Now that spring is teasing us it’s near, it’s exciting to see things get busier in the music scene in Champaign-Urbana. I’ve been excited to see bookings increase, and some of the local venues getting more diverse in the artists they host and more creative in promoting some of these shows. Lots of cool stuff is happening, including a world-class rock and roll band you’ve probably never heard of coming to town near the end of the month.
More musical residencies, please!
I’ve been very excited to see local venues take a page out of Rose Bowl Tavern’s book and present certain local artists on a regular basis. Rose Bowl Tavern hosts a myriad of jazz acts like Erik Lund’s Jazz Friends, Jeff Hegelsen and Friends, and Vine Street Syncopators to name just a few as well as country and Americana acts like The Tumbleweeds and Prairie Sharks at least once monthly. The Space is featuring monthly residencies by the Prairie Sharks and Kenna Mae from Sweetmelk. The Gallery Art Bar hosted Afro D and friends on Thursdays in February and welcome Goio Lima for a night of Brazilian music for three Wednesdays this month. Anthem has started a Live and Unplugged series on Wednesdays featuring some great local artists as well. Canopy Club’s Cypher Saturdays might not qualify as a residency, but the fact that local hip hop has an opportunity once monthly to come out and showcase and hone their skills is amazing as well. This practice of regularly booking bands is great for the artists, music fans and ultimately the venues, and I hope to see this continue and expand to more places in C-U.
City Center needs to host more shows
Over recent years, my visits to City Center have been fewer and fewer, because they just haven’t been having as many shows. There had been a significant gap since my last experience here, however, that changed recently when I attended a production of the play Airness, staged by the Illinois Theatre. The entire venue was transformed by the incredible set design for the play, but it was a moment of rediscovery, not just because of the play’s compelling narrative but also of the venue itself. Connected to City Center is a bar called Fat City, which I learned was only open during events now (despite what Google says), but it’s a chic and inviting space unto itself. Given the sporadic nature of shows here in recent years, it was a rare delight to step back into a place that had become somewhat elusive.
Returning to City Center reignited my appreciation for live music and the charm of performance venues. The structural beauty, the lighting, the sound design, and the spacious interior, which I had always admired, greeted me once again. The large stage and comfy open area in front of it suggest a setting where artists can truly connect with their audience, bringing their music to life in a meaningful way. As someone who enjoys live music, I couldn’t help but imagine the range of performances that could take place here. Learning that my favorite band on the planet would be performing at City Center soon added to my excitement, but more on that later. It feels like a serendipitous opportunity to create new memories in a place that feels like it was built to elevate live music. Here’s hoping it’s just the beginning, and the venue is on its way to inviting more great bands to play.
Grammy winner Renegade El Rey to speak at Hip Hop Innovation Center
Renegade El Rey, the Grammy-winning musical force behind Killer Mike’s celebrated album Michael, is set to share his wealth of industry knowledge and experience at the Hip Hop Innovation Center at the University of Illinois. This virtual guest lecture presents a unique opportunity for students to delve into the intricacies of music production, engineering, and artistry from a veteran who has shaped the sounds of icons like Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, and OutKast. His dual role as both a manager at the legendary Stankonia Studios in Atlanta and a performing artist offers a rare perspective on the music business, blending technical mastery with creative expression. With Renegade El Rey’s talk, students will gain insights into the collaborative processes that fuel the industry, as well as the challenges and triumphs of working on a Grammy-winning project amid the evolving landscape of hip-hop music.
Moreover, Renegade El Rey’s commitment to fostering new talent by connecting the dots for young creatives will be a focal point of his lecture. Having already welcomed University of Illinois students into the hallowed halls of Stankonia Studios for quarterly sessions, his engagement with the university community aims to inspire and cultivate the next generation of music industry professionals. The discussion is anticipated to extend beyond technical know-how, touching on the significance of the Grammy Award in the context of 2024’s music scene and the cultural impact of hip hop as a genre. This event not only signifies a bridge between academia and industry but also reinforces the importance of mentorship, experience, and innovation in charting a successful music career.
This lecture is free and open to the public. It begins at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26th in the Music Building Auditorium at 1114 W Nevada St in Urbana.
The Glorious Sons are coming to town
When more famous American bands come through Central Illinois, they’ll invariably play the State Farm Center, the Virginia Theatre, even The Canopy Club, or maybe one of the larger venues in Bloomington. Most of these bands have the backing of large record labels or entertainment conglomerates that get them more exposure here in the US, but usually at a steep price. On March 28th, one of the biggest, baddest, rock and roll bands from Canada is rolling into Champaign as a part of a co-headlining tour with American band Southall: The Glorious Sons. The Glorious Sons will be playing City Center on Thursday, March 28th along with Southall and opener Them Dirty Roses.
The Glorious Sons are fresh off a 57-date North American headlining tour, and while they played clubs and theaters (and sometimes bars) in the States, they were selling out arenas up North in their home country during the Canadian leg of the tour. This is a band whose live show will move just about anyone who responds to rock music. The music itself will move you even more. They were handpicked thrice to open for The Rolling Stones over the past six years. They headlined a concert at the NHL All-Star game just last month, and are headliners at many festivals they’re invited to play in Canada. You’ve never heard of them because they haven’t been “playing the game” so much here in the US, so they’re taking over America the old-fashioned way: tour, tour, tour. Canadian fans are jealous that Americans can see them in intimate venues because this band lights up the stage no matter how big it is, and no matter how many people are there. I know Canadian fans who are traveling to Champaign just to see the band in a venue like City Center. Tickets are $20 to $25 and I can unequivocally say that you will never get more rock show enjoyment for the money. Stay tuned for my profile of this amazing band the week of the show, and I hope to see you there!
