Smile Politely seeks Music Editor
Our Music section covers a wide variety of genres and areas of local music, and as such, the Music Editor should have a knowledge and understanding of the past and present local music scene in …
Music
Joy Yang is building an interdisciplinary community
Dr. Joy Yang is a skilled pianist and thereminist, who recently graduated from the University of Illinois with her doctorate in jazz performance. Excited by the prospect of continuously expanding and building a community here …
The Overture: September 3-8
The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana each week. All of the information is accurate at time of publishing; however, all shows and performances are subject to …
Squonk brings gleeful spectacle to KCPA
A truly one-of-a-kind show is coming to Urbana for Krannert Center for the Performing Art’s Opening Weekend, promising to be a real blast for audience members of all ages. Squonk, a Pittsburgh-based multimedia ensemble that …
The Overture: August 26-September 1
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 …
Lucas Spencer to debut new project, Fall Afternoon
I bumped into Luke Spencer one night when we were both about to enjoy a band at Rose Bowl Tavern. Spencer shared with me that although he had been in bands since he was young, …
The Overture: August 19-25
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 …
Inside the creative synergy of Trouble Chasin’
Trouble Chasin’, the dynamic duo consisting of Chase Baby and Sandman Slimm, is more than just a collaboration — it’s a statement, an evolution, and a testament to the power of authentic artistry. Combining their …
Jayoo Da Boss: Family Representative
If you haven’t seen Jayoo Da Boss perform live, you probably haven’t been to Cypher Saturdays at Canopy Club very much over the past couple of years. Ever since the monthly series re-launched post-covid in …
The Overture: August 12-18
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 …
Kamila Glowacki of Nectar talks about new single and ten years as a band
Nectar, an indie rock band from Champaign, has spent the last decade blending upbeat melodies with deep, introspective lyrics. Led by Kamila Glowacki, the band is celebrating their tenth anniversary with the release of their …
The Overture: August 5-11
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 …
Emily How is ready for her spotlight
On a hot and sunny Thursday evening, Emily How joined our FaceTime call in between packing moving boxes. Fearing we were losing her to Chicago or even worse, the coasts, I quickly inquired where she …
From punk rock to family ties: Dave Hause grows up
Dave Hause’s musical journey is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of artistry. From his punk rock beginnings with The Loved Ones to his reflective solo career, Hause’s path has been marked by a relentless …
The Overture: July 29-August 4
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 …
Ganser set to headline fourth annual Pricklefest this weekend
This Sunday, Rose Bowl Tavern is gearing up for its fourth annual Pricklefest. This all-day rock fest utilizes both the indoor and outdoor stages and features a mix of both local and traveling artists. Upon …
Jakob Dylan brings his musical legacy back to Champaign
The Wallflowers have had a multitude of revolving band members over the years, but it’s the group’s founder and leader who has stayed steadfast and provided the long-haul star power. One attendee of the band’s …
The Overture: July 22 – 28
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 …
Writing Madvillainy and Midwest Emo with Will Hagle
While describing his debut book, Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series Madvillan’s Madvillainy, Will Hagle told me, “The biggest lesson I took from Madlib and MF DOOM in doing research for the book is that they just …
Haunted X Humans set goals a mile high
It was a warm Thursday evening as I made my way over to the Rose Bowl Tavern. It had rained earlier, and I was concerned about where I chose to speak with local band Haunted …
Sax player Johnathan Beckett talks jazz
This interview was edited for length and clarity. Saxophonist Dr. Jon Beckett knows what he’s doing. Beckett is so well connected and accomplished, that it would be an easier feat to find somewhere where he …
The Overture: July 15 – 21
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 …
Pass Down Magazine aims to elevate bands, locally and beyond
When I learned about Pass Down Magazine and its founders, University of Illinois students John Prince and Will Moore, I got a bit nostalgic. I, too, had dabbled with playing music in college, but my …
Perfect weather and stellar lineup highlight CobraFest 2024
Whether you’re a Champaign County local, or a HUM fan making your yearly pilgrimage to the humble town of Tolono, Illinois, CobraFest 2024 offers the crowd a sense of community. On Saturday, July 6th, camp …
The Overture: July 8-14
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 …
