Caroline Goulding
Autumn commences its latter half this week, with Madison stages serving up words both spoken and sung. The calendar includes: talks by Taylor Mac, Jennifer Chiaverini, and Bill Strickland; live music from Sebadoh, Cold War Kids, Will Hoge, Hurt, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, and Tom Freund; and, a performance by Caroline Goulding.
Monday 10.31
NOTEWORTHY: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated, 1984.
UW Vilas Hall's Mitchell Theatre, 7 pm
The extraordinary Stew & Friends series continues with an appearance by this New York City-based performance artist and playwright. Mac plays like Walk Across America for Mother Earth, The Lily's Revenge and The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac have earned raves. Essential queer culture.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Led by Dinosaur Jr. bassist Lou Barlow, this band has made an indelible mark on indie-music history by using four-track tape machines to create a mesmerizing lo-fi sound. With Mazes.
Tuesday 11.1
NOTEWORTHY: Maastricht Treaty establishes European Union, 1993.
Barnes & Noble-West Towne, 7 pm
The Madison author talks about The Wedding Quilt, number 18 in her widely read series of stitching-themed books.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
These soulful indie rockers teamed with Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King -- the man behind Tom Waits' Mule Variations and Kings of Leon's Only by the Night -- for their latest studio album, Mine Is Yours (see Tour Stop). With Young Man and Julian Lynch.
Wednesday 11.2
NOTEWORTHY: Haile Selassie crowned emperor of Ethiopia, 1930.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
The harmonica-toting singer-songwriter is making what may be some of the most likable Americana-rock in Nashville at the moment. He'll highlight his new release, Number Seven, his second long-player since the 2008 scooter accident in which he broke dozens of bones. With Locksley and Brighton MA.
High Noon Saloon, 7:30 pm
The Los Angeles hard rockers' two-year stint with Capitol didn't go as they'd hoped, so they released 2009's Goodbye to the Machine on Amusement, with more satisfying results all around. Singer J. Loren is a screamer. With Juke Kartel.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
A MacArthur genius, Strickland does extraordinary work reaching out to disadvantaged people in Pittsburgh with arts and jobs programs. He speaks at this Distinguished Lecture Series event.
Thursday 11.3
NOTEWORTHY: 17.3-inch snowfall buries Madison, 1990.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
Violin phenom Goulding is only 19, but she's already making waves in the classical world, doing guest appearances with orchestras nationwide and notching a Grammy nomination for her debut album. Tonight she performs music of Mozart, Schumann, George Enescu and more.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
Rowan has traditional-bluegrass bona fides -- he played guitar and sang in Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys -- but he's better known for progressive bluegrass, like the wondrous music he played alongside Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and Vassar Clements in the 1970s supergroup Old and in the Way. Rowan's latest album, 2010's Legacy, has a traditional bluegrass sound and includes lyrics sung in Hindi. Seems about right.
Brink Lounge, 8:30 pm
This singer-songwriter and former member of alt-country trailblazers the Silos has made fans out of Ben Harper and Jackson Browne, both of whom appear on his new album, The Edge of Venice. With Jess Klein.