Smile Politely

The Overture: August 13-19

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, August 13th

There are no shows scheduled for this date.

TUESDAY, August 14th

The Acacia Stain, Left Behind, I Am, Upon a Broken Throne, Portals

The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $16 advance/$18 door // 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, August 15th

Dearie

Sipyard // free // 7 p.m.

Dearie is the new-ish project of singer-songwriters Carrie Chandler-Harrison and Kayla Brown, both of whom you’ve likely seen in other acts — Chandler is in Bashful Youngens, Brown in We the Animals. They’ve been working on material together under this moniker, and I made mention of it in last month’s Seven Things column.

Queer Kevin, Dump Him, Graveswitcher, Carly Beth

Blips and Chitz // $5-$7 // 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a house show worth looking at mid-week: Queer Kevin and Dump Him are two touring acts heading through, the former from Ohio and the latter from Massachusetts. Springfield’s Graveswitcher are a punk outfit that are apparently playing their first show out of Springfield, so that’s cool they are doing so in C-U. Carly Beth is a new local band formed from the remnants of what was another local, La Louve.

Neiv, Motes, Silkwork, Glower, Heck

nightshop in Bloomington // $6 // 8 p.m.

Ian Shepherd, Mitchell Killough

Blackbird // free // 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, August 16th

George Turner

The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.

Thomas Gun, JOE, Jean Atomic, Chris G

nightshop in Bloomington // cover // 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, August 17th

Inland Calypso

The Lake House at Crystal Lake Park // free // 1 p.m.

Tons O Fun Band, New Souls, Champaign Freight, Whiskey Raccoons

West Side Park // free // 5 p.m.

Jeff Helgesen Quintet

The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.

Friday Night Live

Downtown Champaign // free // 6 p.m.

Chicken Shack, John Till

nightshop in Bloomington // $7 // 7:30 p.m.

Zecca Bom

25 O’Clock Brewing Company // free // 8 p.m.

Another new and exciting local act is Zecca Bom, and their mix of Brazilian jam/jazz fusion going down in Urbana on Friday evening for this free show outside one of the newest breweries in C-U, 25 O’Clock. They’ve been performing here and there around town, mostly in Urbana, so if you haven’t caught them yet, here’s a good opportunity.

Old Salt Union, Harvest Sons

The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $10 advance/$12 door // 8 p.m.

Fiona Kimble, Notches, MeInCapris, Our Landmark

Casa de Sasha // $6-$8 // 8:30 p.m.

Katie Flynn

The Iron Post // cover // 9 p.m.

Joe Asselin & The Moonlight Ramblers

Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, August 18th

Elsinore, Emily Blue, Ausar, King T’z

West Side Park // free // 5 p.m.

Elsinore isn’t wasting any time between shows — they just performed the first show in over a year and a half at the end of July, and now they are headlining the Taste of C-U in West Side Park on Saturday night. You can see night one’s lineup above, but here’s what Saturday has to offer for this free show near Downtown Champaign. C-U ex pat Emily Blue supports from Chicago, and one of the newest additions to the local scene, Ausar, is a nice touch here.

David Adam Byrnes, The Whole Ridge Band, Mary & Zac

City Center // $10-$25 // 8 p.m.

Terminus Victor, Bartlow, Our Landmark

Cowboy Monkey // $5 // 9 p.m.

Here’s a very solid rock show in Downtown Champaign at Monkey on Saturday. Terminus Victor is still slugging it out as one of the longest running local bands still doin’ it. Their catalog still holds up against pretty much anyone performing these days. Our Landmark released a record at the very end of last year you should check out.

Whiskey Birddog

The Iron Post // cover // 9 p.m.

Chase Baby, Truth AKA Trouble, Anamoli, Murr, Flipside Moton, Gatson, Kidd Soul, Justin Rondon, Trevy, 2Ponito, James Dali, Mr. Midwest & T Money

Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.

A pretty sensational lineup of emcees are hitting the stage on Saturday night at Blackbird, so if you’re looking for a high energy hang, head over for this free show in Downtown Urbana. Chase Baby is on top of the bill, and surprising to me, he released a new EP back in April, Good Days/Bad Days, which you can check out pretty much anywhere that streams music.

SUNDAY, August 19th

The Jaybirds

Urbana Free Library // free // 2 p.m.

Knights of Cabiria

The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.

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