Tim’s Picks: Your mid-July edition
What are you up to this weekend?
Programming note: Based in Lafayette is still on some scheduled downtime this week. But there’s no stopping …
By Tim Brouk/For Based in Lafayette
Gallery Walk, 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 17, downtown Lafayette — More than 20 venues will open their doors late into the evening for the July edition of the Lafayette Gallery Walk. Most stops are scattered around downtown Lafayette showcasing local and regional artists’ latest works. The exhibitions are always varied in media and expression — and most venues offer those delectable art opening snacks and perhaps some delicious wine. Among the 22 exhibits, LaLa Gallery will have live art by ceramicists Angela Vinson and Iris Cushman, live music by Lafayette singer-songwriter Dawn Hively, live dance by the Greater Lafayette Dance Collective and ice cream. The Lafayette Pride Center will host new works by a trio of artists — Sabrina Hinckel, Onyx Arts and Snarly Ceramics. One of Lafayette tiniest but mightiest spots, The Weather Station will welcome Detroit printmaker and sculptor Nicholas Dowgwillo and his show “Celebration of a Field Reveling in the Summer Light.” The show features both media in pieces inspired by Dowgwillo’s rural Michigan property landscape. This show will run through Aug. 22. Other points of interest include The Ollie Closet, The Beyond Gallery, Main Street Books, KNOW Eatery and Halsema Custom Crafts.
While you are out Gallery Walking, be sure to check out a free performance by local soul-funk band Ebony and the Ruckus at Riehle Plaza. It will be the band’s first show without lead guitarist Dru Alkire, a young veteran of the scene who has slung guitar for the likes of Big Joe Honey Wagon, Root Hog and many more. Alkire has moved to South Carolina, but the Lafayette native will be back to visit family and hopefully some local stages again.
Richard Marx, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — We’ve been “Right Here Waiting” for Richard Marx to play Lafayette for almost 40 years, and this weekend the pop-rock star of late 1980s/early 1990s fame will finally make his downtown Lafayette debut to a “Satisfied” audience. Marx will begin an acoustic tour of “Endless Summer Nights,” including a few dates with Rod Stewart later in his itinerary, this weekend. Marx is logging many miles across the eastern United States and Canada in support of his 14th album, “After Hours,” which features six new songs and Marx’s varied takes on jazz standards. $59. Tickets.
Pride Lafayette Pageant, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, The Arts Federation, 638 North St., Lafayette — Behold the glitz, glamour and greatness of the Lafayette Pride Pageant, which will name a new Mr., Miss and Mx. Lafayette Pride. According to Pride Lafayette, “Miss Pride Lafayette is the title awarded to a contestant who exemplifies excellence in presentation, communication and community engagement, representing the pageant with a traditionally feminine expression of drag or performance,” while “Mr. Pride Lafayette is awarded to a contestant who demonstrates outstanding stage presence, authenticity and leadership through a traditionally masculine expression of drag or performance. Mx. Pride Lafayette is a gender-inclusive title that celebrates contestants whose performance and identity may not fit within traditional gender categories.” A cash bar will be available courtesy of Digby’s Pub & Patio. $15. Tickets.
Nequient with Omen-Killer, Master Hunter and Emulsified, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Greater Lafayette metalheads must don their party battle vests and offer their tributes to one Nick Maxson, the emperor of The Doom Room kingdom. Maxson moshed out of his mama 35 years ago, and to celebrate that epic day, some local and regional metal favorites will perform this weekend. Local representatives Master Hunter and Emulsified will bring the heat with Omen-Killer, a Bloomington doom metal act that started as a Sleep cover band but has graduated to originals with lyrics inspired by classic John Carpenter horror movies. Newcomers to Lafayette, Nequient, a four-piece metallic hardcore band from Chicago, will serve as the headlining band. Supporting its new album, “Avarice,” Nequient’s sound will be a sonic present to the birthday boy’s ears as well as everyone else’s. While it’s his birthday weekend, Maxson’s gift to the music scene has been relentless promoting for well over a decade and growing a fledgling metal scene into by far the healthiest local music sub-scene in Lafayette. Local metal would be almost nothing without him. Happy birthday, Nick, and thank you! $10.
After Hours Dance Party with DJs Synchronoize, Grimey Kids and Shibascream, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette —DJs from Chicago and Indianapolis will get Lafayette moving After Hours (unrelated to the above Richard Marx album). The latest dance night at People’s will feature drum and bass, house, dubstep and more electronic music with a beat as spun by DJs Shibascream and Grimey Kids from Indy and Synchronoize from the Windy City. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS PICK: Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair, July 17-25, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road – Even if you aren’t showing sheep or swine this year, there’s plenty going on once the fair gets rolling. Here’s the schedule to line up your Fair time.
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