Tim’s Picks: 5 for the start of your summer
Kickoffs for the Purdue Union Concert Series and downtown's original DORA, Buster Keaton meets R.E.M., roller derby and more. Five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
Thanks today for ongoing help from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
Now presenting …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Backroad Revival, 6 p.m. Friday, June 6, Purdue Memorial Union, Purdue University — The Purdue Memorial Union Summer Concert Series returns for another year in West Lafayette. The free concert series runs every Friday evening through July except for July 4. Opening the 2025 summer schedule is Americana trio Backroad Revival. The acoustic band from Ladoga, Indiana, is for fans of newer country music like Chris Stapleton and The Highwomen as well as more foundational American music by the likes of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley — all perfect sounds for a summer evening. In case of rain, sets will be moved to the Ever True Stage in the lower level of the Purdue Memorial Union. Eats and drinks will be available for purchase from Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock Jr.,” 7 p.m. Friday, June 6, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — A unique cinematic event comes to downtown Lafayette this weekend. Throwing it back to its roots as a one-screen movie theater, the historic Long Center for the Performing Arts will present the silent 1924 comedy “Sherlock Jr.” starring the legendary Buster Keaton. Such a screening would be worth it alone but the creative folks at Silents Synced from Austin, Texas, have combined the 60-minute silent spectacular with rock royalty’s R.E.M. and the band’s classic album “Monster.” Like when you tried to sync the “The Wizard of Oz” with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” in your dorm room, the “Sherlock, Jr.”/R.E.M. experience will impress the eyes and ears. This presentation has toured the world — Canada and the United Kingdom — as well as Indiana when it was screened at Kan-Kan in Indianapolis last month. $20.83
KEEP UP WITH WHAT’S UP. GET A BASED IN LAFAYETTE SUBSCRIPTION. FREE AND FULL-ACCESS OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
East End Block Party, 4-10 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Main Street, between 10th and 11th streets, downtown Indiana — This DORA wants you to explore-a downtown eats, drinks and live music. In what’s dubbed a “Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area,” or DORA, this block party on the east end of downtown is being billed as the kickoff for the season of downtown’s growing zone for carryout drinks. Nearby eateries East End Grill, Ripple & Company, Every’s Ice Cream and The Cellar Wine Bistro will have savory dishes and refreshing spirits for sale during sets from local acoustic act Luna Worldcast (5 p.m.) and area roots rockers Davey and the Midnights (7:30 p.m.). Eat and drink outside, or check out what these great downtown restaurants and businesses have to offer inside. (As for the extension of downtown Lafayette’s DORA, the city was still waiting this week for final approval from the state before bars and restaurants along Main Street and sections of Second, Third and Fourth and Fifth streets could start selling carryout drinks.)
Lafayette Roller Derby vs. Rockford Rage, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette — Your Lafayette Supernovas will defend the home track against the Rockford Rage this weekend. These visiting Illinois skaters are from the same city as Cheap Trick, and they are sure to “Surrender” from the Supernovas’ splendid skating, vicious hits, dominant defense and jolting jams, which snuff out “The Flame” of any opponent. $12 in advance, $15 at the door, kids 10 and younger are free. Tickets.
CoyoteBear and The Great Dying, 9 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Digby’s Pub, 133 N. Fourth St., Lafayette — Digby’s, the downtown pub with that luscious patio, celebrates 10 years this weekend. Joining in on the fun will be Lafayette singer-songwriter CoyoteBear and The Great Dying, a project from Cleveland, Mississippi, singer-songwriter Will Griffith. As evidenced by Griffith’s most recent album, “A Constant Goodbye,” Griffith’s sound is country-centered with a dash of blues from his Mississippi Delta home. With a bit of a dark side, Griffith’s music mixes quite well with Cody “CoyoteBear” Hall’s signature sound of country, blues, rock and folk.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thanks, again, for ongoing support from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.