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.
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, October 14th
Young and the Fearless
► Curtis Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch // Free // 1 p.m.
Doja Cat, Mother Nature
► Foellinger Auditorium // $15 students, $22 public // 7:30 p.m.
Urbana Hootenanny
► Rose Bowl Tavern // Free // 8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15th
The Jaybirds
► Houlihan’s // Free // 5:30 p.m.
Misery Loves Company Tour (21+)
► Sipyard // Free // 6 p.m.
The Misery Loves Company tour part two features a packed ticket. The sipyard will have Mizere with special guests Tha L.O.C, Derrty Shirt, K-Rose, and local artists Taylor Fit and Infra Blak. This show is a solid way to recover from the beginning of the week.
Church Street Ramblers
► The Iron Post // Free // 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 16th
Chip McNeil Group
► The Iron Post // Cover // 6 p.m.
Performance/Talk: Women in Music
► Levis Faculty Center, third floor // Free // 7:30 p.m.
The Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities is sponsoring a night with local Carrie Chandler, Emily McKown, and Olivia Tasch, members of Girls Rock! C-U. The discussion will focus on the artists’ experiences of being a woman in the music, with great performances throughout. Julie McClure splogged about this event here!
Photo from the Facebook event
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
►The Virginia Theatre // prices vary // 8 p.m.
George Singleton, The Legend of Levi Morgan, Lee and the Mighty Pines
►Rose Bowl Tavern // $10 advance/$13 at the door // 8 p.m.
Wednesday Night Spotlight, Special Guest TBA
► Blackbird // Free // 9 p.m.
Thursday, October 17th
Nakatani Gong Orchestra (Tatsuya Nakatani)
►Allen Hall // Free // 7 p.m.
Tatsuya Nakatani will be wrapping up their residency at Unit One/Allen Hall with this concert. Artist and composer Nakatani plays with time and space in their compositions, and this concert will be one for you to get lost in the experience. This performance with the Allen Hall Jam Session Ensemble will be a great way to kick off your weekend.
Photo from the Facebook event
Eric Paul, Miss Christine, Talen Show, and more
► nightshop // $5 // 7 p.m.
UIUC Jazz Combo
► The Iron Post // Cover // 7 p.m.
Explosions in the Sky
► The Castle Theatre // $27 // 8 p.m.
The Steel Woods
► The City Center // $15 // 8 p.m.
Billy Galt & The Blues Deacons
► Blackbird // Free // 9 p.m.
Friday, October 18th
New Orleans Jazz Machine
► Blackbird // Free // 5 p.m.
Jeff Helgesen Quintet with Chip McNeil
► The Iron Post // Cover // 5 p.m.
Mark Laughlin and Dada Veda
► Sipyard // Free // 7 p.m.
Terminus Victor, Bristle
► nightshop // Free // 7:30 p.m
Champaign’s own Terminus Victor will be playing the nightshop in Bloomington this week with another C-U band, Bristle. This will be a show of dense, upbeat rock, so if you’re looking to get hit with a wall of sound and rock out a bit, this is a show for you.
Photo from the Facebook event
Kansas
► The Virginia Theatre // prices vary // 7:30 p.m.
The Fairchilds
► Huber’s West End // Free // 8 p.m.
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Caleb Cook Band
► Rose Bowl Tavern // Cover // 9 p.m.
The Caleb Cook Band is returning to their home stage at the Rose Bowl this week. They will be playing a mix of standards and original material from their most recent EP. The show is free and so is the popcorn!
Photo from the Facebook event
Saturday, October 19th
Mackville
► Curtis Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch // Free // 12 p.m.
Hogchute Opry Harvest
► Kalyx Center for Sustainability in Monticello // $10 // 3 p.m.
Pizza Fest: Friko, Mike Butler, Cole Makuch, & more
► The Source // $5 // 3 p.m.
Violet Crime, Pelafina, Dis-FUNKtional, Brook Pridemore
► nightshop // $5 adv., $7 door // 7 p.m.
Improvisers Exchange feat. Thollem McDonas
► Allen Hall // Free // 7 p.m.
The Improvisers Exchange ensemble will be performing with keyboardist Thollem McDonas. The workshops and concerts by the IEE never disappoint, partly because you never know what to expect. This show is free and open to the public, hosted by Unit One at Allen Hall.
Photo from the Facebook event
Cold
► The City Center // prices vary // 7 p.m.
The Double Dots
► Huber’s West End // Free // 8 p.m.
Pizza Fest: Data Waves, Kid Houdini, Wingclipper, Metrofern
► The Source // $5 // 8:45 p.m.
New Souls
► Blackbird // Free // 9 p.m.
Mungion, Aquila
► The Canopy Club // $10 adv., $12 door // 9 p.m.
Saturday night at the Canopy Club will be a wild one. Chicago-based Mungion will be taking the stage with their groove-funk-rock style. They will be playing with CU locals Aquilla, a band that stirs together rock, r&b, and jazz that will satisfy your ears.
Photo from the Facebook event.
Sunday, October 20th
Taco Belles
► Urbana Free Library // Free // 2 p.m.
Dan & Ocean
► Neil St. Blues // Free // 2 p.m.
Mank and Sass
► Pour Bros. // Free // 3 p.m.
Meadowhawk
► The Iron Post // Free // 7 p.m.
Varanger, Angelust, Nightmother, Chalk, Indulge Devour
► nightshop // $6 // 7 p.m.
Sun-Riser, Prevalence, Llyn
► The Canopy Club // $5 // 8 p.m.