Smile Politely

The Overture: April 15-21

Derrick Philips
a person lying down on a patterned rug, propped on their elbow, surrounded by eclectic room decor that includes a mix of textiles and personal items. The individual is gazing at the camera with an introspective look, bathed in soft, natural light streaming in from windows. This casual, intimate setting suggests a candid or lifestyle portrait.
Jessie Murph on Facebook

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 to change at any time. Thank you for understanding.

Did we miss something this week? Have a show coming up you think we should know about? Email us at [email protected] with the details.

Monday, April 15th

U of I Repertory Jazz Orchestra

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5:30 p.m.

The Urbana Hootenanny

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 16th

a person wearing a dark, wide-brimmed hat and a matching dark outfit with gloves. Their pose is striking, with one hand adjusting the brim of the hat, partially covering their face. The individual has dark hair and makeup that emphasizes their eyes. The background is a cool, solid color, giving the image a sleek, stylized look, indicative of a fashion-forward or dramatic persona.
Jessi Murph on Facebook

Jessie Murph

► The Canopy Club // SOLD OUT // 8 p.m.

Catch the buzzworthy performance of Jessie Murph at The Canopy Club, where her soulful voice and poignant lyrics promise an unforgettable night.

U of I Jazz Band 3

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Dixieland Dopplegangers

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 8 p.m.

Wednesday, April 17th

a musician is seen performing, focused on playing an acoustic guitar. The person is singing into a microphone, indicating a live performance or rehearsal setting. The concentration on the musician's face and the casual attire suggests an informal, intimate concert setting, perhaps in a small venue or during a sound check.
Jose Gobbo on Facebook

José Gobbo Trio ft. Raphael Ferreira

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

The José Gobbo Trio, featuring Raphael Ferreira, brings a fusion of jazz and Brazilian rhythms to the Rose Bowl Tavern for a midweek musical escape.

Thursday, April 18th

Carrie Sue and the Woodburners

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Some familiar faces at Rose Bowl Tavern playing heartfelt 3 piece folk music during Americana Happy Hour.

A musician is on stage under red lighting, playing a black electric guitar. They are dressed in a white shirt with black trim. The background is dark, and a silhouette of a microphone stand is visible. The perspective is from someone in the audience, as the back of a head can be seen in the foreground.
Josh Spinner on Instagram

Josh Spinner with Manifest West and Taurus Hate Club

► The Canopy Club // $10 to $15 // 9 p.m.

Dive into the indie rock scene and discover great local music from Josh Spinner, supported by the dynamic sounds of Manifest West and Taurus Hate Club, for a night of raw energy and emotion.

Krannert Center Uncorked with We Ain’t Misbehavin’

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // Free // 5 p.m.

an individual with a contemplative or somber expression, captured in a room with wooden paneling in the background. The person is wearing a dark hoodie and their hair is a shaggy, chestnut brown, partially covering their forehead. The overall tone of the photo is quite subdued and reflective, with a sense of introspection or pensiveness.
Peter McPoland on Facebook

Peter McPoland

► Foellinger Auditorium // $25 // 7:30 p.m.

Peter McPoland takes the stage at Foellinger Auditorium, showcasing his latest tour that blends heartfelt lyrics with vibrant melodies. Fans can expect an evening of engaging music that highlights McPoland’s unique blend of folk and indie rock. Local rockers Haunted X Humans will be opening.

an individual seated while playing an acoustic guitar. The person is dressed casually in a buttoned denim shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The scene is peaceful and domestic, with natural light coming from a window to the right, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. The person's eyes are closed, suggesting concentration or emotion connected to the music being played.
John Till on Facebook

John Till

► Rose Bowl Tavern // $5 to $10 Suggested Cover // 7:30 p.m.

Experience the moving music of John Till, a blend of folk, blues, and country music that echoes the spirit of the Great Plains and the Appalachian foothills.

Friday, April 19th

Jeff Helgesen & Friends

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

The lead singer of the band Versus Me, James Milbrandt on stage during a performance at the Canopy Club. He is wearing all black, with a black arm sleeve on his left arm. That arm is extended out, point to the crowd. He holds the microphone up to his mouth with his right hand. The lightings is red and pink and purple.
Derrick Philips

Versus Me with Discrepancies

► The Canopy Club // $15 to $20 // 7 p.m.

Get ready for an explosive night of hard rock and metalcore as Versus Me takes the stage with Discrepancies. This is an early show, with the doors swinging open at 6 p.m., and the air crackling with anticipation as the first power chord strikes at 7 p.m.

A grayscale snapshot of an individual using a public payphone. The scene has a gritty, urban feel, marked by graffiti on the phone booth. The person is wearing a baseball cap and jacket, indicative of a casual, street-style fashion. They are captured mid-conversation, which adds a candid and potentially urgent narrative to the photo.
WIKI on Facebook

WIKI with ZENtheRapper

► Gallery Art Bar // $20 // 7 p.m.

