Tim’s Picks: First Fall Edition
Comedy, cumbia, skaters, book tours and more. Five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette weekend.
Thanks for sponsorship help today from Purdue Convocations, presenting Briscoe. After winning over nearly 6,000 new fans opening for Noah Kahan last spring, folk rock duo Briscoe returns to Purdue Oct. 12. The group’s eclectic sound borrows heavily from 1960s and ’70s folk, funk and laid-back rock influences. Direct from Austin, Texas, Briscoe earned national recognition sharing the stage with bands like My Morning Jacket, Dave Matthews Band and Tame Impala, but it’s their upcoming album and feel-good live show that will leave you wanting more. Briscoe will be supporting their new album West Of It All Oct. 12 in Loeb Playhouse, BUY TICKETS
And now, with five of the best ideas heading into your weekend, here’s …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Author Angie Klink book signing, 1-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, University Book Store, 360 W. State St., West Lafayette — Local author Angie Klink added another title to her ever-growing bibliography. Her newest, “Pledge & Promise: Celebrating the Bond and Heritage of Fraternity, Sorority, and Cooperative Life at Purdue University,” looks at the history of Greek life at Purdue from its humble beginnings way back in 1875 to how Greek organizations’ philanthropic endeavors have enhanced the Purdue community and beyond. Klink will also sign her popular children’s book, “Purdue Pete Finds His Hammer.”
Ritmos Calientes, 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — When he’s not creating public art or teaching the next generation of designers and artists as an associate professor in the Purdue University Department of Computer Graphics Technology, Esteban Garcia Bravo gets the party people moving with beats and rhythms from his home country of Colombia as one-half of the DJ tag team Ritmos Calientes. With wife Nandi Marocco, the duo spin vinyl scored from South America. Bravo and Marocco’s collection spans the decades, but whether new or vintage, the music gets the party started and launches the revelry into the wee hours. There’s cumbia, chicha from nearby Peru, salsa, vallenato, merengue and their most recent favorite: technocumbia. Bravo has always been a local live music supporter since his student days at Purdue. It’s a treat to see him and Marocco, who has an equally impressive ear for music, work in tandem to share music that is difficult to find and hear in Indiana, yet is instantly infectious and danceable. “For us, the best part is to be able to share this happy music with other people. It is a real treasure to see the effect that it has in people when they start moving their bodies, shaking their heads or just tuning in,” Marocco said. “Many records are from family or represent a lot of our history, and it feels amazing to make it part of the Lafayette community.” $7 or pay what you can.
Mirth, Music and Munchies, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, Civic Theater of Greater Lafayette, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — Currently in between plays, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette is still home to unique, original shows and events. This weekend, Civic will blend three of my fav-o-rite things – food, music and comedy. EMT Food Truck will dish out decadent, meatless dishes like veggie burgers, fries and its signature Munchie Melts — unique grilled cheese waffle sandwiches with such ingredients as macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, and bananas oozing out from betwixt said waffles. Not to be confused with that mac and cheese, local rock act Mac’s Room will perform before Lafayette’s one and only improv group, One Size Fits All, takes the Civic stage for a family-friendly affair.
Skatepark fundraiser, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, Loeb Stadium parking lot, Main and Kossuth streets — After presenting pop-up skateparks in July and August to show city governments the need for a skatepark (or two) to be installed in Lafayette-West Lafayette once again, Greg Simpson and Simpson Skates will do it one more time this year but this time to raise money along with awareness. As reported in Based in Lafayette, city and nonprofit planners are paying attention and the possibility of having designated areas to ollie, kickflip and front foot impossible is looking promising. However, much more work — and dollars — are needed. To celebrate and keep the momentum going, another pop-up skatepark will emerge in a parking lot near Loeb Stadium and the southwest corner of Columbian Park. Skaters seasoned and beginning are welcome. Even the goofiest-footed folks can still take in food trucks, local prize package raffles and beats from area DJs.
Puff N’ Stuff, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Yet another Gibson Wells project, Puff N’ Stuff is a new psychedelic jazz-rock fusion project, which will perform one its first shows next week at People’s Brewing Company. Joining young Gibson, who plays bass guitar in this particular band, is joined by fellow young Indiana musicians Kyle Brooks, Elijah Davis, Billy Collier and Seamus Lavignette to sonically explore familiar tunes in spaced-out, freaky ways. $10. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS TRACKS
ICYMI … Here’s Tim’s look at Clave Caribe from Wednesday’s Based in Lafayette. Clave Caribe is celebrating 15 years on the Lafayette music scene and playing at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Rat Pak Venue, 102 N. Third St. in Lafayette. Tickets: $10 advance, $15 at the door.
COMING THIS WEEK: Ready for a nightly dose of comedy in downtown Lafayette for the next week? The first Laughayette Comedy Festival starts Saturday and runs through Oct. 7 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Lafayette Theater and several night spots downtown. We’ll take a closer look in the coming days. Until then, here’s your link to the schedule, including shows from Brian Regan, Chelcie Lynn and Jay Jurden.
Thanks, again, for sponsorship help from Purdue Convocations, presenting Briscoe, in concert Oct. 12 in Loeb Playhouse. Get tickets 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.
Thank you, Tim snd Dave for featuring my book signing. Much appreciated. --Angie