30+ Louisville shows & concerts in April: Rob Base, Walker Hayes, Janet Jackson & more

This arts and entertainment calendar updates weekly and lists events taking place in and around Louisville, from concerts to comedy shows, theater productions, musicals, and more.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Casting Crowns, We The Kingdom. 7 p.m., KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza. Tickets start at $22. ticketmaster.com.

Kentucky Derby Festival Gospel Fest. Features Jason Clayborn, Randy Weston, Nate Bean and more. 7 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

J.D. Shelburne. 8 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

NRBQ, The Get Down. 8 p.m., Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road. Tickets: $20 standing, $30 reserved seating. headlinerslouisville.com.

Black Pistol Fire, Welles. 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $20. zanzabarlouisville.com.

You may like: Here's everything you need to know about Kentucky Derby Festival's 2022 Fest-a-Ville

“Flipping the Script: Interactive Theatre to Resist Bullying.” Looking for Lilith Theatre Company presents this K-12 Forum Theatre program that allows audience members to interact with the performers to explore solutions to the characters’ problems. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 1, 2 p.m., Martin Experimental Theatre, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. Tickets start at $10. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

• “Even Puppets Have Problems.” The interactive drama for managing conflict addresses pre-bullying behavior between 2 puppet friends and examines safe ways to express anger. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Saturday, 2 p.m.

• “CHOICES.” Interactive play on cyberbullying and suicide. Recommended for ages 11 and older. Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

• “Mac's World.” An interactive play on resisting bullying and cyberbullying that centers on a 5th grade protagonist as they deal with bullying in both the online and in-person worlds. Recommended for ages 8 and older. Sunday, 2 p.m.

An Evening With Lindsey Buckingham. 7:30 p.m., Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway. Tickets start at $40.95; VIP $255 and includes premium reserved seat, pre-show performance with Lindsey, signed and numbered Lindsey Buckingham print, merchandise bundle, VIP Laminate, priority entry into venue, and first access merchandise shopping. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

Louisville Orchestra. “Reclaimed Treasures.” Teddy Abrams, conductor; Julia Noone, violin; Marquita Richardson, soprano; Kendra Beasley, mezzo-soprano; Ricky Lynn Casae, tenor, Phillip Morgan, baritone; and Louisville Chamber Choir. 8 p.m., Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. Tickets start at $31.59. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

Walker Hayes: The Fancy Like Tour. 7:30 p.m., Louisville Palace, 625 S. Fourth St. Tickets start at $78. louisvillepalace.com.

“School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.” Youth Performing Arts School nasty-teen comedy about the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school who sets her sights on the Miss Universe pageant, when a new student unexpectedly changes the game. Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m., 1517 S. Second St. $10. Ypas.org.

“A Very Sordid Wedding.” It’s 2015, and 17 years later, the sordid saga continues with all the same crazy characters, Brother Boy, who has added Loretta and Dolly to his repertoire; Ty has a new boyfriend and is coming home with him for the anniversary memorial service in honor of Peggy at Bubba’s Bar; and The Southside Baptist Church is planning an “Anti-Equality Rally” to protest the advancement of same-sex marriage. Presented by Pandora Productions. Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 p.m., The Henry Clay, 604 S. 3rd. St. Ends May 22. Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours. Masks required. $22. pandoraprods.org.

“Saturday Night Fever.” Derby Dinner Playhouse presents this musical adaptation of the 70’s classic film that features some of the Bee Gees greatest hits. Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday-next Saturday, 7:45 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 and 7:45 p.m.; Wednesday, 1 and 7:45 p.m., at the playhouse, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville. Ends May 22. $39-$49. 812-288-8281.

Great Podversations Episode 39. Great Podversations is produced by the Kentucky Author Forum and distributed by Louisville Public Media and available on all podcast apps, including iTunes, NPR, Google, Stitcher and Spotify. The podcast features journalist and author Moises Naim discussing his book, "The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century" with radio host Ari Shapiro. Naím is an internationally-syndicated columnist and best-selling author. Ari Shapiro has been one of the hosts of All Things Considered, NPR's award-winning afternoon newsmagazine since 2015. Free. For more information: kentuckyauthorforum.com.

