Smile Politely

The Overture: August 7-13

Derrick Philips
This is a black and white photo of four people standing in front of a brick wall. The people are wearing casual clothing, such as jeans and jackets. The background consists of a brick wall and a doorway.
The Avett Brothers

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, August 7th

Jason Finkelman presents Improvisers Exchange

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

Kick off your month with Improviser’s Exchange, a unique exploration of omni-idiomatic improvised music led by Jason Finkelman. Happening every first Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the event offers a platform for University of Illinois ensemble members and other improvising artists from near and far to present their skills. No cover charge, but tips are always appreciated.

The Urbana Hootenanny

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 8 p.m.

Every Monday at the Rose Bowl, come hang out with some great musicians. The Urbana Hootenanny is an open mic meets song-share. You can expect a variety of music and performers.

Tuesday, August 8th

Sara Siders in a blue denim shirt and curly hair with her arms crossed and an impish grin. Blurry white light bulbs can be seen in the background.
Sara Siders on Facebook

Sass

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Brace yourself for the musical force of Sass Siders, who will be owning the whole block as she performs on the Rose Bowl patio for Happy Hour. 

A woman dressed in a dark shirt with long brown hair smiling with 4 show posters hanging by clothespins on a wire behind her.
Gloria Roubal on Facebook

Gloria Roubal’s Writers in the Round ft. Jill Greenlee, Anthony Gravino, and Joe Asselin

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 7:30 p.m.

Rose Bowl Tavern hosts a unique musical experience with songwriters Jill Greenlee, Anthony Gravino, Joe Asselin, and host Gloria Roubal, as they take turns playing songs and adding spontaneous harmonies or guitar embellishments on each other’s music. A splendid event for music lovers and a valuable networking tool for artists, your suggested donation will support these creative writers.

Wednesday, August 9th

3 Members of the Matthew Miller Trio playing an outdoor concert. The photo is taken from behind the drummer and you can see the audience about 20 feet in the distance.
Matthew Miller Trio on Facebook

The Matthew Miller Latin Jazz Trio

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant fusion of jazz and traditional Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music, performed by the Matthew Miller Latin Jazz Trio on Wednesday, August 9th from 5 to 7 p.m. With Matthew Miller on vibraphone, Ben Taylor on bass, and Brant Roberts on congas/percussion, the trio interprets jazz repertoire through guaguanco, samba, bolero, cha cha, and other distinctive styles.

Thursday, August 10th

This photo is a photo-realistic image of two people walking on a brick road in a park. The person on the left is wearing a black tank top and a purple skirt with a floral pattern. The person on the right is wearing a blue and green paisley shirt and a brown hat. The background consists of trees and grass. The mood of the image is peaceful and relaxed.
Merry Travelers Duo on Facebook

American Americana Happy Hour featuring Merry Travelers Duo

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Merry Travelers unplug and pair down to two as they entertain their home crowd with groovy tunes and cool vibes.

James Jones and the Tri Tones

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 8 p.m.

James Jones, Mitchell Killough, Justin Simmons, and JD Dye will have you in the groove all night.

Friday, August 11th

A 3 piece band playing outdoors
Friday Night Live

Friday Night Live

► Downtown Champaign // Free // 6 p.m.

Enjoy Downtown Champaign every Friday from June through August for 40 North’s Friday Night Live, a free public performance series. Experience a diverse mix of music genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk, soul, rock, country, and blues, along with unique street performances and weekly kids’ activities, all thanks to the generosity of Pour Bros. Craft Taproom, Busey Bank, the City of Champaign, and the support of Champaign Center Partnership. Check their Facebook page for lineups close to the day of the event.

This is a photo of a group of people standing in front of a colorful psychedelic background. The people are dressed in various styles, including casual, military, and punk. The background is a mix of pink, green, and purple swirls and patterns.
Village People on Facebook

Village People with special guests The Family Stone

► Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater // $8 to $45 // 7 p.m.

Take a trip back to half a century ago when you were wearing bell bottoms and going to discos, and drown in the nostalgia of these two huge ’70s acts.

I woman in a maroon shirt holding an upright bass, looking to her right and smiling. There is an old white building with arched windows in the back
Emma Taylor

Emma Taylor Quintet

► Rosebowl Tavern // tips in bucket // 5 p.m.

Bassist Emma Taylor leads her group of jazz musicians through an exciting night of tunes. 

