There’s something about a steel guitar that makes everything feel a little more honest. Whether you’re two-stepping in your boots or nursing a cold drink at the bar, live country music has a way of turning an ordinary night into something worth remembering. Here’s where to find it locally.

May 1 

  • Rose Bowl Tavern
    • Django Wrangle, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 5 pm – 7 pm
    • V.V. Lightbody, 8 pm – 11 pm

May 2

  • Rose Bowl Tavern, Fred Eaglesmith, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 3 pm – 5 pm
  • Canopy Club, Waylon Wyatt – Everywhere Under the Sun, 708 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, 7 pm

May 3

  • Alto Vineyards, Sunday Wine Down with Billy Galt, 4210 N. Duncan Road, Champaign, 2 pm – 4 pm

May 4

  • Rose Bowl Tavern
    • Jason Finkelman Presents: Improviser’s Exchange, 106 N. Race Street, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
    • Rose Bowl Tavern, Urbana Hootenanny, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 8 pm

May 5

  • Hound’s Rest, Lyrics Unleashed, 120 N. Walnut Street, Champaign, 7 pm – 9 pm 

May 6

  • Rose Bowl Tavern, Larry Gray Guitar/Accordion Trio, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 5 pm – 7 pm

May 7

  • Rose Bowl Tavern, Laney Jones and the Spirits + Texas Chain Store Managers, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 8 pm – 11 pm
  • Vermilion River Beer Co. Firsty Thursdays with Sass, 103 N. Vermilion Street, Danville, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

May 8

  • Riggs Beer Company, Austin Meissner, 1901 S. High Cross Road, Urbana, 6 pm – 8 pm

May 9

May 10

  • Rose Bowl Tavern, Occasional Cajun Band, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 3 pm – 5 pm

May 11

  • Rose Bowl Tavern
    • The Tumbleweeds, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
    • Urbana Hootenanny, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 8 pm

May 12

May 13

May 14

  • Rose Bowl Tavern, Chasen Wayne, 106 N. Race Street, Urbana, 8 pm – 10 pm
  • Riggs Beer Company, 1901 S. High Cross Road, Urbana, 5 pm – 7 pm
  • Vermilion River Beer Co., Thursday Sounds: Bee Ziegler, 103 N. Vermilion Street, Danville, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm