Hello and welcome to another edition of the Weekender. No need for much of an intro this week, so let’s just get started, eh?
THURSDAY
New Belgium Beer Tasting // Englert // 6:30 PM // Free
New Belgium Brewing will host a free beer tasting at the Englert this evening. It will take place in the Douglas and Linda Paul Gallery on the second floor. Featured will be special batch brews as well as their classics.
Ambient Showcase // The Mill // 10:00 PM // $3
This “Ambient Showcase” will feature four acts that specialize in toying with soundscapes. The lineup is as follows:
FRIDAY
The Second City: Laughing Matters // Englert // 8:00 PM // $30, $25 Student/Senior
Chicago’s premiere comedy group The Second City are back at the Englert yet again. Second City’s traveling performers will put on their newest show entitled Laughing Matters. The show is a culmination of the some of the best sketches, songs, etc. that Second City has performed over the years. Sometimes silly, sometimes smart and satirical, the Second City has been around for over 50 years and has been the jumping off point for many of today’s biggest comedians (Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, et al).
SATURDAY
Bacon Fest // The Mill // 2:00 PM // $15
Not much explanation is necessary here. This festival of bacon will feature a full course meal of foods containing bacon. The Mill promises “Bacon soup. Bacon Salad. Bacon wrapped. Bacon stuffed. Bacon covered. Covered bacon.” For the cover price of $15, the wonderful cooks behind The Mill’s kitchen are sure to deliver.
SUNDAY
Runa // CSPS (Cedar Rapids) // 7:00 PM // $15 Adv., $18 Day Of, $5 Student
From Legion Arts:
Runa’s music is both enigmatic–their name means “mystery” in Celtic–and lively: lush vocals and sweet harmonies contrast with stark soundscapes. Raucous step-dancing, driving rhythms and virtuoso violin performances abound.
“There is truly a mystical quality to their playing,” Irish Philadelphia said. “They create a lyrical sound that is at once unique as well as seamless.”
The four-piece draws on the diverse musical backgrounds of its members and offers a refreshing, contemporary take on traditional and more recently composed Celtic material, a fusion of music from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States.
Runa consists of vocalist and step-dancer Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist Fionán de Barra, Cheryl Prashker of Canada on percussion, and Tomoko Omura of Japan on fiddle.
Members of Runa have played with Solas, Riverdance, Slide, Clannad, Fiddlers’ Bid, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, Hazel O’Conner, Full Frontal Folk, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Barcó and the Guy Mendilow Band.
The band won several awards at the 2010 Montgomery Buck Music Awards, including Best Entertaining Band, Best Folk Artist, Best Female Vocalist, and Best Album (Jealousy). More recently, they were recognized at the 2013 Irish Music Awards with a nomination for Best Female Vocalist.
See you next week!
~LV
You want to see your event here? Email dates and details to Weekender@LittleVillageMag.com!
