WHAT: Super Famicom, Life In Vacuum, Congratulations, Options, About A Million, Woodie
WHERE: Thee Death Tower ($5)
WHEN: Wednesday, June 18th at 8 p.m.
Cool mix of low-key indie and punk happening at Thee Death Tower house midweek. A good option in an otherwise slow part of the week
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WHAT: Slight Birching, Megan Johns
WHERE: Caffe Paradiso (free)
WHEN: Thursday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m.
Can’t beat free, so why not get out Thursday and enjoy some folk music and a latte at Paradiso? I can think of many, many worse ways to spend an evening.
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WHAT: Cody and the Gateway Drugs, Hi Ho Buffalo, Chachi & The Bandidos
WHERE: Mike ‘N Mollys ($7)
WHEN: Thurs. June 19th at 730 pm
A lot of local folk on this bill, with the familiar faces of Cody & The Gateway Drugs leading the way and offering up a reliably good time. Hi Ho Buffalo have also been popping up on a few local bills recently and look to continue to grow their fanbase. However, almost nothing to be found online about Chachi & The Bandidos except the description “Country Lounge Music.” A pretty interesting show, and a good Thursday night option.
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WHAT: Friday Night Live
WHERE: Downtown Champaign (free)
WHEN: Friday, June 20th at 6 p.m.
A lot to choose from this week including Alfonso Valdes (Spanish guitar) and Amira Davis (African vocal & percussionv) Paige McQuigg at Walnut and Chester; Bailalai (reggae/Brazilian funk) and Unpossible (classic R&B/rock/pop) at Neil and Park; and John Dahlstedt & Nathaniel Ruiz (Clarinet Jazz Revival) and Matt & Tom Turino (old-time string/Cajun) at One Main Plaza.
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EDITOR’S PICK: ELSINORE, ACTION CAMP, WITHERSHINS, FIONA KIMBLE, WILLIAM GILLESPIE
Error Records ($5) — Friday, June 20th at 7:30 p.m.
A nice little set of local music happening at Error on Friday from the Undercut Collective. You’ve probably heard of Elsinore before, but maybe they’ll be able to share some music you haven’t yet heard, as they’ve been in the studio lately working on a new album. Withershins will add some noise to the proceedings, touring act Action Camp will inject some synthesizers, and local Fiona Kimble will get it all started, along with a little poetry from William Gillespie. The best bet on Friday for my money.
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WHAT: Old Shoe, Way Down Wanderers
WHERE: The Canopy Club($8)
WHEN: Friday, June 20th at 8 p.m.
Old Shoe is familiar to anyone who saw them at Summercamp recently, and they’re paired up with another bluegrass group, Way Down Wanderers, from Peoria. But that’s not all the folkiness available on Friday…
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WHAT: We the Animals, Daniel and the Lion, Captain Chunk
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Friday, June 20th at 10 p.m.
…Because Daniel and the Lion, which features members of PHOX, the Wandering Sons, etc. will be playing not long after. This one is a fun bill that makes Friday a real folk fest.
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WHAT: WHERE: Error Records ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st at 1 p.m.
The title says it best: Heavy. As. Hell. It’s an all-day thing, so get out and get crushed by some guitars for a good cause.
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WHAT: Finer Feelings, Opus Dog, Dupond Dupont, Bad Catman
WHERE: Mike n Mollys ($7)
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st at 7 p.m.
Finer Feelings, who just released their first full length, headline this local-heavy show, which will see the release of Opus Dog’s album and see the band off on its tour. A pretty solid option for your Saturday night.
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WHAT: Steady Flow, Flaccid, The Gay Neighbors
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($7)
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st at 8 p.m.
Steady Flow is a funk band from Peoria that is kicking off its tour at the Canopy on Saturday night. Flaccid is a Bloomington-Normal based jam band whose music seems very Pink Floyd-influenced. The Gay Neighbors are pretty hard to find via Google, so their contribution to this show is a surprise.
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WHAT: Victor and Penny, Loose Change Orchestra
WHERE: Sleepy Creek Vineyards ($12)
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st at 8 p.m.
How often do you hear words like “bawdy” and “antique” used to describe a band? Not often. So if that intrigues you, check out this jazzy duo at Sleepy Creek Vineyard on Saturday. And have some wine while you’re there, too, for good measure.
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WHO: New Souls, T.R.U.T.H, Prince Aki, Code:Red
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st at 9 p.m.
If you’ve been itching to get your hip hop fix this week, here’s your chance. T.R.U.T.H. and Prince Aki are on the rise, so get out and check out what these guys can do.