“How did an unknown indie-rock band from Champaign, IL, get its first show in New York City and at a bar co-owned by Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones? I attribute it to the kindness …
This article has been edited for length and clarity. Theon Cross is coming to Urbana for PYGMALION, and his unique blend of jazz, funk, and Afro-Caribbean music is infectiously groovy. A London native and up-and-coming …
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 …
Those looking to catch a fun and musically diverse indie rock band that mixes elements of pop, jazz, and surf rock, with an undeniable undertone of The Strokes in there, should head to the Canopy …
A few Smile Politely music writers attended a few major performances during this year’s ELLNORA | The Guitar Festival, and below were their takes on the performances they experienced. Sharon Isbin & the Pacifica Quartet …
Are you familiar with Champaign-Urbana’s Great Cover-Up? It’s a weekend of music that raises money for local charities, held once again this year at the Rose Bowl Tavern. The event features local bands and individuals …
Last week I published my Five Things in September article, and I listed seeing Andy Frasco live as one of my top suggestions for the month. I had missed his set at Summer Camp, but …
Monday, September 11th Zouki Boom with Marie Gelinas and Ed Hayes ► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5:30 p.m. Enjoy the happy hour with an injection of Canadian flavor as Ed Hayes …
One of the many artists appearing at the Krannert Center’s ELLNORA | The Guitar Festival is Sharon Isbin, a guitarist who has won multiple Grammy awards and was recognized by Musical America as their 2020 …
As Smile Politely’s music editor, this is my first “Five Things” in the scene, article, and honestly, it’s a bit out of my comfort zone. My aim has always been to spotlight what’s happening in …
Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman avoids press about her band, which is a good way to keep one’s head clear of doubt and nagging criticisms. But what I learned in my Labor Day conversation with her is …
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 …
“I think my style and persona are quite apparent within the results of whatever medium I happen to be working in.” As a guitar practitioner, Andy Summers pauses to let his assertion take effect. It’s …
For Joey and Roddy, the members of the indie rock duo Man on Man, making music is all about authenticity, connection, and fearless expression. Creating a fusion of indie rock, electronica, and pop, the two …
On my way to the Rose Bowl to see Official Claire, a singer/songwriter out of Chicago, I pulled up her Spotify and listened to her newest release, You Underestimate Me. A scroll through her Instagram …
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 …
Ellnora | The Guitar Festival, formerly known as the Wall to Wall Guitar Festival, made its debut at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2005. The festival was envisioned as a celebration of the …
Lend me your eyes and mind and let me take you on a journey back to the late ’90s, to a time where music, laughter, and camaraderie united the service workers in our community. This …
In the late 1980s, I used to ride in Bill Kirby’s car and listen to bands like the BulletBoys. He and my best friend went to the same Baptist church; that was my connection with …
After an afternoon of rain showers, the weather dried up and I walked into the Rose Bowl to see the tail end of Sara Siders’s (Sass) performance. I got to hear her rendition of “My …
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 …
Donté Winslow, known by his stage name ZENtheRapper, grew up in Kankakee before moving on to a journey filled with exploration, creativity, and growth. His background paints a vivid picture of a young man exploring …
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 …
What happens when three guys armed with a smattering of musical know-how, a shared passion for rock, and a determination to make some noise get together? In the case of local indie band Decadents, the …
Music, in its boundless ability to touch the human soul, is often touted as the universal language. Its nuances transcend boundaries, cultures, and political ideologies. For Seth Avett, one half of the acclaimed folk-rock duo …
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 …
On Thursday night, the legendary Ann Wilson of Heart made an impressive stop at the Virginia Theater in Champaign with her backing band, Tripsitter. The performance was Wilson’s first stop in Champaign since 1987’s Heart …
On a sultry Tuesday summer night, the Canopy Club in Urbana witnessed a dynamic display of Canadian indie rock prowess in the form of Peach Pit and Babe Corner. It was an evening filled with …
On July 29th the Champaign-Urbana chapter of the Girls Rock! Camp Alliance (GRCA) held its camp showcase and festival fund-raiser at the Rose Bowl Tavern in Urbana. Four bands made up of campers played in …
From his humble roots in Delavan, Illinois, Cody Diekhoff’s (Chicago Farmer) journey into the world of music began with earnest simplicity. “I started out on a barstool with just my guitar and harmonica, playing songs …
Monday, July 31st James Mauck’s Forebeat ► Rosebowl Tavern // Tips in bucket // 5:30 p.m. Experience an extraordinary performance by Forebeat, a one-man band where “Beats collide in an accelerator, frozen together within the …
Primitive Lights’ latest album reawakens the magic of Led Zeppelin III with a country-cosmic twist, in the confines of a desolate old church. A Google photo search of the Fairfield Church in Newman, Illinois, reveals …
Monday, July 24th Stark/Rebone/Sanchez ► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss Brian Stark’s grand finale at the Rose Bowl Tavern, before he embarks on his teaching journey at Colgate …
The thriving local music scene in Champaign has been blessed with a fresh wave of nostalgia. Lorenzo Goetz, a prominent band of the early 2000s, is making their long-awaited return for a reunion show on …
I have recently had the pleasure of attending a couple of excellent concerts at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign: Pat Metheny and Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. As I sat there enjoying the concerts, …
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 …
This past Sunday evening I visited a staple of the Champaign-Urbana music scene, Rose Bowl Tavern, to check out their Writers in the Round hosted by Gloria Roubal and featuring Paul Kotheimer, David Howie, and …
This past Thursday, July 6th, marked a special occasion for local band Snack’d Out. Not only was their debut album, Obstacle Illusion launching on streaming platforms, but the band welcomed it in by playing the …
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 …
You would expect a band treading dangerously close to infringing on the copyright for a notorious biker gang to be such a loving band of troubadours, but Banditos are just that. They think of each …
When recording artist Lyle Lovett says he travels with a large band, he isn’t kidding. He brought his Large Band, including horns, electric, acoustic, bass, steel guitars, violin, piano, drums, and background vocalists to Champaign …
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 …
As the sounds of live music begin to thump through the summer air all over C-U, Mid Nite Leg has other plans for the season. Only just forming in the fall of 2022, the band …
“I started singing basically when I was born,” Mollie Kruger tells me from my computer screen. “I would just stand outside and scream sing to my neighbors. I’m sure they loved it!”, she laughs. I …
Editor’s Note: Photos weren’t allowed during the performance. The photos in this review of Mr. Metheny are from his social media. Jazz aficionado and eminent guitarist Pat Metheny, the recipient of 20 Grammy Awards across …
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 …
It’s rare to find an organization with the vision to support local music that also first considers what the local scene actually needs (instead of just what they want to do). Right Here Music (RHM), …
I recently sat down with Tom Faux, music professor at Illinois State University and one of the founders of Community Center for the Arts (C4A) — an oasis for music lovers of all ages and …
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 …
