Music and Nightlife

Where the UIUC basketballs games are held, and also where the nationally touring bands come to play when they swing through town. Take a look at their website to see what’s coming up.

In downtown Champaign. Billed as a “sound lounge”, has a pretty small interior, but a large patio during the summer.

Just SE of One Main/Volition. Has live Irish music some nights.

A great bar in downtown Champaign featuring cask-conditioned beer.

One of the hottest spots in downtown Champaign. Open for dinner with an extensive drink menu, some of the best martinis around, and DJs spinning live music into the night.

Hookah bar also offering ethnic sandwiches, kebobs and drinks.

Always high-energy, whether the band de jour is rock, urban-country, or acoustic, the Monkey is a nightly music venue with a full restaurant and bar, and the kitchen’s open late. On the candle-lit patio you will usually find a mix of tattooed, bespecled, emo-coifed, and bald-by-choice folks out enjoying the evening air with a martini and order of Thai chicken satay. The free to $5 cover charge gets you into some of the hippest shows in town, with a full bar at your disposal and the band in your face.

Bar and restaurant located in downtown Urbana. Has excellent food and good beer selection. Has several pool tables and a foosball machine.

Information about upcoming events

Smaller bar in downtown Champaign. Has food and occasional live music.

Typical bar in downtown Champaign, with normal bar fare. Outdoor seating in the summer is really nice.

Located across the street from 1 Main Plaza. Outdoor seating, upperscale barfood, pool, and darts. Open for lunch.

Next to Jupiter’s. Live bands during the week and DJ’s and dancing on the weekend. Usually charges a cover after 9 or 10.

Sports bar located on Neil street between Kirby and Green streets. Has food and is a great place to watch games. Also has lots of pool tables, darts and video game arcade.

Small bar with large outdoor beer garden. Also, has live music, occasionally.

Fairly big bar in downtown Urbana. Has good bar food, also large grad student population. Pool tables and real darts, too (not electronic).

An annual three-day music festival showcasing groundbreaking musical artists in a variety of genres. Past performers include of Montreal, Andrew Bird, Okkervil River, ?uestlove, Mates of State, Ida Yeasayer, and Headlights.

Located on Springfield, between 1st and Neil streets. Has food, outdoor beer garden and a small game room.

An upscale club in downtown Champaign, right next to Volition’s building. Mind the dress code. Some of our employees can often be found dj’ing there on the weekends.