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.
What are you up to this weekend? How about …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
India Ferrah, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, Rat Pak Venue, 102 N. Third St., Lafayette — The drag scene in Lafayette continues to grow as national acts are starting to guest star downtown events. This weekend’s attraction is India Ferrah, a Texas-based queen who competed on the third season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2011 and later on the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” in 2020. Since then, Ferrah won “Diva of the South” in 2024, and when she is not on-stage, Ferrah has her own stage gear design company called Ferrah-James Designs with fellow drag performer Savannah F. James. This weekend, Ferrah will be supported by local drag performers from Veronica Fox’s Den. $20, $30 for VIP. Tickets.
Beers and More Along the Wabash, 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Riehle Plaza, Second and Main streets, Lafayette — More than 20 Indiana beverage makers will take over downtown for the annual Beers Across the Wabash festival – this year dubbed Beers Along the Wabash. The 2026 edition brings a couple of changes: First, the menu continues to expand; joining traditional breweries will be Hoosier distilleries, wineries, and Generation NA, downtown Lafayette’s own distributor of choice nonalcoholic beers, wine and spirits. Second, with the current construction on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, the event will be centered in and around Riehle Plaza near Second and Main streets. The drinking and camaraderie will be enhanced by live music, food trucks and party games. Proceeds go to Food Finders Food Bank. Tickets.
The Nest Block Party, 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, outside West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave. — Leave it to The Nest promoters, organizers and supporters to throw Purdue University’s most rocking back to school bash. Do-it-yourself since day one, The Nest team stayed busy over the summer with some house shows, but this weekend will mark a triumphant return to giving Purdue students an alternative and indoctrination to DIY shows around campus. The block party will feature returning bands Midnight Pancakes and punk ska act Third Wheeling along with Bloomington rock duo RealNothing and Indianapolis rockers Ethereal. A fifth “surprise” band will also perform. This is the perfect kickoff to another year of new bands, new house venues and a scene that continues to excite.
Music on the Porch, 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, Caretaker’s Cottage, Grand View Cemetery, 1496 N. Salisbury St., West Lafayette — Annie Hatke Schap’s return to live performance has already seen her singing and strumming in a boat along the Wabash River at the recent Float Jam. Her next gig is also a little atypical, too — outside an historic cemetery building in West Lafayette. Sunday marks the start of the Music on the Porch concert series with Schap’s new project, Last of the Apples, kicking things off. The show will be in the Grand View Cemetery around the recently restored Caretaker’s Cottage, which is leased by the West Lafayette Public Library as a local history center. Last of the Apples will see Schap’s daughters Nos. 2 and 4, Greta and Ingrid, join her for a set of originals, folk standards and pop tunes reimagined for acoustic guitar, ukulele and other stinged instruments. The series will continue with local jazz artist Brent Laidler and his Swing 38 Quintet (Sept. 13) and acoustic guitar wizard Michael Kelsey (Oct. 18).
Comedy Open Mic, 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — If you think you can take your office antics that kill with Carol in accounting to the stage, The Spot’s Comedy Open Mic is for you. With the ever-encouraging and ever-hilarious Greg Lindberg hosting, your first experience will be memorable, even if your bit about the office printer is a little stale. You might also see Indiana’s next great comedian or perhaps just some dude off the street ranting about roundabouts, which sums up the beauty of comedy open mic nights. You never know if audiences will be falling in the aisles with laughter or sinking in their seats from office printer jokes. The Spot’s comedy open mics are free and run every last Sunday of the month.
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 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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Thanks for the story on Music on the Porch! Much appreciated.