocktails in the trendiest spot in Champaign.”
OR-G is a delicious-sounding vodka drink. Alas, I am neither provocative nor sexy, but damn if Emerald City isn’t one of the best places to party (provocatively or otherwise) in C-U. If you go, the music will be by DJ Smiley. Enjoy the sexiness! (TN)
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Stories & Beer, Mike ‘n’ Molly’s, 4:30 p.m.(ish), FREE
Stories & Beer is very excited to bring you a fantastic lineup featuring two headliners in Scott Garson and Lania Knight. Both Scott and Lania are coming off of some significant critical success with Scott’s new book Is That You, John Wayne? receiving praise from Publishers Weekly, and Lania’s book Three Cubic Feet being a finalist for the prestigious Lambda Literary Award in the catagory of Debut LGBTQ Fiction. Both will have their books available for sale at the reading, along with Matt Minicucci, whose chapbook Reliquary was recently published by Accents Publishing. This distinguished trio will be joined by graduating Fiction MFAer Michael Don, UIUC’s English and Digital Humanities Librarian/S&B veteran Harriett Green, and UIUC Creative Writing Department Lecturer (and Rate My Professor’s Hot Pepper haver) Miguel Jimenez. Be there or be L7. (CDC)
Sonny Stubble, Mike N’ Molly’s, 8:00 p.m., $5
If you’re 19 or over, get over to Mike N’ Molly’s to hear Sonny Stubble perform with The Duke of Uke & His Novelty Orchestra, and Costas. Per the Sonny Stubble website, the band, for those who don’t know, is a: Five-piece rock/blues/groove band. So get out and hear some great live music, including some with a ukulele. (MG)
Pygmalion Afterglow Series featuring Sun Stereo & Grandkids, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Stage 5, 9:30 p.m., free
Last year I had an absolute blast going to see Elsinore and Common Loon perform for this Afterglow series show in the lobby of Krannert. It was a great time. Sun Stereo and Grandkids are taking the stage this year in what should be an excellent show between these two locals. Also, sadly, Grandkids are relocating, so this might be their last show in C-U for a while. Sad stuff! I always feel like drinking at Krannert is frowned upon for some reason (even though it’s not), but they have a full bar ready for service. (PS)
SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Next to Normal, The Station Theatre, 8:00 p.m., $10
The relentless rock musical Next to Normal ends its first weekend tonight at the Station Theatre in Urbana. A Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning musical about a suburban family battling bipolar disorder, Next to Normal is directed by Station artistic director Rick Orr, with musical direction by Alex Zelck. For reservations, call (217) 384-4000 or go to the Station website. (MG)