TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening

Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
·7 min read

This week in West Alabama, Oct. 26-Nov. 1: The two-day Chukker Weekender, celebrating the late lamented bar and its music and art, will be held at Druid City Brewing Co. on Friday and Saturday; the Pink Box Burlesque will perform its 16th annual "Rocky Horror" interactive show at the Bama Theatre on Saturday; Trick or Treat on Sorority Row will begin at 6 pm. Monday; Bo Hicks will hold a 44th birthday bash at his Druid City Brewing Co., with John Calvin Abney and Speckled Bird, and as a fundraiser for friends with medical bills; Kidz Bop at the Amphitheater, and more.

MUSIC

THURSDAY

Bo's 44th Birthday with John Calvin Abney, Speckled Bird: 6 p.m., Druid City Brewing Co., 700 14th St., Parkview Plaza, Tuscaloosa. Bo's birthday gumbo will be for sale, going toward a benefit for Tom Rathe and Sarah Cheshire, who with their newborn are experiencing an extended hospital stay. Those wishing to help can Venmo to @bo-bday, with all proceeds going to the family. www.caringbridge.org/visit/sarahcheshire.

FRIDAY

Kidz Bop: 7 p.m., Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets for $65, $55, $45, $35 and $25, through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater box office. For more, see www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

Lucero, Lou Hazel: 8 p.m., $30, Druid City Music Hall, 1307 University Blvd., on the Strip. www.druidcitymusichall.com.

Buddy Guy, Tom Hambridge: 7:30 p.m., Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $49 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.alabamatheatre.com.

MONDAY

My Morning Jacket: 7 p.m., Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $30 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.alabamatheatre.com.

LOCAL EVENTS

ONGOING-NOV. 9

"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour": Concert film being shown at various times through Nov. 9, at Sidewalk Cinema, 1821 Second Ave. N., Birmingham. www.sidewalkfest.com/events/taylorswifttheerastour.

FRIDAY

Lewis Black: 8 p.m., Lyric Theatre, 1800 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $45 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.lyricbham.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

The Chukker Weekender kicks off Friday night with poetry, oration, and a number of reunited bands from the Chukker's 90s/early 2000s, including The Crying Jags, Instant Karma, The Irascibles, The Cunning Runts and Model Citizen.
The Chukker Weekender kicks off Friday night with poetry, oration, and a number of reunited bands from the Chukker's 90s/early 2000s, including The Crying Jags, Instant Karma, The Irascibles, The Cunning Runts and Model Citizen.

Chukker Weekender: Two-day celebration, Druid City Brewing Co., featuring live music, poetry, comedy, visual arts, yoga and more. Among the bands playing/reuniting: Club Wig, the Penetrators, the Irascibles, Model Citizen, Sweat Bee, the Crying Jags, Henri's Notions, the Dexateens, the DTs, Instant Karma, Blip, Hooper, Che Arthur, Tommy Sorrells and more. The event will celebrate the late lamented Chukker, home to artists, musicians, writers, and other oddballs from 1956 until a forced closing, Halloween night 2003. There's an online fundraiser set up to keep the weekender free, and to help pay for some pre-show artists' costs and setup, at www.gofundme.com/f/support-chukker-weekender-2023.

The Chukker Weekender's second day starts with an art market, chair yoga, poetry, comedy and bands including Henri's Notions and The DTs, all in the morning and afternoon.
The Chukker Weekender's second day starts with an art market, chair yoga, poetry, comedy and bands including Henri's Notions and The DTs, all in the morning and afternoon.
The Chukker Weekender's second and final night will feature Haunted Housecat, a band comprising musicians who played with the late D.C. Moon, and a flurry of bands and musicians, many of them reuniting and playing for the first time in many years, including Blip, Club Wig, Che Arthur and Adam Reach, Sweat Bee, The Penetrators, Hooper, and The Dexateens.

SATURDAY

Halloween Comicfest: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., The Comic Strip, 505 Hargrove Road E., Suite 10, Tuscaloosa. Costume contests, free comics, guests.

Tuscaloosa Oktoberfest: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Druid City Social, 301 Greensboro Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. Family-friendly, live music featuring Oompah-Calypse, activities and contests, German food and beer. Admission $10, children 12 and under free. Limited amount of VIP tickets available for $75. www.tuscaloosaoktoberfest.com.

Trot-o-Ween: 2-4 p.m., Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa, 3200 Clements Road, Cottondale. Hayrides, petting zoo, games, candy and more; costumes encouraged. Adults $5, kids free. www.facebook.com/TherapeuticRidingOfTuscaloosa.

