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 5th
Emily Taylor Group
► The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, August 6th
To our knowledge, there are no shows in the area on this date
WEDNESDAY, August 7th
Ian Shepherd, Mitchell Killough, Jesse Brown, Clayton Thompson
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, August 8th
Condition Blue
► The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
New Souls
► Barrelhouse 34 // free // 7 p.m.
Tristen, Mermaid Heaven, Primitive Lights
► Rose Bowl Tavern // $10 advance/$13 door // 8 p.m.
Nashville by way of Chicago’s folk/Americana act Tristen heads through to the Rose Bowl on Thursday night, and she’s joined by a couple of excellent local bands. Mermaid Heaven hasn’t played a ton of shows to date, but you can read more about the project from our interview here. Photo by Marcus Maddux
Relevator, LLYN, Lung
► The Loose Cobra // $7 // 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, August 9th
Erik Lund’s Jazz Friends
► The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
Friday Night Live
► Downtown Champaign // free // 6 p.m.
Baby Ocho, Rebekah Songer
► Exile on Main Street // free // 7 p.m.
Bloodletter, Toxic Ruin, Edna
► Nightshop in Bloomington // cover // 7 p.m.
Samba Soul
► The Iron Post // cover // 8 p.m.
The Merry Travelers, Paper Nettle, Anika Emily
► Seven Saints // $5 // 8 p.m./
DJ Belly
► Blackbird // free // 8 p.m.
Thompson Springs
► Pour Bros Craft Taproom Artist Alley // free // 8:30 p.m.
Chicago’s Thompson Springs is the next act lined up in Pour Bros’ Artist Alley series, which runs through September in Downtown Champaign. Check out their Facebook to see the rest of the shows they have lined up, but this is what you can check out this weekend. Photo from the Facebook event
Beats by Otter
► The Brass Rail // free // 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, August 10th
Laurie Morvan Band, Lucious Spiller, Demetria Taylor, Brandon Santini, David Lumsden Blues Band, Ray-Band, Skylar Rogers & The Blue Diamonds
► Champaign County Fairgrounds // $10 // 2 p.m.
The second annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Fest takes place on Saturday featuring a ton of bands (plus an aftershow at Rose Bowl which you can see below with Kilborn Alley), and you can get your fix of blues tunes for just $10 for all day.
Bones Jugs, Emily Anne Band
► Rose Bowl Tavern // donations // 5 p.m.
Planes Mistaken For Stars, All Eyes West, Bow & Spear, Bottom Bracket
► Nightshop in Bloomington // $8 advance/$12 door // 7:30 p.m.
Though they have been based in Denver for quite a while now, Planes Mistaken For Stars originally formed in Peoria, so they have some Illinois blood running through their veins. The band performed in the area a few years ago at Mike N Molly’s, and the rock outfit hits B-N this time around with a few others. Photo from the Facebook event page
Bogart Jones Band
► Pour Bros Craft Taproom Artist Alley // free // 8:30 p.m.
Kilborn Alley Blues Band
► Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 10 p.m.
The Merry Travelers
► Watson’s // free // 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, August 11th
To our knowledge, there are no shows in the area on this date