Tom Artin, for Token Creek Chamber Festival
Token Creek Chamber Music Festival
Political organizing and live music are in abundance around Madison all year long, even during the slowest late summer weeks. The calendar includes: the opening of the 2011 Democracy Convention; the opening of the Token Creek Chamber Music Festival; and, more tunes by Ben Sidran with Nick Moran and Louka Patenaude, Euforquestra, Release the Sunbird, Steely Dane, and Jucifer.
Monday 8.22
NOTEWORTHY: Richard III killed at Battle of Bosworth Field, 1485.
BIRTHDAYS: Bangles drummer-singer Debbi Peterson, 1960; singer-songwriter Tori Amos, 1963.
Tuesday 8.23
NOTEWORTHY: Sacco & Vanzetti executed, 1927.
BIRTHDAYS: Singer Linda Thompson, 1947; Strokes vocalist Julian Casablancas, 1978.
Ben Sidran, Nick Moran, Louka Patenaude
Cardinal Bar, 5:30 pm
Local legend Sidran is tickling the ivories at this happy-hour jass event, which also boasts bassist Moran and guitarist Patenaude.
Wednesday 8.24
NOTEWORTHY: UW's Sterling Hall bombed, 1970.
BIRTHDAYS: Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, 1965; Weasley actor Rupert Grint, 1988.
Madison College-Downtown & Madison Concourse Hotel, through Aug. 28
Michelle Shocked, Tom Hayden, John Nichols, Ben Manski and dozens of others are slated to appear at this sprawling progressive confab, which examines issues related to defense, education, media, voting and much more. See Token Creek Chamber Music Festival
4037 Highway 19 in DeForest
The annual festival is the brainchild of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison and his wife, violinist Rose Mary Harbison, who use their DeForest barn as a stage. At press time, tickets were still available for the first-week performances by pianists Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang, who'll play Poulenc, Stravinsky and more (Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 24-25, 8 pm).
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
This Colorado-via-Iowa eight-piece melds Afrobeat and dub with the rhythmic traditions of Cuba and Brazil, touring like maniacs in a quest to get the entire country to shake their hips in tandem.
Thursday 8.25
NOTEWORTHY: National Park Service est., 1916.
BIRTHDAYS: Oscar-winning actor Sir Sean Connery, 1930; filmmaker Tim Burton, 1958.
East Side Club, 6 pm
Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue has been turning heads and rending hearts with his new solo project, whose debut album, Come Back to Us, just earned a thumbs-up from NPR and Paste. Catch them at the Madison stop of their first national tour, which will feature free bike-valet parking, a free Fat Tire beer and a festive outdoor barbecue.
High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm
Keyboardists Dave Stoler and Dave Adler are joined by Freedy Johnston, Joey B. Banks and host of other local music notables in a tribute to jazz-rock avatars Steely Dan.
Frequency, 9:30 pm
This Athens, Ga., duo melt faces with super-loud sludge-metal sounds and scorching visuals of Gazelle Amber Valentine's fiery red hair, which enchants at least a few headbangers as it whips across her guitar. With Dead Rider and Sinking Suns.
