🐝 Evansville Buzz | July 11–13: The ultimate weekend lineup has arrived

🎧 Evansville’s On Shuffle — And You’re the Main Character

Monster trucks? Check. Trivia nerds? Check. Local bands playing like they’re opening for The Rolling Stones? Also check. Evansville’s putting its full playlist on shuffle this weekend, and we’re just here trying to dance, eat fair food, and not lose our voice by Saturday night.

It’s the kind of weekend where you can see Colt Ford, throw foam at strangers, get annihilated by trivia nerds in full Star Trek cosplay, and cry at a blues show all within a 5-mile radius. That’s not an itinerary, that’s a personality test. And guess what? You passed.

Whether you’re a Broadway baby or a beer-and-bonfire bandit, this weekend is custom-built for chaos. Stretch. Hydrate. Maybe pack a backup pair of pants. Things are about to get wild.

Top Events Breakdown

🔥 EVSC Presents: The Wizard of Oz

📍 Aiken Theatre | 715 Locust St, Evansville, IN
📅 July 10–13 | Fri 7p - Sat 2p & 7p - Sun 2p
🎟️ Tickets on sale now via TicketMaster
✍️ Follow the yellow brick road to downtown for a full-scale, student-powered Broadway-style blowout. Expect heartwarming performances, flying monkeys (probably), and at least one kid who’s about to make it big.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: All proceeds go toward scholarships and grants so this show’s got heart and brains.

🔥 Ford Tough Meets Colt Ford

📍 Gibson County Fairgrounds | 709 N Embree St, Princeton, IN
📅 Friday, July 11 | 8p
🎟️ $8 General Admission ($10 upgrade for front-stage/beer garden)
✍️ Colt Ford’s bringing the country rap heat while the fair serves up deep-fried Americana. Think: mullets, monster trucks, and a mechanical bull’s worst nightmare.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Beer, lawn chairs, and live music start at 6PM—yee and haw.

🔥 Monster Jam Meets County Fair Mayhem

📍 4H Center | 201 E Boonville New Harmony Rd, Darmstadt, IN
📅 July 11–12 | Events throughout the day
🎟️ Tickets at gate or online – bring extra for funnel cake
✍️ 16 monster trucks. Live music. Daredevil motorcyclists. A monster bus you can actually ride. This ain’t your grandma’s tractor pull (unless she’s doing backflips in a side-by-side).
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Cierra Dawn Hackett’s live set will have you stomping like Grave Digger in flip-flops.

🔥 Friday After 5: Party Like It’s Veterans Blvd

📍 407 W Veterans Blvd, Owensboro, KY
📅 Friday, July 11 | 5–10p
🎟️ Free (yes, really)
✍️ The Crashers and Lindsey James Williams will be throwing down harder than your dad at a wedding reception. Add in street fair vibes, riverfront views, and cover songs you forgot you knew — and boom, you’re vibing.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Main stage is free, your dance moves are priceless, and Dispel on the Overlook Stage brings synthy indie weirdness.

🔥 SWIRCA BrewFest: 21 Years of Beers

📍 West Side Library Park | Franklin St, Evansville
📅 Saturday, July 12 | 6–9p (5p for VIP/SIP)
🎟️ $45–$100 depending on how fancy you wanna be
✍️ Unlimited beer and wine samples, live music, yard games, a souvenir glass, and exclusive access to Indiana’s finest spirits (no, not your ex).
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Safe rides included. Your Sunday self will thank you.

🎶 Your Weekend Playlist IRL

🗓 Friday, July 11

🎸 Bally’s 421 Lounge: Zachariah Smith – 8p - American Idol vibes + small-town swagger = your new crush
🎷 Mojo’s Boneyard: Joanna Connor – 7p - Blues queen with more guitar power than a Ford F-150 commercial
🎤 Fidel’s Bourbon Bar: Melanie A. Davis – 9p - Alt-folk meets jazzy nostalgia in a bourbon bar? Say less.
🎶 The Elm: Legends Live – 7p - Country hits and honky tonk nostalgia—boots recommended
🕺 Bokeh Lounge: Star 69 + DJ Zaedo – 8p - It’s giving 90s prom but make it sweaty and unforgettable
🎤 10-8 Cafe: Crosby & Nellis – 6:30p - Acoustic duo or acoustic don’t-know-what-hit-you duo?
🎸 Six Strings on Franklin: Zach Ashby – 6:30p - Debut show alert: bring boots, beer money, and good vibes
🕺 Mo’s House: Disco Rodeo Dance Party – 8p - Glitter, boots, DJs from Nashville—get feral
🎤 EVPL Oaklyn Branch: The Honey Vines – 6p - Library, but make it twangy and wholesome
🕺 Lyle’s: Karaoke with Mark Simpson – 7p - This is your moment. Channel your inner Shania.
🎶 Marina Pointe: Jimmy DeTalente 6-9p + DJ Cue dance party - Come for Jimmy, stay for the twerking.
🍔 Old Courthouse Lawn: Lunch on the Lawn – 11a-1:30p - Taco in one hand, napkin in the other. You’re doing great.

