Tim’s Picks: 5 of the best this week
Your guide to five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
Support for Based in Lafayette comes from Purdue Convocations. This Wednesday, April 30, is Purdue Day of Giving. As the fully self-supported performing arts presenter at Purdue, we need your support to power everything we do. For this year’s Purdue Day of Giving, we invite you to support the mission of Purdue Convocations to bring world-class performing arts to Purdue's campus. Your ticket purchases and generous gifts power everything we do. New season announcement in May! Consider joining or renewing your annual Friends of Convos membership at the $100+ level on or by Wednesday, April 30 to lock in your Priority Points. With our new Friends of Convos Priority Points Presale for the 2025-2026 season of performances, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to choose your own seats for the shows you want to see next season before tickets go on sale to the public. All Hail Purdue Convocations on Wednesday, April 30! LEARN MORE
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By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
“(Re)Light a Fuse,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Rat Pak Venue, 102 N. Third St., Lafayette — The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra’s B-Side Series will showcase some of its musicians’ nonclassical musical passions when a few perform recognizable rock and pop tunes in a jazz fusion format. José Valencia (electric violin), Jordan Simmons (bass) and Brandon Lee (drums) will be joined by guest artists Terence and Jeannie Mayhue on keyboards and vocals, respectfully, for a night of music atypical to an LSO concert. These same musicians wowed the crowd in 2023 with their take on the hits of Bruno Mars, Post Malone and Pearl Jam. Tonight’s show should be just as impressive. $15. Tickets.
Sons of Ra with The Velocity District, 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, The Eleventh House, 116 N. Third St., Lafayette — Heavy prog rock and jazz fusion band Sons of Ra returns to Lafayette, this time for an all-ages psyche freakout. The longtime Chicago trio combines heavy riffs and blazing solos in a jazzy context with quick and crazy stylistic and timing changes. Think Mr. Bungle but jazzier and instrumental. The Sons of Ra musicianship is off the charts as the band is hitting the road to tour for its brand-new album, “Standard Deviation.” Opening the show will be Lafayette’s own The Velocity District, who will perform a set of mostly instrumentals to fit the vibe. This is a Doom Room presentation. $10.
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Lafayette Master Chorale, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, St. Boniface Church, 318 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — One of Lafayette Master Chorale’s best performances happens to be one of the greatest choral works ever written. The superb singers will reprise Handel’s “Messiah” this weekend in the historic St. Boniface Church. The piece will be performed in its entirety, backed by a live orchestra. “Messiah” will give the Chorale’s soloists many opportunities to shine, and you may want to sing along once the instantly recognizable “Halleluiah” chorus kicks in. This concert is a grand finale indeed to the Chorale’s 60th season as well as artistic director Michael Bennett’s final event with the organization. Jeff Vallier, who is also assistant director of Purdue Musical Organizations, will take over the performance leadership duties in the fall. $25 in advance, $28 at the door, $10 for students, free for children 17 and younger. Tickets.
Latin Dance Party with Clave Caribe, ESSO and DJ Mandochilly, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Is false spring finally turning truthful? Will we get nice, consistent warm weather now? I’m no Chad Evans, but I know we can at least get sweaty on the dance floor thanks to Mom & Pop Productions’ booking of a Latin dance party starring our own Clave Caribe teaming up with Chicago Latin funk los jefes ESSO, which combines numerous American sounds like hip-hop, jazz, prog rock and even slam poetry with Latin rhythms and lyrics in Spanish and English. The combination is an automatic party that also has something to say. ESSO guitarist Armando Pérez — also known as DJ Mandochilly — will be spinning more Latin sounds before, between and after the bands. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Tickets.
“It’s (Candle)Lit” Dance Party, 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday, April 26, Flora Candle Company, 609 Main St., Lafayette — The newest — and best smelling — nightspot in downtown Lafayette is for folks burning the candle at one end. Flora Candle Company has been a strong local business on Main Street since 2021. About a month ago, the shop dipped its wick (sorry) into nighttime events when it hosted an open mic at night and the results were promising. Local standup comics, poets and musicians showed well in front of a good crowd, and the vibes were intimate, warm and friendly. This weekend, Flora will turn things up a bit with its first “(Candle)Lit” Dance Party featuring beats by area DJs Kyrobpaq, Karabella, Orosa Iglesias and Alex Kapala and drinks by Handholder. The event is already sold out but there is a waiting list in case some party people are burning the candle at both ends and cannot attend.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Support for this edition comes from Purdue Convocations, reminding your that this Wednesday, April 30, is Purdue Day of Giving.
Support for Based in Lafayette also comes from the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, presenting the Heart of Art on Friday, April 25. Let’s face it – we all love shopping, but it’s not every day that your purchase makes a meaningful impact on the community. By participating in Heart of Art, you're not just scoring unique items and experiences from local businesses like Generation NA, The French Knot, The Spa at the Union Club Hotel and Lafayette Aviators – you're directly supporting keeping the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette free and open to the public daily. Register for our online auction today, it's free, and bid on everything you’ll need for an unforgettable 2025. Check here for tickets and more information.
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