This is a photo of a person working on a large computer or server. The person’s face is blurred for privacy. They are wearing a light blue shirt and gray pants, and are kneeling on the floor while working on the computer with their hands. The computer is large and has many wires and cables coming out of it. The background is a blue-green color, and there are other computer or server racks visible in the background. At the bottom of the image, the text “DECADENTS Lost in Translation” is written in white.
Decadents – Lost in Translation

Decadents Album Release Party

► Rosebowl Tavern // $15 suggested donation // 8:30 p.m.

Local rockers Decadents are celebrating the release of their new album, Lost in Translation. The new album will be available on all streaming platforms and physical copies of the album will be available for purchase at the show.

This is a photo-realistic image of a group of people standing and sitting in front of a brick wall with a red door. The people are wearing casual clothing, such as jeans, jackets, and shirts. The brick wall has graffiti on it, and the red door has a rusted appearance. The ground is covered in dirt and leaves.
Joe Stamm Band on Facebook

Joe Stamm Band with Jake Stringer

► The Castle Theater // $12.50 // 8 p.m.

Immerse yourself in a distinct blend of storytelling and signature Black Dirt Country Rock sound with the Joe Stamm Band, named Peacemaker Fest’s 2023 “Emerging Artist of the Year.” Their sound, deeply rooted in Midwestern culture and influenced by the Red Dirt music scene, has culminated in several album releases, including the acclaimed “Wild Man” just released this month.

Saturday, August 12th

This is a photo of a band playing in front of a colorful graffiti wall. The band consists of a guitarist, a drummer, a percussionist, and a bassist. The guitarist is playing a red electric guitar, the drummer is playing a drum kit, the percussionist is playing congas, and the bassist is playing a white bass guitar. The background consists of a colorful graffiti wall with various designs and patterns.
Los Guapos on Facebook

Los Guapos

► Rosebowl Tavern // $10 suggested donation // noon

Get funky along with the bongos in Los Guapos during the Rose Bowl Tavern After Market series on the patio.

This is a photo of a band performing on a stage at a music festival. The stage is covered by a black tent and has a banner that reads “Rose Bowl” in red letters. The band members are playing various instruments such as guitars, a banjo, and a bass. There are red barrels and a trash can in the foreground. The background consists of a crowd of people watching the performance.
HogBowl on Facebook

Hog Bowl 4

► Rosebowl Tavern // free // 3 p.m.

Get ready for another Rose Bowl/Hogchute collab, all day and night at Rose Bowl Tavern. Here is the lineup:

3 p.m.  – The Recliners (Patsy Cline tribute)
4:10 p.m.  – Big Daddy Pride (solo)
5:20 p.m.  – Rory Book & The Volumes
6:20 p.m.  – Colonel James presents
7:20 p.m.  – Emily Anne Band
8:30 p.m.  – Nick Gusman & The Coyotes
9:50 p.m.  – Wild Earp & The Free For Alls
11:15 p.m.  – ??-  JEMM

This is a photo realistic image of a person with long red hair. The hair is styled in loose curls and is dyed in a gradient from red to orange. The person is wearing a silver earring with a feather charm. The background is a dark grey color.
Jules Rose on Facebook

EDITOR’S PICK: Half House Studios presents Just for the Girls

► The Canopy Club // $10 advance and $15 at the door // 8:30 p.m.

Girls just wanna have fun at The Canopy Club Saturday night. This special event is  hosted by Half House in honor of our manager’s birthday, featuring a stellar line-up of local female talents including Jules Rose, Annimal, Billi Fox, BreAmore, and Nayiaa Official, along with some special guests. This event aims to celebrate and showcase the talented women in our C-U area music scene, traditionally a male-dominated space.

This is a black and white photo of three people sitting side by side. The background consists of a wall with a pattern of circles and lines. The person on the left is wearing a collared shirt and a watch. The person in the middle is wearing a hat and a necklace. The person on the right is wearing a jacket.
Avett Brothers on Facebook

EDITOR’S PICK: The Avett Brothers

► State Farm Center // $60.25 to $102.25 // 7:30 p.m.

All the way from North Carolina, indie rock icons The Avett Brothers, an American folk rock band, will be performing at the State Farm Center on Saturday, August 12th. This is a great opportunity to experience their unique blend of bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, indie rock, honky-tonk, and ragtime live. 

William Fitzsimmons, Cody Nicolas, Elijah Settles at The Front Porch

► Jim’s Front Porch (Sidney, IL) // free // 7 p.m

Bring a chair and a beverage to enjoy an amazing show on the porch of Jim’s civil war-era house. All are welcome. The address is 1798 County Road 700 N, Sidney, IL.

Sunday, August 13th

Squeezebox Sunday

► Rosebowl Tavern // $20 to $25 suggested donation // 4 p.m.

Squeezebox Sunday! is a fundraiser for CU Folk and Roots Festival.

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