Even the Wonderground playground at Madison Children's Museum will serve as a music venue this year with a new, all-ages concert series.
When we listed 50 upcoming summer concert series and festivals in last week’s Wisconsin State Journal, we figured we had covered most of the area’s offerings for 2023.
But readers told us about even more of these special events on the way.
Madison can’t stop producing wonderful opportunities to hear live music, and that’s especially true in summer. So here are some more for your calendar. We’ve added these to the online version of last week’s concert list, available at go.madison.com/summermusic. And we’ll continue to remind you about upcoming arts events each weekend in our “Madison in a Minute” column, published Fridays at madison.com and in the State Journal.
Downtown Music Pop-ups
What: Dozens of opportunities to hear free, live music performed in Downtown Madison, presented by Madison’s Central Business Improvement District and others.
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Hmong Day Downtown: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Forum at the top of State Street.
YOUR Lunchtime LIVE: Live music on the South Hamilton corner of Capitol Square, noon to 1 p.m. each Tuesday from June through August.
Live and Local: Live music June through August at Lisa Link Peace Park, 452 State St., 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday.
Electric Sundays in the Park: Live music at Lisa Link Peace Park, 3 to 7 p.m. June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6.
Madison Night Markets: Vendors and live music Downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. June 8, Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 19.
Artists Collective Presents Hip Hop Day of Stars 2: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 18, Lisa Link Peace Park.
Friday Evening Classical Guitars: Live music from Madison Classical Guitar Society, 7 to 9 p.m. June 23, July 14, Aug. 11 and 25 at Lisa Link Peace Park.
Final Friday Fun: Children’s activities at the top of State Street, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 30, July 28 and Aug. 25.
More information: visitdowntownmadison.com/events
Live from the Wonderground
What: Madison Children’s Museum launches a new, all-ages concert series on its outdoor Wonderground playground; children welcome but not required.
When: 5 to 8 p.m. — June 2, the Periodicals plus Eric De Los Santos, marimba; July 7, Loving Cup Lounge Edition plus DB Pederson; Aug. 4, Hirt Alpert; Sept. 1, Samba Novistas, with Deliberate Vibrations a capella ensemble.
Where: Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St.
Admission: Pay what you can; no registration needed. Cash bar and light snacks available for purchase.
More information: madisonchildrensmuseum.org/programs-and-events/special-events
After turning 77 on Saturday, the Grammy singer took to Twitter to admit to her 3.9 million followers that she was not feeling her age.
Winnequah Park, Monona
What: Free concerts in the park on Tuesday evenings, drawing intergenerational audiences and sponsored by local businesses and the Friends of the Monona Senior Center.
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. — July 18, Rebulu Group; July 25, Frank Busch and the Names; Aug. 1, Carl Davick and Friends; Aug. 8, Lesley Goff.
Where: Winnequah Park, 5301 Healy Lane, Monona.
Admission: Free. Food and beer available for purchase.
Opera in the Park
What: A night of opera under the stars, produced by Madison Opera and featuring the Madison Opera Chorus and Madison Symphony Orchestra with music by Bernstein, Bologne, Gluck, Handel, Leoncavallo, Liverman, Mozart, Offenbach, Puccini, Rodgers, Sondheim and Verdi.
When: 8 p.m. July 22 (rain date 8 p.m. July 23).
Where: Garner Park, 333 S. Rosa Road.
Admission: Free
More information: madisonopera.org/oitp23
Olbrich Gardens
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. June 27, Greater Mount Sinai Judah Singers; July 11, Third Coast Bluegrass; July 18, Kainalu; July 25, Madison Mystery Tour; Aug. 1, Latin Pride Orquesta; Aug. 8, Fresco Opera; Aug. 15, Invisible Cartoons; Aug. 22 (for Olbrich members only), Grupo Candela.
Where: Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave.
Admission: Free; $5 suggested donation. Bring lawns chairs or blankets. Carry-in picnics and beverages allowed.
More information: www.olbrich.org/calendar/summer-concert-series-2023
Photos: 'Democracy' exhibit at Playhouse Gallery
Curator Beth Racette talks about the art on display in the exhibit “Democracy,” including a work by Steve Swagerle titled “Let’s Work Together,” at left, in the Playhouse Gallery at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Works in the "Democracy" exhibit include the circular “Gaia Grows the Heart of Democracy,” center, created by artist and "Democracy" curator Beth Racette.
A group of artists called the Memory Cloth Circle embroidered their thoughts on "truth" for a work in the "Democracy" exhibit at the Overture Center.
Levi Sherman's “Proposals for Safer Communities” waves like pedestrian-crossing flags in the new exhibition "Democracy" at the Overture Center.
A mosaic by Madison artist Eugenia Sherman Brown titled “We People: Need Fair Maps” uses stone patterns and printer's type to create a commentary on gerrymandering.
Brandon Baeur's “A Call to Halt: Wisconsin Nuclear Weapons Referenda” includes a symbolic voting booth, where visitors can cast a vote in a re-enactment of Wisconsin's 1982 nuclear freeze referendum.
Lael Sheber's “Believe Us,” top right, and Amuri Morris' “Shelton Johnson Calls,” bottom right, are among the works on display in the Overture Center's "Democracy" exhibit curated by Beth Racette, left.
Gayle Worland | Wisconsin State Journal
Gayle Worland is an arts and features reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal.
