Ride the Drive takes its second summer cruise this weekend, taking over streets on the north side of Madison. The calendar also includes: Great Taste of the Midwest pre-parties, including a "Brews & Blues" Adult Swim at the Madison Children's Museum and a concert at the Majestic; productions of A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, Pericles, and The Admirable Crichton; the Color Field Festival; Dane Dances; the Yacht Rock Party; more live music from Pat McCurdy, Zebras, The Hoyle Brothers, Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps, Jeremiah Nelson with Pioneer and Cameron McGill, and Reptile Palace Orchestra; and, a big benefit show for Greg Ginter's guitar shop.
Friday 8.10
NOTEWORTHY: Magellan probe lands on Venus, 1990.
Multiple venues, 11 am. Also Saturday, Aug. 11, noon
This two-day display of cutting-edge music begins with "Atria," a piece Jamie Leigh Sampson and Andrew Martin Smith composed especially for library atriums (Goodman South Madison Library, 11 am). It continues with performances by the Color Field Ensemble and Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble (Bartell Theatre, 7 pm). Saturday highlights include a free show on the Capitol Square (noon) and "Musical Expanse," an epic six-hour concert at the Bartell Theatre (2 pm). Visit Dane Dances
Monona Terrace Rooftop, 5:30 pm
The free series, running Fridays in August, is designed to get Dane County's diverse cultures partying as one. This week's dance features In Black 'n White, Grupo Candela and DJ Vilas Park Sniper.
Madison Children's Museum, 6 pm
Why should kids have all the fun? At "Brews & Blues," an event for ages 21 and up, the Children's Museum features music by Boo Bradley and lots of beer-oriented activities, such as a mash-cooking demonstration, a primer on designing coasters and beer bottle labels, and a talk by Jim Draeger, author of Bottoms Up: A Toast to Wisconsin's Historic Bars and Breweries.
Overture Center Playhouse, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (7:30 pm) & Sunday (2 pm), Aug. 11 & 12. Pre-show lectures: Friday at 6:30 pm, Sunday at 1 pm
Four Seasons Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's misanthropic musical, which follows romantic entanglements on a country estate and includes the classic "Send in the Clowns." (See preview.)
Middleton-Cross Plains Area Performing Arts Center, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday, Aug. 11, 7:30 pm
Middleton Players Theatre presents the Tony-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. It draws from fairy tales, not shying away from their dark sides.
Broom Street Theater, 8 pm. Also Saturday, Aug. 11, 8 pm
Broom Street Theater goes Shakespearean, presenting the Bard's co-written play about the wanderings of a hapless prince. In a Broom Street twist, seven actors play 40 roles.
Great Taste of the Midwest Pre-Party
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
The night before Saturday's craft-beer extravaganza, MAMA-winning rockers Sexy Ester, La Crosse reggae purveyors T.U.G.G. and DJ Nick Nice will get fans pumped for malt and hops. Throughout the night, guests can toast to beer's splendor with craft draughts from Pearl Street Brewery.
Terrace at UW Memorial Union, 9:30 pm
After a show in the State Fair's majestic field of corndogs, McCurdy will treat Terrace-goers to a cocktail of sing-along melodies and kooky humor.
Frequency, 9:30 pm
This noisy, sludgy Moog-punk trio will celebrate their new, self-titled LP with friends from the Hussy, Dharma Dogs and IfIHadAHiFi.
Saturday 8.11
NOTEWORTHY: Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn notches 300th major-league win, 1961.
Terrace at UW Memorial Union, 6 pm
Two-step rhythms, heartfelt lyrics and fiery delivery are the hallmarks of this Chicago five-piece, whose country music sounds nothing like Taylor Swift's. With Ghost Town Council and Vintage Red.
American Players Theatre in Spring Green, 8 pm. Also Thursday, Aug. 16, 7:30 pm APT presents a comedy about class by J.M. Barrie, of Peter Pan fame. A butler becomes the boss when a group of aristocrats are stranded on a desert island.
Lovely Socialite Mrs. Thomas W. Phipps
Project Lodge, 8 pm
In addition to sporting one of Madison's longest band names, this jazz-rock group peppers lengthy improvisations with funk, hip-hop and contemporary classical music. With Tom Teslik and Chants.
Jeremiah Nelson, Pioneer, Cameron McGill
Frequency, 9 pm
Three folk-tinged rock 'n' rollers -- two from Madison and one from Chicago -- will showcase their songwriting skills at this low-key downtown show.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Some may call this event an ironic fete, but it's more of a costume party -- the kind where guys don linen suits to pretend they're exceptionally smooth. Chicago's Reely Dan will get motors running with Steely Dan covers, then DJ Nick Nice will open a soft-rock time capsule stuffed with tunes by Hall & Oates, Billy Ocean and Michael McDonald.
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
The bar will masquerade as a swanky bar mitzvah when this local ensemble performs lounge music, klezmer tunes and Balkan jams.
Sunday 8.12
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. formally annexes Hawaii, 1898.
10 am-3 pm
For the first time, the car-free event moves to such north-side streets as Sherman Avenue, Northport Drive and Troy Drive. Bikers, skaters and walkers get the run of the place for five hours, with activities, informational booths, music and food along the route.
Greg Ginter's Guitar Shop Benefit
Harmony Bar, 3 pm
More than a dozen local musicians will gather to support Atwood Avenue's Guitar Shop of Wisconsin, which was damaged by a fire earlier this summer. The bill includes bluesy performers such as Aaron Williams, Queenie McCarter and A.J. Love.
