The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana 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, October 24th
The Urbana Hootenanny
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 8 p.m.
Every Monday at the Rose Bowl, come hang out with some great musicians. A sort of open mic meets song share, you can expect a variety of music and performers.
Nectar, Snack’d Out
►Brass Rail // free // 8 p.m.
Nectar plays a hometown show before heading off on tour with Into It. Over It. Joining them on this show is emo/punk band Snack’d Out.
Photo from Dan Kusaya’s website.
Dan Kusaya
►WEFT Sessions (virtual) // free // 10 p.m.
Dan Kusaya plays modern and traditional African music with his many instruments. Listen live at WEFT 90.1.
TUESDAY, October 25th
Joan Hickey Trio
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Joan Hickey, Sam Peters, and Joel Spencer, perform jazz at Rose Bowl. They’ll be performing some jazz classics as well as some of Joan’s arrangements of jazz standards.
WEDNESDAY, October 26th
Vine Street Syncopators
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Jazz at Rose Bowl on Wednesdy with the Vine Street Syncopators. Come hearsome piping hot jazz to warm you up.
Photo from Kingdom Collapse’s Facebook page.
Kingdom Collapse
►Rose Bowl Tavern // $15 // 7 p.m.
Texas rock group Kingdom Collapse is stopping by the Canopy Club on their Fall Uprising Tour. Joining them are special guests The Funeral Portrait, Versus Me, and Of Virtue.
THURSDAY, October 27th
The Chickadee Sermon
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Folk group The Chickadee Sermon will be bringing their lovely vocal harmonies to Rose Bowl on Thursday night as part of Americana happy hour.
Menjunje
►Allen Hall // free // 7:30 p.m.
Playing Afro-Caribbean music as well as Puerto Rican rhythms such as Bomba, Plena and Cuban Guaguanco.
Merry Travelers
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 7:30 p.m.
Come hear Merry Travelers for some groove, soul, pop, blues, psychedelia, and all around good vibes.
FRIDAY, October 28th
Jazz Cafe
►Champaign Public Library // free // 4:30 p.m.
Come to the Champaign Public Library’s cafe to get some coffee or tea and to hear some lovely jazz.
Chip Stephens Organ Trio
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 5 p.m.
Organ, guitar, and drums come together to form this jazz trio, bringing some great tunes.
Photo from Dan Loomis’ Facebook page.
Dan Loomis
►Copper Creek Church // free // 7:30 p.m.
Performing “Job’s Trials” with narration from Scott Keeble, this performance is “an evocative musical dive that explores a universal story about why bad things happen to good people.”
The Pimps
►Castle Theatre // $22 adv, $25 door // 8 p.m.
Midwest punk rockers The Pimps are performing at the Castle Theatre, with special guest The Rumours.
Ancient Ways, New Souls
►Boomerangs // free // 8 p.m.
Ancient Ways will be hosting a party at Boomerangs — stylized as BOOmerangs for this show. The band will be playing a set and New Souls will be opening up the evening with some tunes.
Photo from Mightmare’s Facebook page.
Mightmare, Sweetmelk
►Rose Bowl Tavern // $12 // 9 p.m.
Mightmare, the solo project of River Shook (of Sarah Shook and the Disarmers), is a “riff-centric wading in the indie rock dark pop shallows.” Opening up the evening is singer-songwriter Sweetmelk.
SATURDAY, October 29th
Van De Pants
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 12 p.m.
An exciting afternoon of funk awaits you at Rose Bowl this Saturday. Van De Pants plays classic funk, “ala The Meters.” Guitar, bass, keys, drums, come vibe.
Mai Sugimoto Quartet
►Krannert Art Museum // free // 2 p.m.
Part of the C-U Jazz Festival as well as the Sudden Sound Concert Series, the Mai Sugimoto Quartet is an improv quartet with sax, flute, bass, and drums.
Cody and Charlie
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 3 p.m.
Two of C-U’s most beloved, Cody Jensen and Charlie Harris will be playing americana, bluegrass, folk, country, and more this Saturday.
Derick Cordoba and G.E.L.
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 4 p.m.
Jazz guitarist Derick Cordoba celebrates the vinyl release of his new album J&J.
Kilborn Alley Blues
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 7 p.m.
Hitting you with some tasty licks and southern fried soul, you’re always in for a great time with Kilborn Alley.
DJ “Necrotic” Nico Haulde
►Bentley’s Pub // free // 10 p.m.
DJ “Necrotic” Nico Haulde will be spinning some devilishly good tunes on on vinyl on Saturday, October 29th. From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., come hangout, have a drink, and dance — costumes are encouraged.
SUNDAY, October 30th
Jazz Brunch
►Neil Street Blues // $25 // 11 a.m.
The final day of C-U Jazz Festival, come to Neil Street Blues to enjoy brunch and hear some tunes from the Leon Lewis-Nicol Duo.
Halloween Party
►Rose Bowl Tavern // free // 6 p.m.
The Darkness Underground is throwing a big ole Halloween party at the Rose Bowl, complete with a costume contest, a belly dancing and poi (fire) show, food trucks, and vendors. DJs will be spinning tunes all night to keep the party going.
Photo from Lucero’s Facebook page.
Lucero
►Castle Theatre // $30 adv, $33 door // 7:30 p.m.
Country punk veterans Lucero are stopping by the Castle Theatre. They have new album coming out soon, titled Should’ve Learned By Now. Joining them is L.A. Edwards.
Terminus Victor, The Falbonauts, Three Hour Tour
►Brass Rail // free // 7:30 p.m.
A night of heavy rock and punk awaits you for this Halloween show at Brass Rail. Costumes are encouraged.
Top photo from Lucero’s Facebook page.
