Summer may be winding down, and a whole season's worth of celebrations seems to be packed into this weekend with the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, Terrace Blues Fest, Africa Fest, Schenk's Corners Block Party, Gandy Dancer Festival, WJJO Band Camp, King Street Pride Block Party, UW Football Family Fun Day, Ride the Drive, Triangle Ethnic Fest, and the Wisconsin Capitol Pride Picnic. The calendar also includes: the Chemistry Imagined: Correlations exhibit; the Farley Center dedication; Dane Dances; productions of The Waiting Room and All My Sons; drag by the Kinsey Sicks and the Plan B anniversary party; performances by Black Marigold and The Blue & The Blond; Live on King Street with Keller Williams; and, more live music from Ben Taylor, Bryan Lee, Byron Berline Band, Bucky Pope, and The Giving Tree Band.
Friday 8.16
NOTEWORTHY: China's economy becomes second largest in world, 2010.
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival
Aug. 15-18, Angell Park in Sun Prairie
Wisconsin rarely seems as bountiful as during the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, with golden cobs overflowing from cardboard containers. Corn is sold only from noon to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday, but the anticipation builds on Thursday and Friday with a carnival.
Live on King Street featuring Keller Williams
100 block of King Street, 5 pm
A one-man jam band, Williams loops synthesizer and percussion solos to create rhythmic layers onstage. Evergreen Grass Band will open this free outdoor show with a fusion of bluegrass and rock, and DJ Nick Nice will provide tunes between sets. After the concert, local funkmeisters Steez lead a dance party in or near the Majestic.
Monona Terrace Rooftop, 5:30 pm
The free series continues, drawing a diverse crowd of party-loving Dane County residents. This week's event features music by the Christopher Project, MadiSalsa and DJ Pain 1.
Chemistry Imagined: Correlations
UW Union South's Gallery 1308, through Oct. 1. Reception: 6 pm
In this remarkable amalgamation of art and science, Vivian Torrence's collages are paired with chemist and poet Roald Hoffmann's texts in an effort to penetrate the mysteries of chemistry. Right brain, meet left brain.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 6 pm. Also Saturday, Aug. 17, Capitol Lakes' Grand Hall, 7 pm
This Madison-based woodwind quintet kicks off a series of free shows that continues through the end of August. This weekend's performances commemorate the shocking debut of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Also on the program is Gershwin's timeless Rhapsody in Blue.
Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center, 7 pm. Also Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 17-18, Farley Center
Celebrate the opening of the Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability on Friday with a keynote address by ecological economist Josh Farley at the Verona Area High School, followed by events on Saturday and Sunday at the center (see News).
Broom Street Theater, 8 pm. Also Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 pm
Michael Tooher's play shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of show business.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 8:15 pm. Also Saturday, 6 pm
Friday night features Windy City wonders the Jimmy Johnson Band and the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings, while Saturday highlights local blues acts Cash Box Kings, Queenie & the Blue Cats and Johnny Chimes & the Gumbo Ya-Yas.
Saturday 8.17
Warner Park, 10 am-8 pm
The annual event brings Africa to your doorstep with cultural displays, kids' activities, food and performances by Kikeh Mato, Tani Diakite and Atimevu.
Atwood and Winnebago streets, 11 am-10 pm
Bands and DJs play all day long on one of Madison's funkiest corners, with after-parties at the Alchemy and Mr. Robert's. Acts include the Mustache, Grasshoppers and People Brothers Band.
Brodhead Street in Mazomanie, 11 am-8 pm
Take a drive to picturesque Mazomanie for train exhibits, kids' activities and music by the likes of Lou & Peter Berryman and the Byron Berline Band.
WJJO Band Camp featuring Sevendust
Alliant Energy Center, 11 am
This event amplifies the hard side of the rock 'n' roll spectrum. Headbanging will commence with acts such as Jackyl and PopEvil, then culminate in a rager where Sevendust perform songs from the new Black Out the Sun. With Asking Alexandria, Nonpoint, Motionless in White, Dope, Soil, Wayland and Red Line Chemistry.
King Street, 4 pm-midnight
Madison's gay community celebrates Pride weekend with live music, dancing and food. The Majestic Theatre hosts the after-party at 10:30 pm, featuring a tribute to Daft Punk. Today King Street, tomorrow the world.
Camp Randall Stadium, 5-7 pm
The Badger players and new coach Gary Andersen are available for photos and autographs at this free event. Yes, kids, Bucky Badger will be there, too.
Sons of Norway's Idun Lodge, 7 pm
In from Helsinki, this Finnish-Norwegian duo will perform original songs featuring vocals, Hardanger fiddle and a zither-like instrument called the kantele.
American Players Theatre in Spring Green, 8 pm. Also Tuesday & Thursday, Aug. 20 & 22, 7:30 pm
APT presents Arthur Miller's classic morality tale, in which a manufacturer's defective airplane parts lead to turmoil in his family.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
Reality TV goes drag in four-part harmony in America's Next Top Bachelor Housewife Celebrity Hoarder Gone Wild. The naughty a cappella drag troupe will dazzle you with their trashy sendups of bachelors/bachelorettes and talent shows.
Frequency, 9 pm
The son of '70s legends James Taylor and Carly Simon will assert his own musical identity with selections from his latest release, Listening. (See Tour Stop.) With Grace Weber.
Plan B, 8 pm
The drag divas of the Kinsey Sicks will stop by to make merry after their Overture performance, and DJs Tim, Lizzy T and Cover Gurrl will keep the crowd dancing till the drinks stop flowing.
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
This blind bluesman is a New Orleans institution, performing with notables like Buddy Guy and Pinetop Perkins over the past 50 years and winning a Grammy in 2010.
Sunday 8.18
NOTEWORTHY: Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita published in U.S., 1958.
West side, 10 am-3 pm
Here's a west-side version of the popular event, in which streets close to cars so pedestrians, bicyclists, skaters and runners can have their way. The route goes along Segoe Road, Rosa Road, Regent Street and Hill Drive, with musicians and food vendors adding to the fun.
Braxton Place, at the triangle of Regent Street, South Park Street and West Washington Avenue, 11 am-6 pm
Enjoy ethnic food, cultural displays, dancing and kids' activities in the legendarily diverse Madison neighborhood. Performers include Italian Folk Dancers of Madison, Ballet Folklorico de Maria Diaz, and Mesoghios Greek Dance Troupe.
Brittingham Park, 1-6 pm
Wisconsin Capitol Pride canceled its annual parade due to a lack of money and volunteers. In its place is a picnic celebrating the LGBT community, with music, kids' games, and a commitment and vow renewal ceremony.
High Noon Saloon, 6 pm
Authentic bluegrass and western swing take center stage when the national fiddle champ visits with his touring band.
Broom Street Theater, 7 pm
See if the former Tar Babies guitarist shares stories from Madison's early hardcore scene, or plays a solo version of "Porcupine Pie." With Brain Grimmer and Dave Adler & Calvin Thorne.
Frequency, 8 pm
Named to Paste's latest list of bands to watch, these seven housemates create down-home rock rich in vocal harmonies and banjo pickin'.
