WHAT: A Grateful Dead Experience: The Schwag
WHERE: Canopy Club ($10 advance, $12 door)
WHEN: Monday, April 20th, doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m.
What better way to celebrate the holidaze than with “high energy organic interpretations of the Grateful Dead” courtesy of The Schwag? 20+ years at a Grateful Dead tribute band is a long time, man.
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WHAT: Benefit for Cystic Fibrosis with Marco & The Polos, The Tomblands and No Strings Attached
WHERE: Canopy Club ($10)
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21st, doors at 8 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m.
The UIUC chapter of pre-health honor society AED is hosting benefit show for Cystic Fibrosis, featuring local bands.
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WHAT: Church Booty
WHERE: Canopy Club ($3)
WHEN: Wednesday, April 22nd, doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m.
This is the last chance to catch Church Booty at Summer Camp Wednesdays. Not a bad deal—free pizza included.
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WHAT: Passafire, Stranger
WHERE: Canopy Club ($10 advance, $13 door)
WHEN: Thursday, April 23rd, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
The earlier of two shows at Canopy Club Thursday night features Passafire, who play a unique brand of electronic reggae/dub.
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WHAT: Candyland with Rami, Meccom, & Jasper
WHERE: Canopy Club ($15 advance, $18 door)
WHEN: Thursday, April 23rd, doors at 10 p.m., show at 10:30 p.m.
Candyland lists its genre on Facebook as “Everything.” Sounds like a party.
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WHERE: Indi go Artist Co-op
WHEN: Friday April 24, doors at 7 p.m.
The Undercut Collective is a local group that strives to provide the community with more all-ages shows—and it’s throwing one for its first birthday party.
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WHAT: Eric Paslay, Adam Sanders
WHERE: Canopy Club ($18 advance, $20 door)
WHEN: Friday, April 24th, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Eric Paslay plays absolutely radio-ready pop country — the kind he’s penned for the likes of Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Love and Theft and The Eli Young Band. Adam Sanders has a similar story, writing music for and collaborating with Cole Swindell, Dierks Benrley, Dustin Lynch and Scotty McCreery. Both play on Friday night.
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EDITOR’S PICK: TIGERBEAT, MAYHEW THE TRAITOR, PENNY HORSES
Mike N Molly’s ($7) — Friday, April 24th, doors at 9 p.m.
We at Smile Politely are happy to be presenting Tigerbeat, the project of Evil Tents’ John Isberg, at Mike N Molly’s with two other rad local bands, Penny Horses, and Mayhew The Traitor.
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WHAT: John D Hale Band, High Low Drifters
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)
WHEN: Friday, April 24th, 9 p.m.
You’ve got your pick of country shows Friday night—this one’s a bit more country rock/southern rock oriented.
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WHAT: Caleb Cook Band
WHERE: Memphis On Main
WHEN: Friday, April 24th, 9:30 p.m.
Local Country band led by local country musician Caleb Cook are more folk and bluegrass-like than some of this weekend’s other country acts. Catch ‘em at Memphis On Main.
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WHAT: Atmosphere, B Dolan, deM atlas, DJ Adatrak
WHERE: Canopy Club ($25 advance, $30 door)
WHEN: Saturday, April 25th, doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m.
Atmosphere has been around the block once or twice but remains one of the groups that originally helped define Minnesota rap’s unique sound. The duo of Slug and Ant return to Urbana at Canopy Club on Saturday.
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WHAT: Candy Foster and The Shades of Blue
WHERE: Memphis On Main
WHEN: Saturday, April 25th, 9:30 p.m.
The aptly named local blues band Candy Foster and The Shades of Blue are bound to put on a fun show.
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WHAT: Old2The New, Ideal DJS
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($2, free before 11 p.m.)
WHEN: Saturday, April 25th, 10 p.m.
I’m not sure how Old2The New sounds, but Cowboy Monkey has their show listed as Top 40/Dance.
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WHAT: Illini Spring Jam with Timeflies and B.o.B.
WHERE: U of I Main Quad (free with I-Card)
WHEN: Sunday, April 26th, 2 p.m.
This show is only open to people with University I-Cards, so if you’re into top 40 radio and U of I affiliated you just hit the jackpot.
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WHAT: Charlie King
WHERE: The IMC ($10)
WHEN: Sunday, April 26th, 7 p.m.
Charlie King, a folk musician and singer who is also a “storyteller and political satirist,” is playing a show at The Independent Media Center on Sunday.