The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana each week. All of the information is as accurate as we can publish; however, all shows and performances are subject to change at any time. Thank you for understanding.
Did we miss something this week? Have a show coming up you think we should know about? Email us at music@smilepolitely.com with the details.
MONDAY, January 24th
Urbanna Hootenanny
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 8 p.m.
Every Monday at the Rose Bowl, come hang out with some great musicians. A sort of open mic meets song share, you can expect a variety of music and performers.
Lisa Castang and Tom Cortese
►WEFT Sessions (virtual) // free // 10 p.m.
Lisa Castang — who you may know from Dave ‘N Lisa — joins pianist Tom Cortese for a virtual evening of music.
TUESDAY, January 25th
Barrington Coleman and Chip Stephens
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 7:30 p.m.
Barrington Coleman and Chip Stephens bring another round of vocal jazz night to Rose Bowl, featuring student vocalists from the U of I.
WEDNESDAY, January 26th
Vine Street Syncopators
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
More jazz at Rose Bowl on Wednesdy with the Vine Street Syncopators. Come hearsome piping hot jazz to warm you up on a chilly January evening.
Mid-October
►Clark Bar // free // 6:30 p.m.
Alternative and indie rock band Mid-October hits the Clark Bar with some orginal tunes as well as some covers.
THURSDAY, January 27th
Hobnob String Band
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Every Thursday at Rose Bowl, Hobnob brings you some great acoustic music, from blues to bluegrass and other styles. Catch some great harmonies, and of course some wonderful fingerpicking.
Ian Shepherd and Friends
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 8 p.m.
Drummer Ian Shepherd teams up with other talented local musicians to bring you a great evening of jazz, blues, funk, and rock.
Image by Jim Hartzell from Ana Popovic’s Facebook page.
Ana Popovic
►Castle Theatre // $20 adv, $25 door // 8 p.m.
Serbian blues guitarist and vocalist Ana Popovic plays Bloomington’s Castle Theatre. Popovic’s raspy, soaring voice paired with some wah-ed out guitar makes for a great night of music.
Og Acoustic Trio, Chris Corkery
►Nightshop // $7 adv, $10 door // 8:30 p.m.
Acoustic night at Nightshop with music from two greal central-Illinois based bands. Americana, bluegrass, folk, and blues.
FRIDAY, January 28th
Chip Stephens Organ Trio
► Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Not your typical jazz trio! Organ, guitar, and drums mix together to create some great tunes.
Tim Reynolds
►Castle Theatre // $30 adv, $33 door // 8 p.m.
You may know Tim Reynolds from his solo work, but many know him as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band. He’ll be performing his solo work with his band this Friday night.
Image from The Brook and The Bluff’s Facebook page.
The Brook & The Bluff
►Canopy Club // $14 adv, $16 door // 9 p.m.
This Nashville-based band brings elements of soul, funk, and pysch, and have been quickly rising to the top of charts and gaining a large dedicated fan base. They’re stopping by The Canopy Club for a night full of grooves.
New Twang City
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 9 p.m.
New Twang City brings some good ole fashioned country honky tonk. This will be a fun Friday night at Rose Bowl Tavern.
SATURDAY, January 29th
The Gobbo Stark Quartet
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 4 p.m.
This will be the CD release party for the jazz quartet, made up of Brian Stark on sax, Jose Emilio Gobbo Jr. on guitar, Andrew Binder on bass, and Drew Cox on drums.
The Dawn
►NOLA’s Rock Bar // $7 // 7 p.m.
Another Summer Camp Saturday show, The Dawn is a roots rock and jam band. If you love improvisational rock, this is the show for you.
Robert Earl Keen
►Castle Theatre // $32 adv, $37 door // 7:30 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen graces the stage of the Castle Theatre, bringing his large catalogue of music with him. He has over 18 full length albums, so there will be plently of tunes to go around this Saturday. He’ll be joined by Ernie Hendrickson opening up the show.
Image from Nightshop’s Facebook event page.
Great Value Jesus, Parachute Day, Norobot, Aquila
►Nightshop // $7 adv, $10 door // 8 p.m.
Bloomington-Normal based Great Value Jesus is celebrating the release of their new EP. They’ll be joined by three other rockers, as well as some visuals by Trenton Perry.
DJ Belly
►NOLA’s Rock Bar // free // 10 p.m.
In these uncertain times, we can always count on DJ Belly at NOLA’s on Saturday nights to help us dance our problems away. He’ll be bringing the tunes late into the night.
SUNDAY, January 30th
Dropsy Trio
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 7 p.m.
James Mauck on drums, Mitchell Killough on bass, Mark White on guitar. These guys bring blues, funk, jazz, soul, rock, and more with covers and originals.
Top image of Great Value Jesus from Nightshop’s Facebook event page.
