Summer in Madison approaches its apex this pre-holiday week with the inaugural Concerts on the Square of the summer. The calendar also includes: APT productions of The Syringa Tree and Waiting for Godot; talks by Barbara Snell and Kathleen Woit; and, live music from Wayne Hancock, International Espionage, Thao & Mirah with the Most of All, Scott Kirby, Black Mountain, The Pallbearers, and Earl Greyhound.
Monday 6.28
NOTEWORTHY: Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo, 1914.
BIRTHDAYS: Actor and former Madison resident John Cusack, 1966; actress Mary Stuart Masterson, 1966.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The artist known as "The Train" brings his locomotive of honky-tonk, blues, rockabilly, big band and more to the most Western-themed of Madison venues: the High Noon Saloon.
Tuesday 6.29
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. space shuttle Atlantis docks with Russian space station Mir for first time, 1995.
BIRTHDAYS: Actress Sharon Lawrence, 1962; German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, 1963.
UW Pyle Center, 6 pm
The UW Center for Nonprofits summer lecture series, "Building Civil Society Through the Nonprofit Sector," continues with Snell, CEO of Nashville's University Community Health Centers. She'll talk about health-care access. The center is touting these talks as "communiversity" events, which sounds about right.
American Players Theatre, Spring Green, 7:30 pm
Colleen Madden stars in this one-woman show with 24 characters. Taking place in Apartheid-era South Africa, it explores the deeply troubling realizations of a privileged white girl growing up in that country.
Frequency, 8 pm
The spy-themed trio from Minneapolis get their mojo from bands like XTC, the Cars and the Buzzcocks. With Chaos Revolution Theory, MotivCrashKorse, the Barrettes.
Thao & Mirah with the Most of All
High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm
Indie folksters Thao Nguyen and Mirah teamed up to play San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival this spring and quickly took their collaborative project on the road. After almost a month of touring, they're bound to be in top form, bursting with superb harmonies and creativity. With These United States.
Wednesday 6.30
NOTEWORTHY: Cher marries Greg Allman, 1975.
BIRTHDAYS: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, 1966; gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps, 1985.
Capitol Square, 7 pm
Summer in Madison really has begun when the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra kicks off its free concert series on one of the city's most attractive lawns. Tonight's program, "Summer Romance," features guest pianist Joseph Hauer and music of Mozart, Rachmaninov and Ennio Morricone. Start spreading your blankets in three...two....
American Players Theatre, Spring Green, 7:30 pm
APT kicks off the second season of the indoor Touchstone Theatre with Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic, in which two tramps wait for a mysterious figure who never arrives. It's a grand programming statement. June 25's opener is sold out, but at press time seats were available for this Wednesday performance.
Brink Louge, 8 pm
Twenty-two years ago Kirby left a career in political consulting for the sleepy seaside rewards of Key West. Since then he's honed his skills writing and singing breezy, folky, island-inflected tunes -- six albums' worth. Perfect for your summer listening pleasure.
High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm
The psych-rock band from Vancouver won many accolades, including a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize (Canada's answer to the Grammys), for its 2008 release, In the Future. They'll play songs from In the Future and Wilderness Heart, which is due out in mid-September. With David Vandervelde.
Thursday 7.1
CANADA DAY
INTERNATIONAL TARTAN DAY
NOTEWORTHY: Marlon Brando dies, 2004.
BIRTHDAYS: Actress/child of rock Liv Tyler, 1977.
UW Pyle Center, 6 pm
For this installment in the UW Center for Nonprofits' lecture series "Building Civil Society Through the Nonprofit Sector," Woit, the president of the Madison Community Foundation, talks about "Community Philanthropy and the Role of Community Foundations."
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The freaky New Orleans foursome describe their sound as "hardcore punk meets horror cinema." Think the Misfits in a John Waters movie or Circle Jerks with a bit of Twin Peaks -- not for the faint of heart. With Brass Tacks, Systemic Torment and Hexxus.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
The NYC trio have an ear for power-pop hooks à la Big Star and a heart for '70s blues-rock, which they infuse with a boatload of hard-rockin' attitude. With Soul Shaker.