🗓 Saturday, July 12
🎸 Bally’s 421 Lounge: Zachariah Smith – 8p - Back again with country crooning and Idol energy—bring tissues and a lighter
🪕 Tiki on Main: Brian Hart & The Ridge Runners – 8p - Your boots will scoot. Your heart will yeehaw.
🎷 Lyle’s: The Smoke Rings – 8p - Vintage vibes and jazzy swings to make your grandparents proud (or jealous)
🌽 Henderson Farmers Market: Farm Fresh Fest – 10a - Meet your veggies before they become salad. Live music + local goodness
🎯 Bullseyes Sports Bar: Grand Opening Dart Tourney – 3p - Sharp shooters + sharp drinks. Winner gets bragging rights AND cash
🎸 The Dive Barge: Cam Thompson – 3–6p - Live music + floating bar = summer math we love
🎸 Prime Time North: The Honey Vines – 7p - Roots, vibes, harmony… like if Fleetwood Mac met in Haubstadt
🛸 Main Street Food & Bev: Avatar & Star Trek Trivia Lunch – Noon - Beam me up, brunchy
🍻 Henderson Brew Co: 7-Year Anniversary Bash – Noon - Cereal beers + donut truck = adult cereal party
🎶 Marina Pointe: Boscoe & Rusty – 6p + DJ Cue – 9p - River vibes, sunset views, and boat bar beats all night long
🧼 VFW Fort Branch: Foam Party – 6p - 6 feet of foam, kids and adults losing their minds. Bring a towel and maybe a therapist
🎶 The Elm: Scarecrow – 7p - No straw men here—just straight fire country jams
🎧 Bokeh Lounge: Vandal 84 – 8p - House music so hot your eyebrows might melt. BYO glow sticks
🎤 Hush on Main: Lindsey Williams – 7p - Craft cocktails + sultry vocals = sophisticated Saturday unlocked
🎙 10-8 Cafe: Angel Rhodes – 6:30p - Smooth vocals, small-town charm. Come for dinner, stay for the vibe

🗓 Sunday, July 13
🎤 Bokeh Lounge: Karaoke with DJ Nathan – 6p - Close out the weekend with some chaotic ballads and a mic drop moment (even if it’s on accident).
🎸 The Dive Barge: Jimmy DeTalente – 3p - Live music + floating bar = Evansville’s version of a beach day. Bring your shades, your friends, and your best “I could totally live on a boat” vibe.
🥁 Mo’s House: 2nd Sundays with Loops & Rhythms – 6p - Dekar Justus + Monte Skelton = musical wizardry. It’s funky, it’s fun, and it might accidentally change your life.

🐝 Final Buzz

🍻 Click Heels. Covered in Glitter and Regret (but like, in a good way)

This weekend is proof that you can be Dorothy, a monster truck fan, and a beer snob all without leaving your zip code. Whether you’re scream-singing at Lyle’s, two-stepping under a disco saddle at Mo’s, or pounding craft samples at BrewFest like it’s your side hustle, just know: you’ve got 48 hours to squeeze the summer out of this city like a lime wedge over a Franklin Street taco. And if you find yourself screaming for Colt Ford like he’s Harry Styles in a camo hat? Lean in. You’ll sleep when you’re back in Kansas. The Midwest doesn’t do half-throttle. And this weekend, neither should you.

📸 Show Off, Get Buzzed

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Photo Ops of the Week:
📸 You in full disco cowboy drag on Mo’s patio
📸 Mid-air Monster Truck jump shot
📸 A selfie with Dorothy outside Aiken Theatre, holding a street taco and looking confused

Stay local. Stay weird. Stay buzzin’.

—The Buzz Team

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