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, October 15th
Nectar, gobbinjr, n.m. garcia
► Flynn’s Arcade // $5-$7 suggested donation // 7 p.m.
Skuzzy indie rock crew Nectar perform tonight at this house show, their first show since performing at PYGMALION a couple of weeks ago with Anna Burch at Blackbird. They released their new record Knocking At The Door earlier this year on Infinity Cat, and toured a bit as well.
Photo by Veronica Mullen
Larry Gray Trio
► The Iron Post // cover // 8 p.m.
TUESDAY, October 16th
Kayla Brown
► Blackbird // free // 7 p.m.
Church Street Ramblers
► The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, October 17th
McNeil Quintet
► The Iron Post // cover // 6 p.m.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Caroline Rose
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $25 advance/$28 door // 7:30 p.m.
Slowthrower, Bringers, Homogonized Terrestrials, Heck
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7:30 p.m.
Jim James, Benjamin Booker, Linqua Franqa
► The Canopy Club // free for students/$15 public // 8 p.m.
My Morning Jacket’s incredible front man Jim James is performing on Wednesday night as a part of The Future Is Voting tour which heads through Urbana ahead of November’s midterm elections. He’s joined by a few friends, and if you’re a student, this show is totally free for you. If you’re not a student, the cost is only $15, which is a steal as well. There will be guests as well, some running for office this midterm, encouraging you to get out and vote in a few weeks. James has released two records this year, Uniform Clarity and Uniform Distortion.
Irish Traditional Session
► Blind Pig on Walnut // free // 8 p.m.
John Lash Group
► The Iron Post // cover // 8 p.m.
Ian Shepherd, Mitchell Killough, Jesse Brown, Clayton Thompson
► Blackbird // free // 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, October 18th
C-U Folk & Roots Festival
► Various locations in Urbana // price varies // October 18-20
This year’s C-U Folk & Roots Festival is a special one — this is their 10 year anniversary of doing the festival. Robbie Fulks headlines things this weekend on Saturday, but there are just tons of shows to check out for all ages, most of them at a very low price, or even free. Things kick off on Thursday and run through Saturday night. Check out their website above to see all the programming options for this, which features a ton of folk, Americana, blues, and more types of music.
Korupter
► Boomerang’s // free // 7 p.m.
Ann Hampton Callaway, Susan Werner
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $10-$55 (waiting list) // 7:30 p.m.
The Dead South, Whiskey Shivers
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $20 advance/$23 door // 8 p.m.
Umphrey’s McGee
► The Canopy Club // $40 // 8:30 p.m.
Son Monarcas
► Allen Hall // free // 9 p.m.
Aquila
► Blackbird // free // 12 a.m.
FRIDAY, October 19th
New Orleans Jazz Machine
► Blackbird // free // 5 p.m.
Jose Gobbo & Friends
► 25 O’Clock Brewing Company // free // 7 p.m.
Ann Hampton Callaway, Susan Werner
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $10-$55 (waiting list) // 7:30 p.m.
Edward David Anderson, Kickin & Pickin’
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $15 advace/$17 door // 8 p.m.
Lonely Trailer, The Safes, Primitive Lights, Falbonauts
► The Loose Cobra // donations // 9 p.m.
Lonely Trailer are at it again this week after performing last week with Terminus Victor. As I mentioned in my scene update column, they released a new record earlier this year (which admittedly I just found out about), which is called Battle of Duh. Loose Cobra is always a good time, so head to Tolono and check it out.
Jade Cicada, Detox Unit
► The Canopy Club // $12 advance/$15 door // 9 p.m.
Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy, Jeff Williams (of NIL8)
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 9 p.m.
Blind Colors
► Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.
DJ Rad Rock
► Watson’s // free // 10:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, October 20th
Olivia Tasch (The Chickadee Sermon), Brad Olsen (Neoga Blacksmith), Rebekah Songer, Melvin Knight
► Exile on Main // donations // 1 p.m.
Ernie Hendrickson Trio
► Pour Bros // free // 7 p.m.
Grant Milliren, Brett Conlin, Daniel Watkins
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7 p.m.
Dance Music Therapy
► Independent Media Center // free, donations welcomed // 7 p.m.
Ann Hampton Callaway, Susan Werner
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $10-$55 (waiting list) // 7:30 p.m.
Andy Mo, Jeremy Harper
► Memphis on Main // cover // 8 p.m.
Cdot Honcho, Lisa Lee, Plu2o Nash, Adot, Rooski, Louie Kason, Da Circle
► The Canopy Club // $20 advance/$25 door // 9 p.m.
Chicago rapper Cdot Honcho heads down to C-U for this show with a bunch of support acts on Saturday night at Canopy Club. He dropped his latest album H4 just a few weeks back, which you can stream on your platform of choice now to check it out.
DJ Tim Williams
► Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, October 21st
Samba Soul
► Urbana Free Library // free // 2 p.m.
Smoke in Space, Boxout, Sophia Byrd, Lola Honey
► The Canopy Club // $5 // 7:30 p.m.
BryanTorch, Champagne James, Indi, MAZArobbie, DJ Rebel, D-Spillz, Chase Baby, RC Forever, Adobo
► Independent Media Center // $5 // 9:30p.m.