PYGMALION announces lineup for 20th anniversary
Celebrating its 20th year, the multi-faceted cultural event PYGMALION has unveiled its complete 2024 lineup. This year’s festival, which promises a blend of music, comedy, and more, kicks off with a highly anticipated performance by …
Clayton Burke’s artistic soul shines humbly in C-U
Balancing multiple musical projects is no small feat, but Clayton Burke can make it seem almost effortless. For our interview he wore a denim shirt, one of his self-made bolo ties and he rolled his …
The Overture: June 24-30
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 …
Mousepad releases a musical exploration of the contemporary techno-dystopia
“Disassociating, can’t connect with the network…” From “Sinking Low” Wake up Champaign! The primary engineer of the talented and busy Half House Studios, Mousepad (born Josh Harris), has released his 5th Studio LP! In My …
Matthew Curry coming home for Illinois mini-tour
Matthew Curry was so drawn to the guitar as a child growing up in Bloomington, Illinois, that his parents sometimes forced him to leave his bedroom to go outside and play with friends. The obsession …
The Overture: June 17-23
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 …
Barry Houser keeps the Illini marching
Barry Houser is the Director of the Marching Illini, Associate Director of Bands, Conductor of the Wind Orchestra, Director of the Fighting Illini Athletic Bands, Clinical Associate Professor, and Chair of the Conducting Area in …
Five things in music: June 2024
One of the best things about our music scene in Champaign-Urbana is the support and commitment by many venues and bookers to foster the development of our local music scene. This month, I wanted to …
The Overture: June 10-16
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 …
Chris Kinson’s unconventional path as a statistician and DJ
DJ and statistics professor at the University of Illinois, Chris Kinson, also know as DJ CK, has been quietly making waves with his passion for hip-hop and his commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration. From …
The Overture: June 3-9
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 …
Rose Bowl Tavern hosts a stellar return for Kangaroo Court and friends
With spring in full swing and the white tent back in the parking lot of Rose Bowl Tavern, it was only fitting that Kangaroo Court made a return to Urbana on a beautiful Saturday night. …
The essence of Summer Camp continues at Solshine Reverie
Last year, I had the chance to speak with Ian Goldberg before the final Summer Camp Music Festival. He revealed that it would be the last iteration of the festival as it had come to …
Lovely Lo-Fi with Mellie Lia
WEFT Community Radio has a new show available on offer at 90.1 FM and http://new.weft.org/listen/. WEFT, an East Central Illinois radio station run by volunteers since 1981, is located in the heart of the developing …
The Overture: May 28 – June 2
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 …
Hogchute Opry to celebrate the DIY spirit of our music scene
Hogchute Opry 2024 is set to deliver an unforgettable musical experience featuring many local artists at the Kalyx Center for Sustainability in Monticello on June 1st. This cherished event in the local music scene combines …
Jarrel Young’s Full Custody: Let the redeemed of the courts say so
Jarrel Young is back! A Champaign product of 2019 Illini Anthem fame, Young returns to his music-releasing ways with his latest LP Full Custody, a project that promises to be as elucidating as it is …
The Overture: May 20-26
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 …
Time’s Up with Kimberly Mack
While many of us at Smile Politely could be considered scholars and fans of Champaign-Urbana, there are more traditional scholars at the University of Illinois who are doing academic work around their interests and fandoms. …
Five things in music: May 2024
As the winter chill fades and those first warm breezes start rolling in off the prairie, there’s an extra sense of excitement and renewal in the air around Champaign-Urbana. Sure, the students have largely returned …
Central Illinois set to sound off at Solshine Reverie
When the Solshine Reverie Festival, formerly Summer Camp, (read about my experience there last year) makes it debut at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe May 24th through the 26th, music fans will be treated to …
Sitrus Sol shines bright with old sounds and new
Friends and bandmates Adam Brown and Matt Harsh from Sitrus Sol don’t shy away from their influences, even when those influences came from their parents’ music collection. Remember when that was an uncool thing to …
The Overture: May 13-19
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 …
Emily McKown discusses her unique journey and new Two Shoes album
Urbana’s vibrant music scene is a beacon for artists like Emily McKown, who blend their musical talent with activism to create a powerful force for social change. Known on stage as Emily Anne and previously …