Great Podversations Episode 38. Great Podversations is produced by the Kentucky Author Forum and distributed by Louisville Public Media and available on all podcast apps, including iTunes, NPR, Google, Stitcher and Spotify. The podcast features Congressman Jamie Raskin and Russian expert Dr. Fiona Hill discussing both their books. Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fiona Hill was the key impeachment witness during the U.S. House of Representatives Trump-Ukraine impeachment inquiry and its investigation into charges of presidential misconduct. Free. For more information: kentuckyauthorforum.com.

You may like: Waterfront Wednesday is back for 2022! Here's what to know about the free concerts

SUNDAY, MAY 1

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Casey Powell. 7 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

Ragan Whiteside & Dee Lucas. Part of the Jazz Series. 5 and 8 p.m., Best Western Premier Airport Expos, 4110 Dixie Highway. $40 general admission; $60 VIP. Tickets available at Better Days Records, Rolando’s Barbershop and eventbrite.com.

Jinjoo Cho, violin. Part of University of Louisville Music eX Series. 3 p.m., Comstock Concert Hall, UofL School of Music, First Street and Brandeis Avenue. $25, $5 student, free for UofL students and faculty with ID.. 502-852-6907.

Kentucky Derby Festival Louisville Youth Orchestra Concert. 4 p.m., Iroquois Amphitheatre, 1080 Amphitheater Road. Pop concert featuring all ensembles of Louisville Youth Orchestra ensembles. Admission is free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

Badflower: This is How the World Continues.... 7 p.m., Mercury Ballroom, 611 S 4th St. Tickets start at $35. mercuryballroom.com.

Paul Cauthen, Leah Blevins. 8 p.m., Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road. $35 general admission. headlinerslouisville.com.

You may like: Here's the complete lineup of performers for the 2022 Forecastle music festival

TUESDAY, MAY 3

Rob Base. Hip hop and freestyle artists. 8 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

The Happy Fits, Sarah and the Sundays. 8 p.m., Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road. Tickets: $16 advance, $18 day of show. headlinerslouisville.com.

Beartooth. 7 p.m., Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, 724 Brent St. Tickets start at $32. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

Tony & The Tan Lines, Jameron. 8 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

Attack of the Tassels: XXXtended Version. 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $12 in advance, $15 the day of show. zanzabarlouisville.com.

You may like: When is Bourbon & Beyond 2022? Everything to know about this Louisville music festival

THURSDAY, MAY 5

The Crashers, Hawks. 8 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

Chase Rice. Part of the Derby Week Concert Series. 7 p.m., Fourth Street Live, 411 S. Fourth St. $20. 4thstlive.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 6

ZYN Derby Eve Jam. Features Parker McCollum, the Academy of Country Music’s 2022 New Male Artist of the Year and Blanco Brown. 8 p.m., Kentucky Derby Festival Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Park. Free with a 2022 Pegasus Pin.

Photo Finish Festival. Featuring Ben Sollee, Joslyn & The Sweet & Compressions, Wombo and Producing a Kind Generation. 8 p.m., Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road. $20. headlinerslouisville.com.

Steve Aoki. Part of the Derby Week Concert Series. 7 p.m., Fourth Street Live, 411 S. Fourth St. $20. 4thstlive.com.

You may like: Louder than Life lineup: Who's playing at the 2022 rock music festival in Louisville?

NEXT SATURDAY, MAY 7

Janet Jackson, New Edition. Presented by 85 West Music Festival. 7 p.m., Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams St. Tickets are available at the stadium and online. Tickets start at $125. lynnfamily.stadiumlouisville.org.

Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers. 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $20. zanzabarlouisville.com.

Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 30+ Louisville shows & concerts to see in April 2022