WHAT: The Foxery/Xanax Princess/Trees Wanna Fly
WHERE: Blips and Chitz ($5)
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 24th at 8 p.m.
Kentucky’s The Foxery have a rock music sound that is multi-faceted and perplexing, in a good way. They’re on tour, and will be playing B&C along with three other acts, making for an interesting Monday night.
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WHAT: The Summer Set
WHERE: The Accord ($15 advance/$20 door)
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 25th at 6:30 p.m.
Pop rockers The Summer Set, with their infectious melodies and electronic-influenced hooks, have the chops to be all over the biggest radio stations. Here’s your chance to catch them before they hit it big and seats are hard to come by.
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WHAT: America
WHERE: The Virginia Theatre (Tickets start at $49)
WHEN: Thursday. Oct. 27th at 7:30 p.m.
The Virginia brings you a huge show on Thursday, featuring a classic rock favorite and mainstay. America have been rocking stages for 45 years now, and they don’t intend to stop anytime soon. Make sure to catch a great show on one of C-U’s best stages.
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WHAT: London Souls
WHERE: Canopy Club ($12)
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 27th at 7:30 p.m.
Canopy’s got a rock show on Thursday, featuring the Zeppelin-esque stylings of London Souls.
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WHAT: Dierks Bentley
WHERE: State Farm Center (tickets start at $20)
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 27th at 7:30 p.m.
It’s pop-country music on a grand scale at this State Farm Center show.
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WHAT: The Dirty Feathers/The Golden Fleece/ZXO
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 9 p.m.
Cowboy Monkey is doing a Halloween party for both Friday and Saturday. Friday is psychedelia night as the fuzzy guitars of Champaign stalwarts The Dirty Feathers combine with the spacey tunes of ZXO and Peoria’s The Golden Fleece. Costumes are encouraged. If you’re in any further need of persuasion to attend, this sweet event flyer should help out with that. Check it out.
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WHAT: Kurt Bielema/Vein Rays/Dan’l Webster
WHERE: Exile on Main St. (free)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 7 p.m.
It’s always wise to catch a show at Exile as they are few and far between, and put on by the best. This show is a singer-songwriter showcase, featuring local indie artist Kurt Bielema, Dan’l Webster of Finer Feelings, and Vein Rays, on tour from Madison. All three acts will have their fresh releases available to purchase and enjoy.
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WHAT: John Till
WHERE: Watson’s Shack and Rail (free)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 11:00 p.m.
John Till brings his country folk stylings to Watson’s for some late night music consisting of two one-hour sets. I feel that music is best when suited for the venue, and the two are paired quite well in this case. Two sets means that if you miss the first one, you can always make the second.
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WHAT: Lupe Fiasco
WHERE: Canopy Club ($40)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 9 p.m.
Chicago-born Lupe Fiasco will bring his hip-hop stylings to Canopy on Friday, and it’s a can’t-miss affair. Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Fiasco has topped the Billboard charts and is internationally known. His rhymes carry rap bravado but stay inquisitive. This show has a hefty price tag, but it’s worth it.
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WHAT: Ashland/Hot Mulligan/Caving/Xanax Princess
WHERE: Blips and Chitz ($3 – $5 donation)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 8 p.m.
A very emo Halloween at Blips and Chitz features local and touring bands coming together for a scary good time. Costumes are strongly encouraged for this one.
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WHAT: Rainbow Flag
WHERE: Iron Post (donations)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 9 p.m.
Folk band Rainbow Flag do a mixture of covers and originals, and all the proceeds from their Iron Post show will go to benefit the people of Haiti.
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WHAT: The 1975
WHERE: State Farm Center (tickets start at $20)
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 28th at 8 p.m.
Pop-rock band The 1975 have found national acclaim as of late, with their songs all over the radio and their performances peppered throughout television. Be sure to catch them in a great grandiose setting on Friday, because they put on one heck of a show.
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WHAT: Fruit Bats
WHERE: The Accord ($15 advance/$18 door)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7:15 p.m.
Fruit Bats is the project of Eric D. Johnson, and has gone through various incarnations since the 90s, with Johnson as the mainstay. Occasionally described as alt-country (somewhat reluctantly), the sound of the band is largely acoustic and a little twangy, but made lush through experimental instrumentation and harmonies. Fruit Bats put out their first new album in five years in May and completed a tour with My Morning Jacket last year.
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WHAT: Halloween Party with 90s Daughter
WHERE: The Accord ($8 advance/$10 door)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 10 p.m.
