What to do in Chicago: Jeff Tweedy in concert, Mike Epps comedy tour and skating at Thalia Hall
Thalia Hall Skate Night: Get your skates on, as Thalia Hall transforms into a roller rink. Hosted by 'Smooth Goddess' Myesha McCaskill, the night promises great grooves and a wide-open wood floor. 6-10 p.m. April 20 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets $25 (ages 12+) at inspiredbyfavor.org
Jeff Tweedy: You can't live in this city and not know who Jeff Tweedy is. But just in case, the founding member of both Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, and producer, author and longtime Chicago fixture will perform his annual benefit shows this weekend. If you'd prefer to see him play with Wilco, you'll have to wait until Aug. 10 at the Salt Shed; those tickets go on sale this weekend, too. 7:30 p.m. April 18-19 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.; tickets $100 at wilcoworld.net
Caleb Hearon: The comedian and actor who launched his career at the iO Theater will perform a live installment of his 'So True' podcast. Last year, Variety reported that Lilly Wachowski would direct 'Trash Mountain,' a movie starring and co-written by Hearon about a young, gay Chicago man returning home to Missouri following his father's death. Can't make it this weekend? Hearon will be back at The Hideout in June. 7 p.m. April 18 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets at calebhearon.komi.io
We Them One's Comedy Tour: Check out this lineup: Comedian and actor Mike Epps hosts a night of stand-up featuring Kountry Wayne, Lil Duval, Tony Roberts, Karlous Miller, HaHa Davis and Bubba Dubb. 8 p.m. April 19 at Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road; tickets from $65.50 at wethemonestour.com
'Alton Brown Live — Last Bite': Get ready to dig into Alton Brown's 'culinary variety show.' The TV personality, cookbook author and science geek promises cooking hacks and food songs during what's been billed his 'Farewell Tour — Maybe?' 3 p.m. April 19 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.; tickets from $26.50 at altonbrownlive.com
Kelli O'Hara: The Tony Award-winning actress will perform American Songbook classics and Broadway faves. Expect personal stories as well as highlights from the musical productions in which the soprano has appeared. 7:30 p.m. April 18 and 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 19 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; tickets from $89 at kelliohara.com
Kassa Overall: Need an endorsement? Consider what fellow jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington wrote of Kassa Overall in the New York Times: 'Kassa is a pre-eminent style bender and blender, successfully juxtaposing genres through his production expertise and use of melodic and harmonic forms that deftly integrate the new with the old.' Go see for yourself. 8 p.m. April 18 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets $16-$28 at kassaoverall.com
David M. Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson: As the current occupant of the White House attempts to remake the executive branch, the Chicago Humanities Festival hosts a discussion between best-selling authors David M. Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson on the American presidency. Given the deep experience both guests have in chronicling the lives of leaders, it should be an incisive conversation. 7 p.m. April 21 at Francis W. Parker School, 330 W. Webster Ave. (entrance at 2233 N. Clark St.); tickets $20-$55 at chicagohumanities.org
'Making New Gods': Sci-fi and fantasy readers take note — N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo and Matthew Kirby will chat about religion and the role of the spiritual in world-building. The panel discussion kicks off the American Writers Museum's new exhibit, 'American Prophets: Writers, Religion and Culture.' 5:15 p.m. April 22 at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; more details on the free event at americanwritersmuseum.org
Henhouse Prowlers: The four members of the Henhouse Prowlers are not just about concerts, they're about evangelizing for bluegrass music across the globe; their nonprofit is called the Bluegrass Ambassadors. They're celebrating an album release show at the Old Town School of Folk Music for 'Unravel,' out April 18. 8 p.m. April 19 in Maurer Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; tickets $35 at 773.728.6000 and www.oldtownschool.org
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