Friday 4.25
Design MMoCA
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 11 am-8 pm. Champagne preview: Thursday, April 24, 7 pm. Also Saturday (10 am-8 pm) & Sunday (11 am-4 pm), April 26 & 27
In this benefit event, 16 design teams create fabulous rooms inspired by artwork from MMoCA's permanent collection. The event also features lectures and gallery talks.
Ale B?ezina
Through April 27
The Prague-based composer and musicologist is an expert on the eloquent 20th-century Czech composer Bohuslav Martin?. Every day through April 27 he'll lecture on Martin? and screen films for which he's composed the music. See www.arts.wisc.edu/artsinstitute/air/brezina.
The Kids in the Hall
Barrymore Theatre, 7 & 10 pm
The 1980s-90s comedy troupe are fondly remembered for their bent sketch show on HBO. They reunite for the "Live as We'll Ever Be" tour, featuring new material as well as favorite characters like the chicken lady and the head-crusher.
Capital City Jazz Fest
Madison Quality Inn & Suites, 7 pm. Also Thursday (7 pm), Saturday (11 am & 6 pm) & Sunday (11:30 am), April 24, 26 & 27
Traditional-jazz groups from around the country wail and ramble at the Madison Jazz Society's annual event, including Cornet Chop Suey, Cakewalkin' Jass Band and St. Louis Rivermen.
Madison Symphony Orchestra
Overture Center's Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), April 26 & 27
Guest conductor Vladimir Spivakov leads the MSO through an all-Russian program, including Tchaikovsky's dark "Symphony No. 6" and Shostakovich's joyful "Festive Overture." Russian pianist Yefim Bronfman will burn up the keyboard in Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3."
The Crickets
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
The backing band for 1950s rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly still includes drummer J.I. Allison and bassist Joe B. Mauldin, along with Holly associate Sonny Curtis on guitar. Rave on!
Madison Fashion Week
Through April 26
Looks like we've moved beyond parkas and Birkenstocks, folks. The haute-couture events include a menswear show (Friday, Majestic Theatre, 8 pm) and a men's and women's runway show (Saturday, Madison Avenue, 9 pm).
UW Spring Dance Concert
UW Lathrop Hall, 8 pm. Also Thursday & Saturday, April 24 & 26, 8 pm
The concert features a new work by guest artist Alan Sener, known for his association with New York's Louis Falco Dance Company. It also showcases UW stars Li Chiao-Ping, Jin-Wen Yu, Maureen Janson and others.
The Cheesehead Monologues
Comedy Club on State, 8 & 10:30 pm. Also Thursday (8:30 pm) & Saturday (8 & 10:30 pm), April 24 & 26
Standup comedians Mike Mercury, Roger Radley and Mike Marvell offer Wisconsin's answer to The Vagina Monologues, featuring tributes to ice-fishing and merciless critiques of Minnesota and Illinois.
Holly Near
Orpheum Theatre, 8 pm
The folk and women's-music legend is in town to help raise money for the new Goodman Atwood Community Center. She'll get help from Tret Fure, another pioneer of empowering sounds.
Chris Mills & the New Miserable Bastards
Annex, 9 pm
The Chicago-based singer-songwriter ambles, agonizes and rocks through his new alt-country-flavored Living in the Aftermath. He's a must for folks who admire the craft of songwriting.
Split Lip Rayfield
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Pickin' along at punk tempos, the affable wiseacres put plenty of kick in their old-time country and bluegrass.
Moses Patrou
Cafe Montmartre, 10 pm
The Madison expat supplied lead vocals on that clever Grand Theft Auto-inspired Coke commercial, but the warm Bayou funk and simmering love jams on his new CD give a much better picture of his talents.
Saturday 4.26
Isthmus Green Day
Monona Terrace, 9 am-6 pm
Isthmus' new event is a one-stop shop for all your questions, needs and desires relating to sustainable living. There will be over 100 booths on health, gardening, transportation, etc. There will speakers, including HGTV's eco-friendly interior designer Kenneth Brown and Washington, D.C.'s organic restaurateur Nora Pouillon. There will be kids' activities, food, a fashion show, and music by the Kissers. Never has saving the earth been so much fun.
Celebrate Madison
MATC Downtown Education Center, 11 am-6 pm
The annual tribute to Madison's diverse cultures features kids' activities and performances by Yid Vicious, Sadira & the Riad Dance Co. and others. Free!
The Unexplained Conference
Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 7 pm
Paranormal investigators discuss UFO's, ghosts, out-of-body experiences, past-life regressions and crop circles. If Bigfoot doesn't make a personal appearance, demand your money back.
Future Rock
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
The synths and samplers work overtime in Future Rock's hypnotic blend of rock and dance music.
Sunday 4.27
Madison Youth Choirs
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 1 & 4:30 pm
The choirs celebrate their fifth anniversary with "Greek to Me." It's a theatrical show that delves into Greek mythology, emphasizing the connection between music and drama.
Steven Sidor
Booked for Murder, 2 pm
The mystery writer reads from The Mirror's Edge, the disturbing tale of a journalist investigating the abduction of 2-year-old twins.
All the Garden's a Stage
Waisman Center, 2 pm
This kids event features the positive hip-hop group the Figureheads, plus face-painting, crafts and zoo animals.
The Acorn
Cafe Montmartre, 8 pm
The Canadian indie folk-rockers offered up an alternately gorgeous and chilling album in Glory Hope Mountain, which explores the difficult life story of leader Rolf Klausener's immigrant mother. Some songs are sure to bring tears live.
Eoto
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Cool Euro breakbeat informs the music of this easy-grooving spinoff from the String Cheese Incident.