Following Fruit Bats, this late show will feature 90s Daughter, the self-described “party band” that covers only the best hits.
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WHAT: We The Animals Record Release show with Euriah and Radiation Babies
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, We The Animals are releasing their new album Hells & Chronicles, and they’re celebrating with a party at Cowboy Monkey. All three of the attending local rock groups can get dark and heavy on the regular, so a Halloween show is sure to bring out the best/worst in them. Make sure to find some devilish threads for this one.
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WHAT: Hallowicked Concert
WHERE: Fluid Event Center (Tickets start at $20)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 6 p.m.
The Hallowicked show at Fluid Event Center will have a lineup featuring seven different deejays, all spinning to a very creepy backdrop that includes stilt walkers, aerialists, and fire performers. It’ll be a very immersive way to spend your holiday.
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WHAT: Stranger Things Hootenanny
WHERE: Watson’s Shack and Rail (free)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 11 p.m.
Watson’s is hosting a Stranger Things-themed costume party for their Halloween celebration, which means 80s movies garb is the goal. If you’ve yet to see the show, this is as good of a reason as any to check it out (it’s great). Tim Williams will be providing music for the event, and the best costume earns a $50 gift card.
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WHAT: Album Release Party: Patrick
WHERE: Sipyard (free)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7 p.m.
Local musician Patrick, previously known as Prince Aki, has reinvented himself, and will release his new album Monsters In a Monte Carlo on Halloween. He’ll be previewing it at Sipyard on Saturday with an album listening at 8. The album will be on sale, and a portion of the sales will go to a kids’ scholarship fund at C4A. With monstrous themes, Monte Carlo couldn’t be released at a better time, and this event promises to be a fun one.
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WHAT: Give A Little: A Benefit for the Women’s Resources Center
WHERE: Exile on Main St. ($5 suggested donation)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th from 1-4 p.m.
Shop Exile in the afternoon for an excellent cause: on this day between 12 and 4 p.m., the store will donate 10% of sales to the Women’s Resources Center. Performances scheduled to take place include three bands and three readings, performed by some of the area’s finest women and men. Visit the event page for more details.
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WHAT: Guido Sanchez-Portuguez
WHERE: The Upper Bout (free)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7:30 p.m.
Gifted guitarist Sanchez-Portuguez will provide a free show at The Upper Bout on Saturday, featuring a collaboration with skilled percussionist Harold Agosto.
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WHAT: Henhouse Prowlers & Head for the Hills
WHERE: Canopy Club ($10 advance/$12 door)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7 p.m.
Canopy Club offers up bluegrass this evening, with the Henhouse Prowlers from Chicago, and Head for the Hills from Colorado. Both acts have spent many years honing their craft, and promise to put on a good show.
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WHAT: The Pentatonix
WHERE: State Farm Center (tickets start at $45)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 8 p.m.
A cappella group Pentatonix have a unique way of taking something simple (like vocals-only performance) and making it huge. Their quick acquirement of fame through TV shows like Pitch Perfect leaves them selling out stadiums as they commence a nationwide tour. Their show promises to fill up State Farm Center with voice.
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WHAT: Lonely Trailer with The Acme Principle
WHERE: Loose Cobra in Tolono
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29th at 9 p.m.
Two veteran local rock bands will do what they do best at this friendly watering hole. As always, they’ll have the Cubs on, so come rock out while watching your team (hopefully) win game 4 and make history!
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WHAT: Neon Indian
WHERE: City Center (tickets start at $21)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 30th at 8 p.m.
Electronic outfit Neon Indian is the project of Alan Palomo, a musician out of Denton, Texas. His pop hooks glide over funk-laden beats with a latin flair. Neon Indian have received praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and more, and the band’s music has been featured in commercials and video games.
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WHAT: Halloween Hootenanny feat. Capitol Offense/Bruise/Kharma/Bite
WHERE: Blips and Chitz ($5)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 30th at 8 p.m.
Bring your costume to B&C on Sunday for metal and hardcore night, including bands from both here and away.
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WHAT: Waka Flocka
WHERE: Canopy Club ($20 advance/$25 door)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 30th at 9 p.m.
This venue continue to pull out the big guns for the Halloween weekend with this show, featuring hip-hop artist Waka Flocka Flame. The Georgia-based rapper has done his share of major charting as well, and always throws down a killer show. Ring in the holiday in grand fashion with this one.