Weekender: August 26—28 -

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

9:00 p.m.–Saturday, 12:00 a.m.

Cover: $5

New Ruins were scheduled to play this show, but they had to cancel. There should be another band playing with the Hathaways, but I’ve not heard who that will be. (TN)

Bible Belt Sinner and Hi-Ho Buffalo at Mike ‘N’ Molly’s, 8:00 p.m., $5

Your life has been lacking in rock and roll lately, I can tell. You must come to this, and get rocked. Surfabilly Freakout is presenting the show, which should guarantee that the performances are sufficiently nuts. (BV)

Dance for People with Parkinson’s, Krannert Center, 10:00 a.m., Free

An extremely cool idea. “A gentle movement session that stretches, strengthens muscles, and imparts balance.” No experience necessary. (BV)

Urbana Sweetcorn Festival in downtown Urbana

Friday, 5:00–11 p.m.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Free admission

Nothing says heartland fun like a cycloptic ear of corn emerging out of a completed Rubik’s Cube. Or maybe it’s the Borg starship. Both inhabiting some hazy past, distant enough that we can feel free to wax nostalgic in day-glo colors.

Take note: This year the 30,000 ears of corn are coming from Maddox Farms in Warrensburg, IL, which is only about an hour from Urbana. Well done. (RH)

Also, Eye of the Tiger –

Bats at the Bridge at Elks Pavilion, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 7:00 p.m., $2

Head downtown to the Congress Street bridge to see millions of bats head out on their nightly … oh wait … nevermind, I thought this was Austin. But anyone could make that mistake.

From the website: Did you know that bats provide billions of dollars worth of services to humans each year?

Then clearly we need to tax those fuckers. Budget crisis solved. Thank you nature. You’re worth lots of money.

All seriousness aside, bats live in a covered bridge in Mahomet, and that’s pretty cool. (RH)

Sangamon River Music Festival at Mahomet

Friiday, 4:00–11:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Free?

Another Earth at the Art Theater

Friday, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
Sat/Sun, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
$6.50 before 6:00 p.m., $9 after

In which human tragedy meets the vanguard of theoretical physics. (RH)

Look for our upcoming review of the film. (JS)

Bridesmaids at the Art Theater, Fri/Sat 10 p.m., $6

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

Face Time Police

6:30–10:00 p.m.
The Canopy Club

Face Time Police, with special guests The Bread Machine and Regalia

Tickets: $7.00
Doors: 6:00
Show: 6:30
Age: 18+

When I first saw this I thought it said “Fast Time Police” and was gleefully imagining Ramones and/or speed metal versions of King of Pain and Invisible Sun. Turns out it’s an update of rap-rock with less machismo and more 8 bit synths. (RH)

Rocket 88 @ The Blind Pig

9:00 p.m.–Sunday, 12:00 a.m.
The Blind Pig
No cover

Special guest Patrick McClary on guitar.

Emerald City Divas presents A.P. Drag

10:30 p.m.–Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Emerald City Lounge

Leiloni Stars and Aurora Lamont-Carrington, the Divas of Emerald City, have planned a fantastic “back to school” night at Emerald City. Featured guests are: Evah Envy and Isys Deleon of Chicago. DJ Ringo will provide the music.

And, yes, there are many drink specials.

Cover: $3, starting at 11:00 p.m.
Age: 21+ (TN)

CarX Crazy K at Champaign County Fairgrounds, 10:00 a.m., $65 and down

Rattle rattle thunder clatter boom boom boom, snort K and run a marathon. (RH)

Vermilion Voles Vintage Base Ball at Kennekuk County Park, Danville, 1:00 p.m,, Free

The Vermilion Voles play by the 1858 rules of baseball. Which means the sport is called base ball, the batter is a striker, and after the evening’s playground merriments, Mr. Murdstone Feaspetrel Temminckstint, a toff whose bacca pipes are reknowned throughout the republic, will provide the roguish Voles with a fine time of beak-hunting, iron-handling, lushery, and, once their dunnage is removed, a taste of Zebulon Monfort Woodforde, Esquire’s finest dollymops. Ruffles will be sported. Until the rozzers show up. Also, I’ve got to see a man about a dog. (RH)

Student Book Giveaway at Champaign Public Library, Sat/Sun 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Free

Listen. Your kid needs to read. Hell, your kid probably likes to read, and frankly, your kid would probably be willing to walk all the way from Tolono, or wherever the hell it is that you live, to come to this here book giveaway. You might as well drive ’em. You know, spend some good quality time with ’em. Truth be told, it won’t be long until they’re driving themselves, out of your life, forever. (CDC)

Rock Art for Kids at Urbana Free Library, 2:00 p.m., Free

I remember that they used to yell at college kids for painting “the rock” on campus when I was in school. Apparently their parents must have taken them to things like this when they were little and they were brainwashed from then on. Or it was just stupid peer pressure in fraternities and sororities that led them astray in their collegiate glory days. Either way, take your kid to paint some stuff now, without any repercussions, and let them choose their own path later. (JS)

Illinois Renaissance Festival at Danville

Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
$6.00

I haven’t been to the Illinois version of this English-graduate-employment program, but $6 is a tremendous value, even if there’s not live jousting.

The Donkeys, My Werewolf Diary, Anna Karina/Anna Karenina, 9:00 p.m., $5, Mike ‘N Molly’s

San Diego band, The Donkeys, joins My Werewolf Diary (solo project of Elzie from New Ruins) and a new local band with Cole Rabenort (formerly of Elsinore), Luke Bergkoetter (Take Care) and Mikael Brackett (The Fresh Kills/Midstress/whatever they’re called now). (JS)

DJ Bozak at Cowboy Monkey, 10:00 p.m., $5

Champaign’s prodigal son returns home from San Francisco to spin at the Monkey for the first time in quite a while. Before you even ask, I am confirming this will be awesome. (BV)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

Companion Animals Dog Wash at the Stock Pavilion, Noon–4:00 p.m., $5

When I first saw this, I thought it said Competitive Dog Wash, which would be awesome. (RH)

UFL Science Fiction Must Reads: To Say Nothing of the Dog at Urbana Free Library, 2:00 p.m. Free

Someone Gets Mad About the Homosexual Agenda, anytime, free.