WIKI and ZENtheRapper take over the Gallery Art Bar for an evening of innovative rap and hip-hop, showcasing their lyrical prowess and unique soundscapes. 

The Blues Deacons

► Huber’s // Free // 7 p.m.

University of Illinois Wind Orchestra and Hindsley Band

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $4 to $10 // 7:30 p.m.

a performer on stage, in the act of speaking or singing into a microphone. The performer is wearing a dark outfit with a checkered sleeve and glasses, lit by the contrasting stage lighting that creates a dramatic effect. This moment on stage suggests a live performance, perhaps of a musical or spoken word nature, to an unseen audience in a dark venue.
Open Mike Eagle on Facebook

EDITOR’S PICK: Open Mike Eagle with $imba P & A$AVV

► The Canopy Club // $20 to $25 // 10 p.m.

Join Open Mike Eagle at The Canopy Club on Friday, April 19th, for a night that dives deep into the complexities of life, laughter, and the trauma in between. Known for his unique blend of insightful, socio-political humor and raw, personal exploration through music, Eagle brings his profoundly personal project to the stage, accompanied by $imba P & A$AVV. This event promises an intimate look into the artist’s journey of self-discovery and healing, set against a backdrop of artful rap and progressive production.

Saturday, April 20th

420 at the Bowl

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // All Day

Celebrate 420 with a day-long event filled with music, laughter, and community, honoring the spirit of the day in true Rose Bowl Tavern fashion. Enjoy no cover, Watson’s food truck from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the following bands for your musical enjoyment, starting at 4:20 p.m.: Neon Gravel, Big Daddy Pride and Friends, Keith Hall and the Creepin’ Grass, Formerly the Fox and JEMM.

a casual and jovial moment among three individuals at a bar, standing around a pool table. The scene is cozy with warm lighting and string lights above, evoking a friendly and relaxed bar atmosphere. Two of them are smiling broadly, suggesting a moment of shared laughter or enjoyment, while the third person is leaning over the pool table, seemingly lining up a shot or preparing for a game.
Dead Horses on Facebook

EDITOR’S PICK: Dead Horses with Emily Anne

► The Channing Murray Chapel // $15 to $20 // 7 p.m.

Dead Horses brings their stirring folk blend to Channing Murray Chapel. Known for their honest storytelling and evocative melodies, the band promises a night of reflective music that explores the complexities of the human experience, set in the intimate setting of the chapel.

an orchestra on a stage receiving applause from the audience. The musicians are holding their instruments, and a conductor stands in front, acknowledging the applause. The stage is wood-paneled, and the audience is visible in the foreground, clapping and appreciating the performance. This scene conveys a sense of accomplishment and the celebratory end of a musical performance.
Champaign Urbana Symphony Orchestra

Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: Fanfares Finale: A Memorial Tribute to Paul Vermel

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $10 to $40 // 7:30 p.m.

The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra’s season finale promises an emotional tribute to the beloved conductor Paul Vermel. Under the direction of Stephen Alltop and featuring the talented trumpeter John Hagstrom, the concert will weave through a poignant repertoire, starting with Brahms’ “Variations on a Theme by Haydn.” The evening will also spotlight Puccini’s moving “Crisantemi” and Arutiunian’s dynamic Trumpet Concerto, culminating with Hindemith’s powerful “Symphonic Metamorphosis,” all honoring Vermel’s impactful legacy.

Flux Pavilion with Cofresi

► The Canopy Club // $30 to $35 // 9 p.m.

Get ready for Flux Pavilion’s bass-dropping beats and electronic anthems, with Cofresi warming up the night with his own flavor of EDM.

Sunday, April 21st

UFLive! presents the Church Street Ramblers

► Urbana Public Library // Free // 2 p.m.

Wine Down Sunday with Stuart Smith

► Alto Vineyards // Free // 2 p.m.

University of Illinois Campus Band and University Band

► Krannert Center for the Performing Arts // $4 to $10 // 3 p.m.

The Young & The Fretless

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 3 p.m.

a group of people standing on the steps inside what appears to be a church, with a large pipe organ in the background. They are striking various poses, some with arms stretched out or raised, evoking a sense of movement or dance. The setting suggests that this could be a choir or musical ensemble in a playful moment, contrasting the formality typically associated with such a venue.
Amasong on Facebook

Amasong Presents: I Sing to Know That Love is Near

► McKinley Presbyterian Church // $20 Suggested Donation // 4 p.m.

Amasong, Champaign-Urbana’s premier feminist/treble chorus, brings a resonant message of love, comfort, and hope with their spring concert, “I Sing to Know That Love is Near.” Join them at McKinley Presbyterian Church for an inspiring lineup featuring works by contemporary women composers, traditional songs from Japan and Ukraine, and powerful gospel melodies, all crafted to uplift and unite in these challenging times.

Nick’s Country Jam

► Rose Bowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 6 p.m.

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