Cardinal and white will suffuse downtown Madison this weekend with the Wisconsin Badgers Homecoming parade and big game on Saturday. The calendar also includes: Gallery Night; stand-up by Jo Koy; the Kate Corby & Dancers production of In Whole or in Part; John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean puppetry; performances by the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble; and, more live music from Matt Nathanson, Kings Go Forth, Melt-Banana, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Panic! At the Disco with Fitz & the Tantrums, Justin Townes Earle, 1964: The Tribute, Smoking Popes, Guitar Masters Featuring Andy McKee, and Mac Miller.
Friday 10.14
NOTEWORTHY: A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh published, 1926.
5-9 pm
The semiannual showcase for Madison's visual-arts scene includes special events at 65 galleries, museums and businesses. Highlights include Sarah Budensuk's encaustic works and Mai Wyn Schartz's paintings at Grace Chosy Gallery; paintings by Georgene Pomplun and Kate Mueller at Fanny Garver Gallery; and images from the Life magazine picture collection at Tamarack Studio & Gallery, which is celebrating its grand opening.
Gilman and State streets, 6 pm
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be, but that won't prevent UW alumni from coming together for the annual frenzy of football and reminiscing. We've got spirit. Yes, we do.
Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), Oct. 15 & 16
Esteemed cellist Lynn Harrell is the guest artist as the ensemble plays Edouard Lalo's Concerto in D minor for Cello and Orchestra. Also on the program are Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 in D Major and Rossini's overture to The Barber of Seville. The St. Louis Symphony's youthful Ward Stare conducts.
UW Lathrop Hall's H'Doubler Performance Space, 8 pm. Also Thursday & Saturday, Oct. 13 & 15, 8 pm
UW assistant professor Corby choreographs an evening-long piece called In Whole or in Part, which mines subjects like power and aggression, using unison dance -- or lack of unison -- to create metaphors of society.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
Koy, a stand-up comedy veteran of 20 years, is getting attention these days as a guest panelist on E!'s late-night show Chelsea Lately. He arrives with a repertoire that includes amusing material about his experiences as an Asian American.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
The singer-songwriter who scored a huge hit in 2008 with "Come On Get Higher" visits Madison before swinging southward for Chicago Ideas Week, where he'll speak at a panel discussion on creativity. Enjoy the inventive tunes of his latest release, Modern Love. With Vanessa Carlton.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
Inspired by funk and soul records from the 1970s, this Milwaukee ensemble teems with energy, especially since David Byrne's Luaka Bop label released its 2010 debut LP, The Outsiders Are Back. With the Right Now and the Mustache.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
The noisy Japanese punk trio nearly breaks the sound barrier as they rip through their songs, earning opening gigs with groups such as Tool, the Melvins and Mr. Bungle. With Coffin Pricks and Helliphant.
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
Slide guitarist Lil' Ed Williams, nephew of Chicago blues great J.B. Hutto, has been performing the Windy City's signature music since the 1970s, and his ferocious playing and raspy singing do the city, and his uncle, proud.
Saturday 10.15
NOTEWORTHY: Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 733 points, 2008.
Panic! At the Disco, Fitz & the Tantrums
Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center, 3 pm
Alt-rock standard bearers Panic! At the Disco lost two members recently, but they've kept on truckin' with a new album, Vices & Virtues, which is the subject of this week's Tour Stop. L.A. soulsters Fitz & the Tantrums and Chicago's Plain White T's also perform, along with Portland pop-rockers Sunderland, who won Charter Center Stage's battle of the bands. Reserve free tickets on Charter Communications' Facebook page or watch the entire concert from your living room as it streams on the social networking site.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
Things are looking up for the son of outlaw-country troubadour Steve Earle after an arrest and a stint in rehab a year ago. The Bloodshot Records recording artist shares songs from his latest release, 2010's Harlem River Blues, which broke Billboard's top 50.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
This touring group, founded in 1982, re-creates the Beatles' live act from the height of the mania -- the period when they were famous for smiling, shaking their loveable mop tops and going "woooo!" FYI, the walrus was Paul.
Gates of Heaven Synagogue, 8 pm
Chamber music of the 17th and 18th century is the watchword as members of this local ensemble play period instruments in compositions by Grandi, Purcell, Aichinger, Lidl, Geminiani and more.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Few pop-punk outfits write love songs quite as dreamy as those of Chicago's Smoking Popes. The band stop by with their latest, This Is Only a Test (see Music). With Tim Schweiger & the Middlemen plus the Friendly Lens.
Sunday 10.16
NOTEWORTHY: Desmond Tutu awarded Nobel Peace Prize, 1984.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 3 pm
Tony-nominated puppeteer Tartaglia (Avenue Q) presents this black-light puppet show for kids, full of music and jokes, about three fish who set off on a treasure hunt.
Guitar Masters Featuring Andy McKee
Majestic Theatre, 7 pm
This finger-style guitarist's career took off five years ago, when the video for his song "Drifting" landed in the spotlight on both YouTube and MySpace. Check out tunes from McKee's latest album, Joyland, at this performance. With Antoine Dufour & Stephen Bennett.
Orpheum Theatre, 8 pm
The Pittsburgh rapper is gearing up for the release of his debut LP, Blue Slide Park, which hits stores Nov. 8. Sample songs from that project, as well as his recent EP On and On and Beyond and "Donald Trump," the single that launched him into the spotlight. With Casey Veggies and the Come Up.
