Tim’s Picks: A Memorial Day weekend edition
‘Round the Fountain Art Fair marks 52nd year at the courthouse. Plus, Memorial Day weekend doings galore.
Thanks 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.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your weekends …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Opening reception, 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St., Lafayette — “Rooted” by Lori Brubaker will include multimedia pieces featuring the Indiana artist’s mix of photography, printmaking and sculpture. Her inspiration stems from nature, as stated by the artist: “Nature can be an intriguing, delicate and complex being. It can be easy to take for granted all the alluring qualities and aspects that nature holds. My work aims to extract those elements that tend to go unnoticed.” The show runs through Sept. 6.
‘Round the Fountain Art Fair, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 23, downtown Lafayette — The 52nd annual ‘Round the Fountain will feature dozens of artists from near and far camped all around the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, which is a work of art itself. Almost every media imaginable will be on sale. Proceeds and donations from the event go to Greater Lafayette high school art programs. Over the years, the Art Fair committee has donated more than $200,000 to support six-area high school art education departments as well as The Arts Federation After School Arts Program and the Art League. These donations help provide equipment, contest entry fees and other fine arts education opportunities that might otherwise not be available. The philanthropic nature of ‘Round the Fountain doesn’t stop there. In a tribute to the city of Lafayette’s bicentennial this year, the Art Fair committee also donated $5,000 for the Lafayette Bicentennial public art piece, “On the Banks of the Wabash.” And back to our gem of a courthouse, take a twirl inside said courthouse — without the stress of jury duty or worse — to see the Art Fair’s permanent collection on display. Art Fair committee members will serve as docents to lead tours. To request a tour, stop by the information booth starting at 10 a.m.
Official Claire with Life in Public and Ifwewait., 9 p.m. Saturday, May 23, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — The latest squadron of Chicago bands to post up at The Spot Tavern includes the return of Official Claire, an indie rock act led by singer-songwriter Claire who has owned The Spot stage previously with raw performance and energy in the recent past. The band, which released an EP called “Dickbiter” in 2024, features Leroy Bach, formerly of Wilco and Liz Phair’s band. Speaking of Wilco, Official Claire will join the Chicago rock legends’ Solid Sound music and arts festival this summer in Massachusetts. Opening The Spot show will be fellow indie rock artists Life in Public and solo act Ifwewait. $10.
Punk vs. Metal BBQ VII, 7-11 p.m. Sunday, May 24, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Memorial Day weekend has never sounded better since the fine folks at Mom&Pop Productions started booking the Punk vs. Metal BBQ outside of People’s Brewing Company. For the 2026 edition, mosh to the metal riffage of Lafayette’s own The Mound Builders and Indianapolis’ Kiritsis, a doomy death metal band sure to appeal to metalheads in attendance. And be sure to guzzle a couple — or several — pints of People’s before slam dancing to the sounds of local punks Criminal Record and headlining act Hans Condor, a trio from Nashville, Tennessee. Hans Condor is the perfect booking for this event. Check out what Maximum RocknRoll said about the band’s 2024 LP, “Big Breakfast:” “This is great stuff right here. The kind of album I’d throw on during a super-hot day while I grill out, drink beer and take a dip in my inflatable pool. White-trash-core in the best way possible. Highly recommended for those who like to party and sweat their asses off deep into the long, summer evenings.” Tickets.
Rachel Baiman with Matt Scherger, 6 p.m. June 2, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — A young multi-instrumentalist (primarily fiddle, acoustic guitar and banjo) and popular session player in Nashville, Tennessee, Rachel Baiman will take centerstage next month with her stripped-down country music sound at People’s. Opening the show will be Lafayette’s one-and-only Matt Scherger. The former lead voice of The Woodstove Flapjacks will perform solo tunes for the first time in years. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS CUTS …
Memorial Day weekend at Columbian Park includes a performance by the Blue Water Kings at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Memorial Island Amphitheater. Free.
The Lafayette Citizens Band opens its 184th season with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Columbian Park’s Memorial Island Amphitheater. The Riverboat Ramblers open the evening at 6:45 p.m. It’s free.
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.
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