Smile Politely

The Overture: March 2-8

The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in Champaign-Urbana (and the outskirts) 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, March 2nd   

Barrington Coleman Quartet

► Neil St. Blues // Free // 7 p.m.

Urbana Hootenanny

► Rose Bowl Tavern // Free // 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3rd

Dr. Shredd and the Heart Strings

► Clark Bar // Free // 6:30 p.m.

Josh Quirk and Friends

► Boomerangs // Free // 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 4th

Choirs at University of Illinois present, Chandos Anthem “I will magnify”

► Smith Memorial Hall // Free // 12 p.m.

Illinoi Modern Ensemble

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Prices vary // 7:30 p.m.

EarthGang

► Foellinger Auditorium // $18 students, $25 public // 7:30 p.m.

Ant Hattie, Primitive Lights

► The Brass Rail // Free // 9 p.m.

Riles

► nightshop // Free // 10 p.m.

Thursday, March 5th

Dearie (Krannert Uncorked)

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Free // 5 p.m.

Jordan & Jill

► Boomerangs // Free // 5 p.m.

Sam Payne Trio

► Rose Bowl Tavern // Free // 5:30 p.m.

Keith & Kathy Harden

► Boomerangs // Free // 6 p.m.

The Tucked-in T’s

► Baxter’s // Free // 6 p.m.

Two pictures side by side. The first of Carrellee, sitting on a log on a beach, tall grass at her feet, the water and sand can be seen behind her. She wears a white dress with lace. The wind blows her long, brown hair. The second photo is of Paul Kotheimer holding his black guitar with a white pickguard. He wears a light red shirt that reads

Image from the Facebook event.

Carrellee, Paul Kotheimer

► Exile on Main Street // Free // 6:30 p.m.

Celebrating the release of their album Once There Was, Carrellee (Madison, WI) will be playing Exile on Main with her musical partner Thomas Kivi. Paul Kotheimer, a veteran of the C-U scene, will also be performing. This singer-songwriter show is a chill way to get into the weekend state of mind.

Weston Harris Hill, Jared Grabb, Tobin Kirk, Brett Conlin, The Buncha Bastards

► nightshop // $7 // 7 p.m.

The Venice Baroque Orchestra plays in an ornately decorated room. A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling over a well-dressed audience. Light pours from the floor-to-celing windows, reflecting off large mirrors on the opposite walls.

Image from the Facebook event.

Venice Baroque Orchestra

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Prices vary // 7:30 p.m.

The Venice Baroque Orchestra is performing a program called “The Swedish Nightingale” in honor of the anniversary of Jenny Lind, a singer who achieved never-before-seen heights of celebrity in 1850s America. Accompanied by Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg, The VBO will pay tribute to Lind through the works of Hasse, Handel, Vivaldi, and others.

Jo Dee Messina

► The Virginia Theatre // Prices vary // 7:30 p.m.

DJ Medua & Friends

► GlowCU // Free // 9 p.m.

147 Calboy, Lil Zay Osama, & CDot Honcho

► Canopy Club // Prices vary // 10 p.m.

Friday, March 6th

Brad Wheeler Group

► Blackbird // Free // 5 p.m.

Alex Williams, Nick Sizemore & The Saddletramps

► The Castle Theatre // Prices vary // 7 p.m.

Nickel and Dimes Band

► VFW Post 630 // Free // 7 p.m.

A graphic announcing nightshops two year anniversary celebration. The bands playing each night are listed under their respective dates. Against a teal background, two small cakes with candles in the shape of twos sit on either side of frothy beer mugs. A large cake with nightshop's black and white striped monkey mascot erupting from the top sits on the right of the image.

Graphic from the Facebook event.

PriMary, Bow & Spear, other TBA

► nightshop // $12 // 8 p.m.

The nightshop in Bloomington is celebrating their second anniversary with a jam-packed weekend of bands from all over Illinois (and one from Iowa). You can secure a weekend pass for $30, or attend any of the nights for $12. 

Robert Sampson & Lefty Preacher

► Neil St. Blues // Free // 8 p.m.

Galt & Kerr

► Huber’s West End // Free // 8 p.m.

New Twang City

► Rose Bowl Tavern // Free // 8 p.m.

fiDlin (Friday Night Vibe)

► Blackbird // Free // 9 p.m.

SNBRN

► Canopy Club // Prices vary // 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 7th

Dr. Cara Stacey (Gateways to World Music: Music Traditions of Southern Africa)

► Spurlock Museum // Free // 2 p.m.

Black-Eyed Lillies

► The Iron Post // Cover // 6 p.m.

Druids, Rezn, Lume, Grill Billyenz, Parachute Day, Empousa, Lysergic Deity

► nightshop // $12 // 7 p.m.

Michael Fisher: A Night of Organ Music

► Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign (UUCUC) // Free // 7 p.m.

Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra presents: “Diamonds & Gems”

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Prices vary // 7:30 p.m.

Pain Killers

► Neil St. Blues // Free // 8 p.m.

Poster announcing a show at the Rose Bowl Tavern with The Data Waves headlining. The poster background is a gold, enamel-like background with a large blue and green enameled square in the middle. The other bands playing are listed below the square along with the event information.

Poster from the Facebook event.

The Data Waves, Mores, Muted Color, Tessa Turner

► Rose Bowl Tavern // $10 // 8 p.m.

This is one eclectic night at the Rose Bowl. The Data Waves will be starting the night off with thier brand of fusion and funk. Then, Muted Colors and Motes bring their own take on the post-punk sound. Finally, Tessa Turner wraps up the night with a solo set featuring her alternative, singer-songwriter vibes. 

In a black circle on the left of the image, the band's name (

Image from the Facebook event.

Bad Bad Hats

► Blackbird // $10 adv., $15 door // 8 p.m.

Minneapolis-based Indie group, Bad Bad Hats, is playing Blackbird this coming weekend. The trio made waves with their first album, Physic Reader, and are now touring with new songs and tracks from their second album, Lightening Round. Definitely a show not to miss. 

Cerbo with Kilborn Alley

► Goldy’s // Free // 8 p.m.

New Twang City

► Huber’s West End // Free // 8 p.m.

MC Chris

► The Castle Theatre // $20 // 8 p.m.

The Hazy Seas, Dog Mom, Soft and Dumb, Superkick, Other Suns

► The Bird House // $5 // 8:30 p.m.

Kurt Crandall and the Stella Vees

► The Iron Post // Cover // 9 p.m.

New Souls

► Blackbird // Free // 10 p.m.

Sunday, March 8th

Duo MemDi

► Community Center for the Arts (C4A) // Free // 1 p.m.

Jenny and Shawn

► Alto Vineyards Champaign // Free // 2 p.m.

Charlotte Mattax-Moersch, harpsichord

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Prices vary // 3 p.m.

Jack Whittle & the Disclaimers

► Pipa’s Pub // 5 p.m.

Snow Melt Blues Fest: Kilborn Alley Blues Band

► Neil St. Blues // Free // 6:30 p.m.

Canadian Rifle, Bonelung, Salt Sweat Sugar, Sad Rat, Justin Miller

► nightshop // $12 // 7 p.m.

The Floozies, SunSquabi, Late Night Radio

► The Canopy Club // Prices vary // 9 p.m.

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