Chip Cookies grand opening: 5-10 p.m., Midtown Village, 1800 McFarland Blvd. E., with giveaways, live entertainment and more.

Trick or Treat at Lake Lurleen: 6-9 p.m., campers decorate and hand out candy. www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park.

The Pink Box Burlesque will perform its 16th annual interactive "Rocky Horror" show Saturday at the Bama Theatre.
The Pink Box Burlesque will perform its 16th annual interactive "Rocky Horror" show Saturday at the Bama Theatre.

Pink Box Burlesque's 16th annual "Rocky Horror" show: 8 p.m., Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. Doors at 7, costume contest at 8, interactive show with movie 8:30 p.m. Prop bags will be available while supplies last and include Bama-approved props. Outside prop bags are not allowed in the historic Bama. General admission is $22; admission plus prop bag is $28. www.pinkboxburlesque.com.

SUNDAY

Showband Battle of the Bands: 3:30 p.m., Seven of the most prominent HBCU showbands in the country will battle for fan favorite, including Alabama State University, Talladega College, Mississippi Valley State University, Tennessee State University, Alabama A&M University, Texas Southern University, and Alcorn State University, in BJCC Protective Stadium. Tickets, $35 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.bjcc.org.

Matt Rife: 5 and 8 p.m., BJCC Concert Hall. May be sold out; check ticket brokers. www.bjcc.org.

MONDAY

Trick or Treat on Sorority Row: 6 p.m., UA campus. The Alabama Panhellenic Association hosts the annual event. APA will not provide bags. No masks, no fake or real weapons, no bicycles, skateboards or hoverboards. Free parking after 6 p.m. on campus.

This Could Be You: Comedy show with open-mic, 8-11 p.m., Black Warrior Brewing Co., 2216 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa. Signup at 7:30. Hosted by Stand-Up Tuscaloosa and Compton Smith.

TUESDAY

Mystic Krewe of the Druids' HalloQueen: 7 p.m., Drish House, 2300 17th St., Tuscaloosa. Ghost tours, palm and tarot card readings 7-9. Local performers will provide entertainment, then the costume contest, with cash prizes, will be held at 9:30. Cash bar and food truck on site. Event is 21 and up. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. secure.actblue.com/donate/halloqueen.

UPCOMING

Tusk calendar
Tusk calendar

NOV. 5: Lake Street Dive, 7 p.m., Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $32 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.alabamatheatre.com.

NOV. 7: Foreigner, Loverboy, 7 p.m., Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets for $119.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, and $39.50, plus fees and taxes, through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Amp box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more, see www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

NOV. 13: "Moonlit Melodies," the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra's annual chamber-music concert, 7 p.m., $30 to $40 (students free), First Presbyterian Church, 900 Greensboro Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. www.tsoonline.org.

NOV. 24: Holidays on the Plaza opens. Ice-skating rink and the Tinsel Trail (decorated trees) in Government Plaza, 618 21st Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. Runs through the holiday season, and into the new year. Schedule, prices and more will go up at www.holidaysontheplaza.com.

DEC. 4: 47th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade, "A Hometown Christmas," and county courthouse tree lighting, free and family-friendly. Tree lighting at 5:15; parade begins at 6:30, featuring floats, walking groups, marching bands, horse groups, and decorated vehicles.

DEC. 5: Dickens Downtown, 5-8 p.m., downtown Northport. The free, family-friendly event is a Victorian-style Christmas celebration inspired by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The event will include decorated storefronts, costumed performers, an appearance by Father Christmas, snow machines, a tree lighting and more.

DEC. 7-10: Tuscaloosa Community Dancers will perform "The Nutcracker," Bama Theatre. www.tuscaloosadancers.com.

DEC. 9: Christmas Afloat, Black Warrior River. Lighted boat parade beginning after dark, with a route between the Woolsey Finnell and Wallace bridges, and back again. Fireworks at the conclusion.

DEC. 10: Holiday Singalong, caroling in Capitol Park, free and family-friendly, returns after pandemic-driven hiatus. 1-2:30 p.m., with lyrics, song leaders and accompaniment provided.

DEC. 11: "Home for the Holidays," 7 p.m., tickets $30 to $40 (students free), Moody Concert Hall, UA campus, concert featuring the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Choir School, UA Choral Department and Tuscaloosa Community Dancers. www.tsoonline.org.

APRIL 28, 2024: Riley Green, Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley, 7:30 p.m. Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Amp box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, for $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, and $39.50, plus fees and taxes.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening