It’s Thursday, it’s Tim’s Picks time
An LSO B-side, a Purdue Memorial Union concert series opener, Levi Riggs at Neon Cactus, Art in the Park and more. Five choice ideas for weekend and beyond
Thanks to today’s sponsor, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Be among the first to know as the new LSO Music Director & Conductor is announced on Sunday, June 23, 11 a.m. at Ripple & Company. Your ticket includes live jazz with The Randy Salman Trio, an elegant brunch buffet, non-alcoholic beverages and a donation to the LSO. Space is limited – reserve your seat by June 10 for this momentous event. For tickets: lafayettesymphony.org/brunch
It’s Thursday, so here, again, with five suggestions for your Greater Lafayette week …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Robin and the Toad, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, Rat Pak Venue, 102 N. Third St., Lafayette — Presented by the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, the eclectic ensemble from Champaign, Illinois, known as Robin and the Toad will unveil unique covers of classic rock icons like Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix and tributes to the exotic sounds of Peru, Cuba and Ecuador Thursday night in downtown Lafayette. Featuring LSO bassist Todd Gallagher, the six-piece band boasts clarinets, trumpet and violin to go with the drums, guitar and bass. It’s a sound that further shows just how musically diverse — and awesome — LSO musicians are. $15. Tickets.
Victor Lee Trio, 6 p.m. June 7, Friday, Purdue Memorial Union, Purdue University — West Lafayette rock guitarist and producer Victor Lee will show off his six-string chops for a proper kickoff to Purdue’s annual summer Purdue Memorial Union Concert Series. A Purdue College of Engineering alumnus, Lee is a studio maestro, ably playing any instrument you put in front of him. His wheelhouse is slick, instrumental rock, but he also has a passion for teaching young guitar slingers in-person and online. During the pandemic, Lee shared his music production talents via Purdue seminars and the online music community Pickup Music. This work propelled the young musician into the studio musician field, providing guitar and keyboard work via digital tracks to artists from as far away as Japan and Sweden. Outside of the studio, Lee and his players have performed in Indianapolis and Chicago, but next week he will return to the campus he studied and continues to enhance through tasty guitar licks. And speaking of taste, food and drinks will be available through Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux.
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Only Human with Fight Like Sin, Koilos and Status Foe, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 8, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Frankfort metal band Only Human will celebrate a decade of riffage and primal screams the only way they know how, with a good old-fashioned Doom Room throwdown. The Lafayette heavy metal promotion has often utilized Only Human as a local opener over the last 10 years when both entities were but baby headbangers. This weekend, Only Human will get headlining status and fans will have a slamming time, especially with a pro wrestling themed party. Show promotion has a WWE Wrestlemania X and D-Generation X feel, and those attending in their best Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna or any other pro wrestling gear gets $2 off their cover charge. Greater Lafayette metal fans, we have two words for you, “Only Human!” Opening the show will be Lafayette’s hard rock stars Fight Like Sin and Indianapolis’ Status Foe and Koilos. $10, $8 if dressed in pro wrestling gear.
Levi Riggs, 9 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Neon Cactus, 360 Brown St., West Lafayette — Greater Lafayette’s own Levi Riggs will make his much-anticipated return to the area with a headlining concert at the Neon Cactus. The young pop-country singer has steadily gained thousands of fans over the last decade, performing all around the Midwest and South while opening for the likes of country stars like Trace Adkins and Justin Moore, and successfully earning more than 10 million digital music streams worldwide. Riggs always has an all-star band behind him, which lately includes LD Miller on harmonica.
Art in the Park: Dance Night, 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, Columbian Park — Columbian Park is back in your summer mix with the return of Art in the Park. The community event series sizzles for 2024, starting with a dance night featuring family-friendly jams combined with the always amazing lineup of local and regional arts and crafts purveyors, children’s activities and food trucks.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS CUTS, THE MOSEY KIND: Saturday is Round 2 for this season’s Mosey Down Main Street, between Sixth and 11th streets. Here’s the entertainment lineup. Check the map below for vendors and other details.
Sixth and Main
6 p.m.: Joe Shelton
7:20 p.m.: Sheeza
8:40 p.m.: Cougar Candy and the Lunch Ladies
10 p.m.: Mickey Toop and Friends
Eighth and Main
6 p.m.: Michael Sparger
7:20 p.m.: Triple Dragon
8:40 p.m.: Scratch Thing
10 p.m.: The Unusual Suspects
Ninth and Main
7-9 p.m.: Oasis Belly Dancing Troupe
11th and Main
6 p.m.: Ben Shapell
7:20 p.m.: Mudhound
8:40 p.m.: Tyler Truth
10 p.m.: Strange Combination
Also happening: In the center of Mosey, First Farmers Bank & Trust will host the Dinosaur Dash at 6 p.m. The 100-meter race, starting outside the bank in Luna Flats, 639 Main St., will feature runners representing 17 businesses and organizations in Greater Lafayette, all dressed in dinosaur costumes. All money raised during the event will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) West Central Indiana.
Thanks, again, to today’s sponsor, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, presenting its jazz brunch and LSO Music Director & Conductor announcement Sunday, June 23. For tickets and more details: lafayettesymphony.org/brunch
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