There are far more events this week than any single person could reasonably be expected to attend. Hopefully you have several of the official Breeders’ Cup and Breeders’ Cup Festival happenings on your radar, from Tuesday night’s Jukebox the Ghost concert to Wednesday’s night’s National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Awards Dinner to Thursday’s free Linkin Bridge concert at Fourth Street Live! There’s also the TopGolf Crush pop-up at Cardinal Stadium, Horse Country farm tours, a Thoroughbred Women’s Network panel and a bunch more. You should hit as many as possible.
But don’t limit your exploring to the official events. Louisville is a city with a wide range of options every night of the year and you might find something that suits your own eclectic interests if you cast your net a little wider. Here are a few that I’m hoping to catch as I bounce around town the next several nights:
Ladies of LCD Soundsystem are at the craft brewery Gravely on Thursday night.
Ladies of LCD Soundsystem at Gravely Brewing – The best dance party of the week is likely to be at this show featuring members of the critically acclaimed electronica art-rockers LCD Soundsystem. Featuring Nancy Whang and Gavin Rayna Russom, this tour is a celebration of their work as solo artists and an exploration of their music beyond their work with LCD Soundsystem as keyboard player, vocalist, and synthesis player, respectively. The national tour hits Louisville on Thursday night with a stop at the new craft beer haven Gravely. For a story on the tour that appeared in Rolling Stone, click here.
97.1 FM WXOX “ARTxFM” is the community radio station for the most discerning musical tastes.
Louisville Visual Art Open Studio Weekend – If you’re looking for a crash course in what our local artists and artisans have to offer then you’re in luck. Once a year artists all over the city open their doors to the public for this opportunity to see artists at work, get a glimpse into their process, and in some cases, take advantage of studio sales. Whether you’re a fan, a collector, a fellow artist or just starting to explore this bustling scene, Open Studio Weekend is the most convenient way to explore and celebrate Louisville’s creative community. About 100 artists are set to participate.
Tiffany Calvert blends classical and contemporary with gestural painting layered over digital prints of traditional still-life scenes.
Just glancing at the list here are a few stops I personally recommend: ARTxFM, our beloved low-power FM community radio station (take it from this ARTxFM board member, you should also have 97.1 FM on the dial in your rental car all week for the most interesting non-commercial radio you’ll find anywhere, staffed 24/7 by all-volunteer DJs who are the most informed musical tastemakers in the city); John JP Begley (U. of Louisville professor, mainstay of the local scene, and a talented artist and curator, who also organized the Louisville Artists: Carry On survey at Louisville Visual Art that serves as a great primer on Louisville artists making a mark nationally); painter and gallerist John Brooks; painter Tiffany Calvert; mixed media artist Ying Kit Chan; and photographer Zed Saeed (recent to Louisville with a little-known Thoroughbred racing connection as brother-in-law of Blood-Horse managing editor Evan Hammonds!).
Go find some art you love, buy it with your gambling winnings, and take it home to display in you home as a lasting reminder of your big score and your visit to Louisville!
Aziz Ansari at Louisville Palace – Are you a bad person if you go see this very funny guy who also has reportedly been a jerk to some of the women he’s dated? I honestly don’t know. I understand if you never want to see his face on your Netflix ever again, but I also don’t blame you if you want to hear what he has to say about his past year or so.
Guestroom Records celebrates five years all with specials all weekend long.
Guestroom Records Fifth Anniversary – Our (arguably) preeminent local record shop is celebrating its fifth anniversary Friday night. Stop by after the races or anytime for crate-digging, art by Sound & Vision (a show of work inspired by records), and plenty of music!
The one thing I can’t help you with is Halloween. I’m a middle-aged dude with a toddler and all I’ll be doing is taking him trick-or-treating, then going to the Turf Writers dinner. Sorry I’m not equipped to handle that one, but for more info on all the goings-on around town I recommend starting with LeoWeekly.com.
Have a great time in Louisville and let us know how you enjoyed your time here!
___________________________________________________________________________________
If there’s a particular topic you want me to write about please e-mail me at YourFriendJimbo@gmail.com or connect with me on Twitter, @YourFriendJimbo.
Louisville resident Jim Mulvihill is Sr. Director of Betting Information for Churchill Downs Inc. and a member of the Breeders’ Cup Festival’s publicity committee.