Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 4/26 – 4/29

It's the last weekend in April and boy is it a busy one! There are just so many events going on this week that they can't all fit in this round up. Independent Book Store Day and International Tabletop Day are on Saturday, it's the last weekend of the International Pop Overthrow, the culmination of a decade's worth of Marvel movies, and more! Check out the rest of the calendar for more events going on this weekend! So let's get on with your curated weekend! THURSDAY, APRIL 26th She Speaks Volumes @ Lacuna Lofts, 2150 S Canalport Ave., 6:00pm - 8:30pm, 21+ WHAT: Silent no more. April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is hosting She Speaks Volumes, a celebration event honoring survivors of sexual assault. SO WHAT:  This event will convene poets, dancers, artists, singers and the likes who will share their talents with us all in a night of healing and empowerment. This is a great opportunity for community building and there will be a vendor market, raffles and prizes! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $45 and include food, drinks and an an afternoon full of entertainment! Afrotrak Presents: Sam Trump w/ Nola Ade + Adam Ness @ Subterranean, 2011 W North Ave, 8:00pm, 21+ WHAT: Exceptional music from three sets of performers! SO WHAT: Sam Trump is a multi-instrumentalist/ singer/songwriter who has become heavily involved in Chicago’s live music scene as a band leader, sideman and show curator. He is known for creating soulful experiences that you won’t forget. Joining him on stage will be the neo-soul and jazz fusion band The Soul Vortex! Joining them will be Nola Ade and Adam Ness! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for this stellar lineup LANZ, The Penny Serfs, Laska @ Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave WHAT: An excellent lineup of bands stopping by Chicago SO WHAT: Benjamin Lanz is a member of the band Beirut, touring member of The National and Sufjan Stevens, as well as a collaborator with many other groups and musicians. His solo work is an enjoyable and experimental mix of catchy pop songs and guitar explosiveness. Joining him will be the indie rock of The Penny Surfs and the beautiful folk of Laska. NOW WHAT: Tickets $14 or you can get the two for one special! FRIDAY, APRIL 27th The WhiskyX Chicago with The Mowgli's @ United Club at Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr., 6:00pm -10:00pm, 21+ WHAT: The inaugural WhiskyX event in Chicago SO WHAT: Come taste over 60+ whiskies led by expert brand ambassadors, distillery reps & some of Chicago’s most well-known bartenders while you jam out to a live performance by the Mowgli’s. There will also be Chicago’s best food trucks & chefs serving up delicious samplings NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $52.50! VIP tickets include a bevy of extras including an extra hour of tastings! 20x2: Where Do We Start? @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave., 7:00pm, 21+ WHAT: 20×2 Chicago is an event where 20 people from all different walks of creative life — writers, musicians, filmmakers, web geeks and other bon vivants — are asked the same question and given two minutes each to answer in whichever way they choose. SO WHAT: The results may take any form, from spoken word to music to film, and can be as varied as the emotions and reactions they evoke. This edition’s question is “Where Do We Start?”  The show is hosted by Andrew Huff, former editor and publisher of Gapers Block, and you can see the impressive list of speakers at the 20×2 website. NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance online  or at the door, and the show is 21+ King Krule and Standing on the Corner @ The Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave, 7:00pm, 18+ WHAT: Smooth sounds to fill your Friday night SO WHAT: After a long absence from Chicago, King Krule returned for an amazing show at Metro last year. Thankfully he is back in town, bringing his deep croons and spacey/jazzy tunes with him. Marshall’s shows are always amazing and really show off just how talented he and his band are. Joining him will be the extremely experimental but utterly mesmerizing sounds of Standing on the Corner. NOW WHAT: Tickets are $35 for this fantastic show. Freakshow: The Gold Web, Emily Blue, The Tomblands, Fiona Kimble @ Cole's, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave., 8:00pm, 21+ WHAT: Get weird with some excellent bands NOW WHAT: Unwind and let you freak flag fly and some of Chicago’s coolest band take over Cole’s for this Freakshow! You’ll get to see and hear the likes of The Gold Web and their glammy audio lunacy, the irresistible pop of Emily Blue, The Tomblands’ and the punk fun, & Fiona Kimble‘s amazing voice! SO WHAT: It’s at Cole’s! So it’s free! SATURDAY, APRIL 28th Michael Moreci “Wasted Space” Signing @ Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave, Noon - 2:00pm, All Ages WHAT: A signing event for a very cool comic series SO WHAT: Michael Moreci presents Wasted Space a new series from Vault Comics. A mix of Philip K. Dick and Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher, Wasted Space is the story of Billy Bane, a prophet who got it all wrong,  who summoned to save the galaxy he’s at least partially responsible for destroying. Moreci  will be on-hand to sign copies of issue #1 as well as any other of his comics (Superman, The Flash, Suicide Squad Secret Files, Heavy Metal Magazine, Adventure Time Comics, and so much more) and his prose work (Black Star Renegades). NOW WHAT: It’s free! Jump into this new series and meet the creator! Maypole Folk Festival @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 2:00pm, 21+ WHAT: A celebration of the best of Chicago’s folk music scene SO WHAT: Maypole Folk Festival’s call to commemorate the coming of the summer brings together all styles of folk, from old-time with bluegrass, Mexican folk with country blues, and the young DIY community with the city’s veteran players. venues. This year the fest includes headliners Chicago Afrobeat Project, interpreting Afrobeat through American urban sounds, and Bloodshot’s alt-country & traditional folk maestro Al Scorch and the Country Soul Ensemble. The rest of the lineup is just as enticing with vintage Americana artist Meredith Axelrod, Chicago honky tonk extraordinaires the Lawrence Peters Outfit, Micha, the Glass Mountain Square Dance, Jarochicanos, and Joybird! NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $15! Go to this amazing fest! SUNDAY, APRIL 29th Día Del Niño LUCHA LIBRE: ¿Circo, Maroma o Teatro? @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St, 3:00pm, All ages WHAT: An early children’s day celebration! SO WHAT: Galli Lucha Libre will be bringing the best combination of Mexican Lucha Libre and American Wrestling to Thalia Hall for the 1st time, accompanied by “The Continuation of the Legend Huracan Ramirez Jr.” There will be an art market with tons of shirts and masks to mark the occaision as well as tamales for sale and free churros to the first 100 kids! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $5 for children 15 and under, $20 for adults!