Friday 8.10
Wisconsin State Fair
State Fair Park in West Allis, through Aug. 12
Here's your last chance to visit the 2007 Fair and eat a cream puff (or five). After heavy-duty work with a towelette, you can check out the carnival, livestock and the music, including the Bodeans and the Gufs (Aug. 10) and Switchfoot (Aug. 11).
Jane Hammond: Paper Work
Chazen Museum of Art, through Aug. 12
The collage artist got her MFA from the UW and went on to conquer the art world. This exhibition includes photographs, books, lithographs, collages and even a set of three-dimensional clown suits, all informed by Hammond's personal lexicon and infused with intricate allusions. Her pieces have an air of elegant free association, a mixture of interconnectivity and serendipitous chance.
Dane Dances
Monona Terrace Rooftop, 5:30-9:30 pm
The free August series is diverse, family-friendly and fun. It continues with New Orleans-style grooves by Mama Digdown's and classic dance music by BBI.
Terrace Blues Festival
UW Memorial Union Terrace, Fri. (5:30 pm) & Sat. (3 pm)
The Cash Box Kings bring along guitar-slinging Madison expat Joel Paterson for their headlining set on Friday. On Saturday, some mysterious "special guests from New Orleans" top a full day of entertainment. Queenie & the Blue Cats, Keith Scott and Catfish Stephenson are among the other acts scheduled to perform.
Henry Aaron's Summer Up North
Wisconsin Historical Society, 5:30 pm
This documentary is based on Jerry Poling's book A Summer Up North: Henry Aaron and the Legend of Eau Claire Baseball. It's a look at the teenage slugger's jump from the Negro Leagues to minor-league ball in 1952 Eau Claire. Poling will be on hand for the screening.
Girls Night Out: The Musical
Overture Center's Overture Hall, 8 pm. Also Thursday (7:30 pm), Saturday (2 & 8 pm) & Sunday (2 & 7 pm), Aug. 9, 11 & 12
A big hit in the U.K., this touring show follows 30- and 40-something girlfriends out on the town for a karaoke extravaganza. The framing story is maudlin, but anthems like "I Will Survive" and "We Are Family" are as irresistible as ever.
Cabaret
Middleton Performing Arts Center, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (7:30 pm), Sunday (2 pm) & Thursday (7:30 pm), Aug. 11, 12 & 16
The western suburbs sink into decadence as Middleton Players Theatre presents the classic musical, set in a Berlin cabaret heedless of the Nazis' rise to power. What good is sitting alone in your room when you can watch Sally Bowles bump and grind to "The Money Song"?
Found Footage Festival
Orpheum Stage Door Theater, 7 pm
Stoughton natives Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett return from New York to present another collection of clips of weird, gut-busting video that they scored at yard sales and in dumpsters. Their last national tour was sold out, so come early.
Patrick Sweany
The Bean, 9 pm
Soulful Rust Belt singer/guitarist Patrick Sweany doesn't just play skiffling blues, scratchy blues-rock and scuffed up rock 'n' roll. He inhabits it. The Black Keys are fans, and it's easy to see why.
Ellen Whyte
Brink Lounge, 9 pm
Portland-based singer Whyte smooths out her jazzy blues repertoire with flair. She's won music awards back in the Pacific Northwest for her controlled approach to the blues.
Saturday 8.11
Tim Laun
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, through Nov. 11
Now based in New York, Laun is a Wisconsin native whose art comments on the nature of sports. He satisfies the folks back home with an exhibition called "Sunday, September 20th, 1992," an exploration of Brett Favre's career with the Green Bay Packers. It includes lithographs and a 36-foot-long work depicting the fateful game where young Favre stepped in for injured Packer quarterback Don Majkowski on Sept. 20, 1992.
Africa Fest
Warner Park, 11 am-7 pm
The annual event brings Africa to your doorstep with food, music and dancing from the continent's diverse cultures. You can do business at an African market and groove to gospel choirs and African hip-hop.
Savor the Summer Festival
Troy Gardens, 500 Block of Troy Drive, noon-6:30 pm
Troy Gardens, the unique urban development near Warner Park, offers a day of free entertainment, featuring cooking, craft workshops and kids' farm activities. (That's right, kids -- you've got to do your chores on a Saturday.)
Johnny Winston Jr. Streetball & Block Party
Penn Park, noon
School board member Winston throws his annual party, a benefit for charity. You can enjoy music, a youth drill team competition, food, bingo and family activities. And the basketball tourney is sure to be as fast and fierce as ever.
Tub Ring
Annex, 9 pm
Melody-friendly Chicago-based weirdos Tub Ring give Mr. Bungle a run for the money with oddball pop-rock, tuneful prog, and Bertolt Brecht-meets-metal hybrids are a must for music geeks who've grown bored of indie. The Suit, the Hired Geeks and Burke open.
The Larkin Brigade
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Former Madison scenester Joe Wyatt returns to town for one night only with the Larkin Brigade, a rocking, sharp-elbowed Irish band that's made its mark on the pubs and clubs of Boston and beyond. The Pints open.
Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
Whether he's cuddling up to classic R&B or working a global groove, the ageless Mr. Cebar is the life of any musical party.
Sunday 8.12
Gandy Dancer Festival
Central Park, 11 am
Bluegrass banjo prestidigitator Alan Munde tops a strong roots-music bill on this railroad-centric festival's outdoor stage. Inside a special show tent, speakers hold forth on trains in Wisconsin, past and present. Free train rides will also be offered. Nob Hill Boys, Walter Street Hot Shots, Larry Penn and Jefferson County are among the other acts scheduled to perform.
Charlie Brooks Medical Benefit
King Club, 5 pm
"Funky Drummer" Clyde Stubblefield and his band, Adam Isaac, Bobby Bryan & the Original Downtown Players, Danny "Flash" Feral and Kerri Daley will all take the stage to help raise funds for ailing local R&B singing great Charlie Brooks. Here's a chance to help out "Madison's Soul Man" and enjoy some of the best blues and funk Madison has to offer.