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 22nd
Hip Hop Collective
► Illini Union // free // 6 p.m.
Pryor, Gray and Spencer Trio
► The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, October 23rd
Chickadee Sermon
► Wicked Rascal Barbershop // free // 5 p.m.
Melinda Rose, Joan Hickey
► The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, October 24th
No Dead Heroes, Karat’s Gold, Justin Miller, Chris G
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7:30 p.m.
Lauv, Charlotte Lawrence
► The Canopy Club // $20-$25 (sold out) // 9 p.m.
Ari Leff goes by the stage name of Lauv, and he’s got himself a sold out show this week in Urbana. The New York Based electronic musician has a pretty small catalog, but has some new material out this year from an album called I met you when I was 18.
THURSDAY, October 25th
C-U Jazz Festival
► Various venues // price varies // October 25-28
The 4th annual C-U Jazz Festival starts up on Thursday and runs through the 28th, featuring a ton of different shows and workshops in a bunch of venues all over town. This takes place just a week after a similar style festival, C-U Folk & Roots Festival, finished up. Head to the website’s schedule (linked above) to see what the programming looks like this year.
U of I Men’s Glee Club
► Wesley United Methodist Church // donations // 7 p.m.
Daniel Hope and Friends
► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $10-$38 // 7:30 p.m.
Andy Frasco and the U.N., Sun Stereo
► The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $12 advance/$15 door // 8 p.m.
DJ Zay
► The Canopy Club // $5 // 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, October 26th
Today’s Children, Ryan Groff, Mike Ingram
► Main Quad // free // 11 a.m.
Brad Wheeler Group
► Blackbird // free // 5 p.m.
Joey Glassman Group
► The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
Jose Gobbo & Friends
► 25 O’Clock Brewing Company // free // 7 p.m.
Mid-October
► Sipyard // free // 7 p.m.
Shuga Beatz, Femme Fatale Duo
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7 p.m.
Halloween Cover Show
► Blips and Chitz // donations // 7:30 p.m.
Travis Tritt
► Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts // $40-$60 // 7:30 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band, The Lonesome Days
► The Canopy Club // $20 advance/$25 door // 8 p.m.
Bluegrass phenoms Yonder Mountain String Band make their somewhat-annual visit to Urbana at the Canopy Club, as Canopy continues the celebration of their 20th anniversary. Yonder’s most recent record is called LOVE. AIN’T LOVE, and you can certainly hear some of it on Saturday night.
Iverson, Uuskhy, James Mauck
► Cowboy Monkey // $7 // 9:30 p.m.
Tenth Mountain Division
► Blackbird // free // 10 p.m.
SATURDAY, October 27th
Ex Cathedra
► Sipyard // donations // 6:30 p.m.
Chris Young, Dan + Shay, Morgan Evans, Dee Jay Silver
► State Farm Center // $39.50-$79.50 // 7:30 p.m.
Reivers, These Beasts, Natronicus
► nightshop in Bloomington // $5 // 7:30 p.m.
REZN, Terminus Victor, Shazu, Llyn
► Loose Cobra // $5-$10 donations // 8 p.m.
Here’s a rad, heavy show taking place on Saturday night to celebrate Halloween 2018. Chicago’s metal outfit REZN heads down our way, and they are joined by local staple Terminus Victor, Teddy Lerch’s project Shazu, and Llyn to open things up. Loose Cobra celebrating this holiday? Sign me up.
Lanco, Travis Denning
► The City Center // $20-$99 // 8:30 p.m.
The Threads, Flat Moon Theory, Jazz Cabbage, HAL9K
► Urbana // $5-$7 // 9 p.m.
Aquila
► Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.
Afro Vybes, DJ Suru
► The Canopy Club // $10 advance/$20 door // 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, October 28th
Soul on Sunday
► The Iron Post // donations // 7 p.m.
Emily Blue, We the Animals, Melvin Knight
► The Canopy Club // $7 // 8 p.m.
C-U ex-pat Emily Blue returns to Urbana this Sunday night with a couple of locals. We the Animals are hard at work on their next record, and Melvin Knight released his new album Shades of Us earlier this year, and it is quite good. Blue has released some new material since she moved up to Chicago, so head over to her website to hear (and see) more of that.