Smile Politely

The Overture: September 9-15

WHAT: GNU Kung Fu, Ator 40

WHERE: The Clark Bar ($5)

WHEN: Tuesday, September 10th at 7 p.m.

The Champaign-Urbana Singer-Songwriter Collective show series continues this week at the Clark Bar. This week features Bloomington-area band Gnu Kung Fu along with local Eric Strubinger of Ator 40.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Valley Young

WHERE: indi go Artist Co-op

WHEN: Tuesday, September 10th at 8 p.m.

Valley Young is currently on tour to promote their new album, Year of the Bear, which was released on August 18th into the world. The four-track EP can be heard over at their Bandcamp free of charge. No word on any other acts accompanying Valley Young, but it is always nice to see a show taking place at the lovely indi go Artist Co-op space.

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Brandon T. Washington, Paige McQuigg, Paul Sabuco, Gloria Roubal

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, September 12th at 7 p.m.

The Writers in the Round series continues with another monthly installment at Mike ‘N Molly’s. They’ve been doing these shows once a month, and this is the September show, hosted by Gloria Roubal, as always. A trio of other artists joining Roubal, including Brandon T. Washington, Paige McQuigg, and Paul Sabuco.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Bones Jugs & Harmony, Eric Lambert & Friends, Love Toy

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, September 12th at 9 p.m.

Hot on the heels of their performance at Shoefest in Manteno this past weekend, Bones Jugs & Harmony aren’t slowing down at all in the month of September. They’ve got this show lined up over in Urbana at the Canopy Club, and they’ll make an appearance at Pygmalion Music Festival at the end of the month. Busy dudes. They’re joined by Eric Lambert & Friends from Chicago, and locals Love Toy to open up the night.

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: The Giving Tree Band, Trevor McSpadden

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, September 12th at 9:30 p.m.

Folk rockers the Giving Tree Band take the stage Thursday night at Cowboy Monkey alongside opening act Trevor McSpadden. The Giving Tree Band has a new album, Vacilator, which you can grab for free over at their website. A bunch of footstompers to get you ready for this show later in the week.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Jazz Walk

WHERE: Meadowbrook Park (free)

WHEN: Friday, September 13th at 5:30 p.m.

The Urbana Park District’s ninth annual Jazz Walk in Meadowbrook Park will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 13. The free event will feature local musicians performing in many jazz styles. The public is invited to walk the paths and to stop and listen as long as they like to each group. Musicians can be found next to the large sculptures that sit within the tallgrass prairie. You can see all the performers slated for the event over at the Jazz Walk site, linked above.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: The Technicolors, Ars Nova, Good Safari

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($10 advance/$12 door)

WHEN: Friday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m.

The Technicolors are a rock band from way out west in Phoenix. Their debut album Listener Deluxe was released late last year in November 2012. Their US tour is underway and they’re stopping through in Urbana at the Canopy Club for an early show with Ars Nova and Good Safari (who are performing together on Saturday night as well).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Johnny Cash Tribute

WHERE: Rose Bowl Tavern ($7 students/$10 general)

WHEN: Friday, September 13th at 8 p.m.

Champaign-Urbana Singer-Songwriter Collective is throwing down a Johnny Cash tribute show on Friday night at the Rose Bowl in honor of the 10 year anniversary of his passing. Dozens of musicians are lined up to pay tribute to the great Johnny Cash, as they’ve done before with other artists, most notably Bob Dylan.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

EDITOR’S PICK: C-U PRIDE FEST
Lincoln Square (free)— Saturday, September 14th at 2 p.m.

Dozens of artists lined up to perform at this year’s C-U Pride Festival, hosted by the UP Center of Champaign County. September is a busy month for music festivals, having just wrapped up ELLNORA at Krannert Center over the weekend, and Pygmalion right around the corner in a few weeks, the C-U Pride Festival is snuggled right between the two over in Downtown Urbana. Kate Bornstein and STIGMA are headlining artists this year, and they’re joined by many other acts, local and not. The free event features tons of music and other portions of the festivities. Check out our coverage of the festival from last year to get an idea of what to expect this weekend. You can also check out more in the festival’s program here.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Fauve, The Phantom Broadcast, Hometown Heavyweights, Pedestrians

WHERE: Courtyard Cafe ($2 students/$3 general)

WHEN: Saturday, September 14th at 7 p.m.

A musical event taking place over at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union is being called Music for the Masses and features a couple of locals and others. Fauve just released a really great EP last month, which you can see our thoughts on in August’s B-Sides. The Phantom Broadcast comes down from Chicago, and are joined by Hometown Heavyweights and locals Pedestrains. Cheap show for the amount of bands performing, so this is worthwhile.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Kane Place Record Club, Jarrel Young, Misfit Music, Chase Baby, Dr. Quinn, Grant Flows, DJ Wesjile

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, September 14th at 7 p.m.

A ton of acts lined up for this hip-hop show Saturday night show at Mike ‘N Molly’s, headlined by Kane Place Record Club. A bunch of local emcees joinining in with the touring acts, which should make for an exciting and dynamic show this weekend.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: The Curses

WHERE: Memphis on Main ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, September 14th at 9:30 p.m.

The Curses are performing over at Memphis on Main on Saturday night. They’ll be performing some new tracks, so there’s some reason to head over there and catch their set. They’ll be performing for a few hours that night as a one-band bill. They’ll also be performing at the Urbana Free Library in the Busey-Mills Reading Room on Sunday, September 15th at 2 p.m. for free. Catch them at either show for some solid tunes.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WHAT: Molehill, Good Safari, the Ars Nova

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, September 14th at 10 p.m.

Chicago’s Molehill are on their Equinox Tour, which stops in Champaign on night three of the tour. They should be fresh and ready to go and deliver their fusion of rock and alternative sounds to everyone on Saturday night. Joining them are Good Safari and the Ars Nova, both of whom performed earlier in the week as well.

Executive Editor

More Articles