This weekend in Indianapolis music, it seems the Circle City is returning to its musical roots. That’s right, there’s a host of jazz and blues concerts taking place all across Indy this weekend, and they’re not just limited to the three mainstays of the Indianapolis jazz community. First of all, the University of Indianapolis Jazz Week is this week, featuring tons of contemporary jazz artists from around Central Indiana and the United States. Groups performing include the Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (featuring the director of Jazz Studies at Ball State), the Famous Jazz Orchestra from Columbus, Ohio, Randy Brecker (a trumpeter who has won five Grammys), and the UIndy Jazz Festival, in which tons of Indianapolis high school bands compete for top honors.
Not only that, but several Indianapolis music venues are throwing jazz-themed bashes this weekend. Perhaps the coolest of these is taking place at The Jazz Kitchen on Friday. It’s the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane’s hard bop masterpiece, Giant Steps, and several illustrious Indianapolis jazz musicians are getting together to celebrate, including pianist Steve Allee, guitarist Rob Dixon, and drummer Steve Houghton. The Chatterbox will be featuring Cliff Ratliff and the Indiana Avenue All-Stars, and the Slippery Noodle Inn also has a barrage of jazz and blues shows, including the Larry Garner Blues Band and Little Joe McLerran.
That means that this is the perfect weekend to get out to the six Indianapolis cultural districts and see how Indianapolis evolved into the musical powerhouse it is today. With these Indianapolis events, maybe you’ll understand the kaleidoscope of musical Indianapolis history a bit better.
-Bryan Johnson
Thursday, Feb 25 |
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| University of Indianapolis Jazz Week Presents Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra@ Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center | |||
| Butler University Percussion Ensemble @ Clowes Memorial Hall | |||
Carolina Chocolate Drops and Woodstove Flapjacks @ The Royal Theater in Danville, Indiana
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Larry Garner Blues Band @ The Slippery Noodle Inn
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Clifford Ratliff and the Indiana Avenue All Stars @ Chatterbox Jazz Club
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Brian Deer & The Achievers and Star & Micey @ The Melody Inn
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A Friend Called Fire @ Birdy’s Bar & Grill
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The Flying Toasters @ Joe’s Grille II
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The Working Hour @ Mo’s Irish Pub in Noblesville, Indiana
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Summon the Destroyer, Misery Index, Heavy Lies the Crown, and Magrudergrind @ Melody Inn
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American Cheese @ Moon Dog Tavern
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Desi, Rok Hollywood, Broken Equilibrium, and Priest of D’Molls @ The Ugly Monkey
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The Michaels @ Artbox Gallery at the Stutz Artists Association
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Friday, Feb 26 |
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| Meet the Artists XXII @ Indianapolis Central Library | |||
| Alpha.Live @ Indianapolis Artsgarden | |||
Joyce Licorish @ The IndyFringe Building
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Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Pops Concert @ Indianapolis Museum of Art
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“Safety Last” with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra @ Indianapolis Museum of Art
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Jennie DeVoe @ The Rathskeller Restaurant
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Lemon Wheel @ Mickey’s Irish Pub in Carmel, Indiana
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| Tribute to John Coltrane’s Giant Steps w/ Steve Allee, Rob Dixon, Steve Houghton, Jeremy Allen, and Dick Sisto @ The Jazz Kitchen | |||
Starlume, The Empires, All Day Holiday @ Radio Radio
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Northern Kind and The Great Hookup @ Birdy’s Bar
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Jon Justice Band, Little Joe McLerran, and Robbie Mack @ Slippery Noodle
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Pravada, The Young Republic, and Ex Flames @ Melody Inn
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Frontiers and Erratic @ The Vogue Theater
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| Aberdeen Project @ Mo’s Pub | |||
Mojo Gumbo @ Jillian’s Downtown
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Buggin’ Malone @ Indiana University
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| Bomar & Ritter @ Chateau Thomas Winery | |||
Sugar Moon Rabbit @ Ugly Monkey
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Terry Lee and the Rockaboogie Band @ Fountain Square Theater
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| FREEZE @ 8 Seconds Saloon | |||
Spanky’s Clubhouse @ Krazy Street
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Saturday, Feb 27 |
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| University of Indianapolis Jazz Fest @ Christel DeHaan Center | |||
Plaguesayer, The Paramedic, Omega, As the Fallen Rise, and A Silent Repent @ The Emerson Theater
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| Clifford Ratliff Blue Note Tribute Band @ Jazz Kitchen | |||
Gordon Bonham Blues Band and The Northern Nights @ The Rathskeller
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| Encore Vocal Arts Presents Poems and Parables @ Meridian Street United Methodist Church | |||
| Goldie and Exquisitely Yours @ Chatterbox | |||
The Channel 4, Nick Vote & Genius Johnson, Black Oil Brothers, and Art Adams @ Birdy’s
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| Greta Speaks @ Pinheads Entertainment Center in Fishers, Indiana | |||
| Something Rather Naughty @ Mo’s | |||
| A Bad Idea @ Ball State University Dance Marathon | |||
| The Michaels @ Easley Winery | |||
| Accordions @ Earth House Collective | |||
DJ Kool-Aid, Fiber, American Syndrome, The Dwellers, and Violent Calm @ Indianapolis Motor Speedway‘s Winner’s Circle
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Sunday, February 28 |
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| Asante Children’s Theater and Blair Karsch and Friends @ Indianapolis Artsgarden | |||
| Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis‘ 12 Annual Gospel Concert @ Pike Performing Arts Center | |||
Harry Connick Jr. @ Murat Centre
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8 Seconds Saloon | Big Car Gallery | Birdy’s Bar & Grill | Chatterbox Jazz Club | Emerson Theater | Jazz Kitchen | Old National Centre | Radio Radio | The Vogue | More Indianapolis Music Venues
Amanda Overmyer | Cathy Morris | Flynnville Train | Gwen Stacy | The Elms | Haste the Day | Jennie DeVoe | Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s | Mudkids | Murder by Death | Sloppy Seconds | Straight No Chaser | More Indianapolis Bands
Indianapolis Musical Organizations
Arts Council of Indianapolis | Capital City Chorus | Ensemble Music Society | Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra | More Indianapolis Musical Organizations
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds | Freddy Hubbard | Wes Montgomery | Cole Porter | James Spaulding | More Indianapolis Musicians
Avon Music | Brownsburg Music | Carmel Music | Danville Music | Fishers Music | Greenfield Music | Greenwood Music | Martinsville Music | Mooresville Music | Noblesville Music | Plainfield Music | Westfield Music | Zionsville Music | More Indiana Music
