Tim’s Picks: All I really want to do …
Your guide to five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
Support for Based in Lafayette comes from Purdue Convocations, presenting Tom Segura on Oct. 24 in Elliott Hall of Music. Tom Segura, one of the biggest touring comedians, announced the 2025 dates of his global stand-up comedy tour Tom Segura: Come Together. Segura’s highly anticipated new hour of comedy kicked off last year and has been selling out with stops across Asia and North America. Over 40 dates have been added throughout North America and Europe including a stop in West Lafayette at Elliott Hall of Music on Oct. 24, 2025. BUY TICKETS for Tom Segura here.
And now for …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Bob Dylan, 8 p.m. Friday, April 11, Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University — Fresh from the hit film “A Complete Unknown,” music legend Bob Dylan’s Friday night appearance is Purdue’s biggest show since at least Noah Kahan’s 2023 appearance, but many would say it’s West Lafayette’s biggest show since Dylan’s last Elliott Hall appearance in 2004. I was lucky enough to review that concert. Dylan’s band was unbeatable, and Dylan sauntered around the stage like a king ruling his kingdom. In between scribbling notes in my pocket-sized spiral notebook, I’d have some starstruck moments: “I’m seeing Bob freaking Dylan at Purdue.” However, the cavernous Elliott Hall was not even half full. About 2,600 fans were in attendance 21 years ago. This weekend’s appearance, however, sold out in days. It seems folks today can recognize rock royalty better than their ’00s contemporaries. SOLD OUT.
TAP for TAF, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Tippecanoe County parking garage, 200 South St. — Drinking beer while supporting area arts are the orders at the annual TAP for TAF beer festival. Regional craft breweries will convene on top of the downtown Tippecanoe County parking garage once again for a unique and buzzy experience. There will also be hard ciders and nonalcoholic beer in the mix as well as local live music and food. $40 and $50.
“This Little Light of Mine” with Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra (LSO) announced Janette Brown, who has worked with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and for Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Indianapolis, as its new CEO, and she is already making waves in time for the LSO’s concert this weekend. “This Little Light of Mine” will feature Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2” as well as a new “pay-what-you-can” opportunity to watch the LSO rehearse the night before the big show. Classical music fans can experience this rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11. Regardless of what day you go, the program is topnotch and will also feature works from Mozart, Mendelssohn and Saint-Saens. The concert will feature the talents from the annual Keller Concerto Competition too. $8-$39. Tickets.
Why I Like Robins and Modern Drugs with The Remote Controls, 9 p.m. Saturday, April 12, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — Indie and punk rock will comingle this weekend when Lafayette’s Why I Like Robins makes another appearance after its August 2024 reunion. The musicians stated that the Robins would be rocking beyond the reunion, and they will fulfill their promise with a set of tight, guitar-driven rock. The Robins will share the stage with longtime Land of Lincoln friend Ryan Groff’s new band, Modern Drugs. Groff was the singer and guitarist in Elsinore, an indie rock act from Champaign, Ill., that played downtown Lafayette several times in the ’00s and ’10s. Opening will be The Remote Controls, one of Indianapolis’ top punk rock bands. The trio only opened for The Descendents at Old National Centre in 2023, no big deal. $10 or pay what you can.
Wild Bill and the Bruisers, 6 p.m. April 15, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Nashville, Tennessee, country trio Wild Bill and the Bruisers will play its third Lafayette show next week at its third venue. The band led by former Lafayette heavy metal musician Will Allison on upright bass and vocals made its Indiana debut last summer at Digby’s Pub, came back months later for an opening slot at Duncan Hall, and now will get the People’s Brewing Company hospitality. Allison, who rocked as a teenager in the mighty Thor, and his bandmates — guitarist Ryan Hartman and drummer Roger Ross — will wrap up a Midwest tour in Lafayette in support of their debut album, “Cuttin’ the Mustard,” a 12-track gem chock full of classic honkey style of country music complete with a raucous cover of Buck Owens’ classic “Hot Dog.” $10. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Support also comes from Purdue Convocations, presenting comedian Tom Segura on Oct. 24 in Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are on sale now here.
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.
Personally I believe the Dylan show is sold out because a bunch of people who never really listened to his music or knew/know his story all went to a movie and now they are instant fans based on a somewhat fantastical derivation of his life. I hope they are not disappointed.