Tim’s Picks: ‘Quite skanktacular,’ and then some
Tim’s Picks: ‘Quite skanktacular,’ and then some
Ska at North End Pub. Spring Dance Works at Purdue. Lafayette Master Chorale pays tribute to one of their own with Hyden’s ‘Creation.’ Lafayette Roller Derby whips back. Tapping one for TAF. And more
Thanks to ongoing support from The Long Center for the Performing Arts, presenting guitar great Jimmie Vaughan and his band in downtown Lafayette, June 15. For the best seats, here’s your link. And for more, click on Jimmie Vaughan’s guitar below.
And now, your weekly dose of five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Purdue Contemporary Dance Company Spring Dance Works, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, Hansen Theatre-Pao Hall, Purdue University — Original choreography by Purdue Dance faculty, students and alumni will take center stage this weekend, marking the last performing arts events at Purdue this academic year. Seven pieces total will fuel this show, which teems with beautiful movement as well as student-produced music, lighting and costumes. In addition, Saturday is International Dance Day. Celebrate by attending these moving concerts this weekend. Purdue Contemporary Dance Company productions are presented by the Division of Dance, an academic unit in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art and Performance. $16, $10 for students, $8 for children 12 and younger. Tickets.
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The Operators with The Run Up and The Jackies, 9 p.m. Friday, April 28, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — One of the Midwest’s top ska bands returns to Lafayette. The mostly Indianapolis outfit The Operators is back with its danceable style that appeals to fans of first, second, third (and fourth?) waves of ska. The band respects ska’s roots from 50-plus years ago, but a punk rock edge lies within for second and third wavers, which is why The Operators lead the Midwest in ska’s upstroke in resurgence. Opening are punk bands The Run Up, which features Operators bassist Dave Grove on vocals and, well, bass, and The Jackies, Lafayette’s newest and automatically one of the best punk bands around here. The band features Jackie Arnold making her band debut on vocals, Keaton Bresnahan on guitar, Shawn Mullins (Half Rats, Trent and the Rippers) on bass and Anthony Gonzales on drums. This show should be quite skanktacular. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Tickets.
Tap for TAF, 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, top of the Tippecanoe County Parking Garage, 215 Columbia St. — Fifteen regional breweries, distillers and nonalcoholic beer purveyors will again converge atop a downtown Lafayette parking garage to serve drinks and help the local arts. Tap for TAF benefits The Arts Federation, which in turn benefits dozens of artists and arts organizations through its various programs, support and facilities. Among the brewers will be Lafayette’s own People’s Brewing Company, Sun King from Indianapolis and area homebrewers, collectively known as the Tippecanoe Homebrewers Circle, among many others. Be sure to check out newer, smaller operations like Brookston’s Crasian Brewing Company and Kopacetic Beer Factory from Monticello. Downtown Lafayette’s Generation NA will be on hand with products that contain 0%-0.5% alcohol content. Ticketholders receive their own tasting glass and all the beer samples they can (responsibly) drink. $40. Tickets.
Lafayette Roller Derby, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 29, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette — Your Lafayette Roller Derby Supernovas makes its season home debut this weekend versus regional rival the Illiana Derby Dames. After weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supernovas returned in 2022 to huge crowds and dominant victories. With no long layover this year to cool their skates, these athletes are ready to roll for 2023, and enthusiastic crowds will only help the Supernovas’ chances at bout victory. Huge shoutout to jammer/blocker Thunder, who will skate in her 14th season and shows no signs of slowing down — or taking it easy on opponents — anytime soon. $10. Tickets.
Lafayette Master Chorale, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, St. Mary Cathedral, 1207 Columbia St., Lafayette — Lafayette’s finest singers will honor the 225th anniversary of Joseph Haydn’s “The Creation,” while paying tribute to their former director. In 1798, Haydn debuted his masterpiece in Vienna. Two hundred and two years later, the Bach Chorale Singers — today known as Lafayette Master Chorale — took on the three-part oratorio under the guidance of former director William Jon Gray. Sadly, Gray, who directed the organization from 1994-2010, died in 2022. Gray’s protégé, Michael Bennett, now leads the choir, much of which sang under Gray for many years. This weekend, Bennett and the Lafayette Master Chorale will present “The Creation” in its entirety and will dedicate it to Gray and Haydn. The three soloists, Jessica Beebe, Nathaniel Olson and Lafayette native Benjamin Geier, all worked with Gray and will have their former director in mind as they bring to life every note of the masterwork. The concert will feature a symphonic orchestra for the singers as well. Expect a creation of beautiful music and a fitting tribute to Gray, who was a powerful force in the classical music community here that won’t be forgotten. $22 in advance, $25 day of the show, $10 for college students, free for children under 18. 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, for sponsorship help from the Long Center for Performing Arts, presenting Jimmie Vaughan and his band in downtown Lafayette, June 15.
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