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 [email protected] with the details.
MONDAY, August 13th
There are no shows scheduled for this date.
TUESDAY, August 14th
The Acacia Stain, Left Behind, I Am, Upon a Broken Throne, Portals
The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $16 advance/$18 door // 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, August 15th
Dearie
Sipyard // free // 7 p.m.
Dearie is the new-ish project of singer-songwriters Carrie Chandler-Harrison and Kayla Brown, both of whom you’ve likely seen in other acts — Chandler is in Bashful Youngens, Brown in We the Animals. They’ve been working on material together under this moniker, and I made mention of it in last month’s Seven Things column.
Queer Kevin, Dump Him, Graveswitcher, Carly Beth
Blips and Chitz // $5-$7 // 7:30 p.m.
Here’s a house show worth looking at mid-week: Queer Kevin and Dump Him are two touring acts heading through, the former from Ohio and the latter from Massachusetts. Springfield’s Graveswitcher are a punk outfit that are apparently playing their first show out of Springfield, so that’s cool they are doing so in C-U. Carly Beth is a new local band formed from the remnants of what was another local, La Louve.
Neiv, Motes, Silkwork, Glower, Heck
nightshop in Bloomington // $6 // 8 p.m.
Ian Shepherd, Mitchell Killough
Blackbird // free // 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, August 16th
George Turner
The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
Thomas Gun, JOE, Jean Atomic, Chris G
nightshop in Bloomington // cover // 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, August 17th
Inland Calypso
The Lake House at Crystal Lake Park // free // 1 p.m.
Tons O Fun Band, New Souls, Champaign Freight, Whiskey Raccoons
West Side Park // free // 5 p.m.
Jeff Helgesen Quintet
The Iron Post // cover // 5 p.m.
Friday Night Live
Downtown Champaign // free // 6 p.m.
Chicken Shack, John Till
nightshop in Bloomington // $7 // 7:30 p.m.
Zecca Bom
25 O’Clock Brewing Company // free // 8 p.m.
Another new and exciting local act is Zecca Bom, and their mix of Brazilian jam/jazz fusion going down in Urbana on Friday evening for this free show outside one of the newest breweries in C-U, 25 O’Clock. They’ve been performing here and there around town, mostly in Urbana, so if you haven’t caught them yet, here’s a good opportunity.
Old Salt Union, Harvest Sons
The Castle Theatre in Bloomington // $10 advance/$12 door // 8 p.m.
Fiona Kimble, Notches, MeInCapris, Our Landmark
Casa de Sasha // $6-$8 // 8:30 p.m.
Katie Flynn
The Iron Post // cover // 9 p.m.
Joe Asselin & The Moonlight Ramblers
Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, August 18th
Elsinore, Emily Blue, Ausar, King T’z
West Side Park // free // 5 p.m.
Elsinore isn’t wasting any time between shows — they just performed the first show in over a year and a half at the end of July, and now they are headlining the Taste of C-U in West Side Park on Saturday night. You can see night one’s lineup above, but here’s what Saturday has to offer for this free show near Downtown Champaign. C-U ex pat Emily Blue supports from Chicago, and one of the newest additions to the local scene, Ausar, is a nice touch here.
David Adam Byrnes, The Whole Ridge Band, Mary & Zac
City Center // $10-$25 // 8 p.m.
Terminus Victor, Bartlow, Our Landmark
Cowboy Monkey // $5 // 9 p.m.
Here’s a very solid rock show in Downtown Champaign at Monkey on Saturday. Terminus Victor is still slugging it out as one of the longest running local bands still doin’ it. Their catalog still holds up against pretty much anyone performing these days. Our Landmark released a record at the very end of last year you should check out.
Whiskey Birddog
The Iron Post // cover // 9 p.m.
Chase Baby, Truth AKA Trouble, Anamoli, Murr, Flipside Moton, Gatson, Kidd Soul, Justin Rondon, Trevy, 2Ponito, James Dali, Mr. Midwest & T Money
Blackbird // free // 9:30 p.m.
A pretty sensational lineup of emcees are hitting the stage on Saturday night at Blackbird, so if you’re looking for a high energy hang, head over for this free show in Downtown Urbana. Chase Baby is on top of the bill, and surprising to me, he released a new EP back in April, Good Days/Bad Days, which you can check out pretty much anywhere that streams music.
SUNDAY, August 19th
The Jaybirds
Urbana Free Library // free // 2 p.m.
Knights of Cabiria
The Iron Post // cover // 7 p.m.
