Tim’s Picks: If It Wasn't for the Wabash Riverfest edition
Tim’s Picks: If It Wasn't for the Wabash Riverfest edition
Wabash Riverfest, Art in the Park, comedy at The Spot, Clave Caribe heating up and more. Your weekly dose of five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette, for July 6-12.
Thanks today to sponsor Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride on Aug. 26. This ride offers both paved and gravel routes, all of varying length (32-, 62- and 100-miles in distance). The Wabash River Ride has well-supplied restock stops throughout all of its routes, provides roadside assistance for cyclists who need help and wishes to provide a supportive environment for all cyclists who seek to challenge themselves on whatever distance they choose. To sign up or get more information, go to www.wabashriverride.com or click the image below.
And now, your weekly dose of …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Tom Filline with Annam Choudhry, Will McKenzie and Kristin Carnes, 8 p.m. Thursday, July 6, The Spot Tavern , 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — Gym class — a respite for some, a nightmare for most. But with Tom Filline, a real elementary school gym teacher who plies a standup comedy trade in the summer, gym has never been more hilarious. With more than 100,000 social media followers, Filline’s humorous videos of his work experiences have made him a TikTok and Instagram sensation. He finds the funny in many teachable moments that are not only for his students but for himself. Making his Lafayette debut, Filline will be joined by Louisville, Kentucky, funny people Will McKenzie and Annam Choudhry, and West Lafayette’s Kristin Carnes will host. $5.
Clave Caribe, 8 p.m. Friday, July 7, Duncan Hall, 619 Ferry St.— It’s been the summer of Latino heat in downtown Lafayette thanks to a series of dynamite gigs from our town’s own Clave Caribe. Displaying an infectious mix of cumbia, merengue, salsa and bachata, the ensemble has been setting Lafayette streets and venues ablaze the last couple months with fiery performances that produce lively — and sweaty — dancefloors. The band, which has been around for well over a decade but has been seemingly rejuvenated in 2023, had one of the better sets at the Taste of Tippecanoe and gave the Stars and Stripes July Fourth bash some added flavor. This weekend, Clave Caribe will treat fans to hours of up-tempo music that will outdo anything these summer days and nights can bring. Proceeds from this event will go to the “Us-surance” charity fund to help repair the home of Greater Lafayette artists and art supporters Dana Goodman and Kathleen Kitch. $20 or pay what you can.
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Wabash Riverfest, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 8, Tapawingo Park, West Lafayette — The annual celebration of all things Wabash River will flow with canoe racing, live music, art and food. Our beloved body of water is well worth celebrating. If you don’t believe me or the Riverfest faithful, just listen to Johnny Cash. Riverfest 2023 will also feature conservation exhibits and education, and you don’t have to be a canoe race participant to navigate the mighty Wabash. Float trips for the public will be made available in provided rafts, canoes or BYOFD (bring your own floatation device). These trips will start at Davis Ferry Park and will drop you off at the Tapawingo Park festivities. More adventure awaits on the shore with a 32-foot climbing wall. Like Cash crooned, “If It Wasn’t for the Wabash River,” Lafayette-West Lafayette would not be what is today.
If you’ve never heard it – and even if you have – here’s Johnny Cash:
Art in the Park, 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, Columbian Park, Lafayette — The summer series of bringing visual and aural arts to Lafayette’s parks returns to historic Columbian Park for another evening of local art displays, live music, food trucks and community. With Loeb Stadium nearby, the July Art in the Park will have a baseball theme with the hometown Lafayette Aviators in the house for meeting, greeting and autographs. Live music will have all the bases covered as Lafayette slugger Scott Greeson and Trouble with Monday will perform. If there were a Lafayette singer-songwriter hall of fame, you could bet your Cap Anson that Greeson would be a first-ballot induction. After the last song’s chords fade and the last painting purchase goes through Venmo, stick around to catch your Aviators take on the Burlington Bees in Loeb.
Matt Woods with Astoria Distilling Company, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St. — Nashville singer-songwriter Matt Woods returns to Lafayette in celebration of 10 years of producing stellar, energetic country music. To commemorate the anniversary, Woods re-pressed his first album, “The Matt Woods Manifesto,” on vinyl and the tunes still hold up like they did back in 2013. (Oh, to go back to 2013). Opening will be Logansport Americana rockers Astoria Distilling Company, which features prolific singer-songwriter Jerry James on lead vocals and guitar. $10. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thanks, again, to today’s sponsor, the Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride on Aug. 26.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com. Like and follow Based in Lafayette on Facebook: Based in Lafayette