Build upon holiday cheer this Christmas weekend with a little time out on the town, the opportunities including a Community Kwanzaa Celebration, a book reading by Phil Hellmuth, and live music by the Madison Marimba Quartet, The Jimmys with Aaron Williams, F. Stokes, the BoDeans, and We Are the Willows.
Friday 12.25
CHRISTMAS DAY
BIRTHDAYS: Singer Annie Lennox, 1954; Pogues singer-songwriter-guitarist Shane MacGowan, 1957.
Saturday 12.26
KWANZAA BEGINS
BIRTHDAYS: Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
Olbrich Gardens, 1-3 pm
Commence the festival of Umoja, Kujichagulia and all the rest with dancing, drumming and singing.
Mills Hall, UW Humanities Building, 1 pm
The ensemble presents its annual concert for local citizens starved for entertainment in the cultural wasteland between Christmas and New Year's. It's fun for the whole family, with a range of classical, jazz and holiday music.
University Book Store-Hilldale, 3 pm
The Madison-raised poker phenom discusses his book Deal Me In. Poker may help you pay off your Christmas shopping debts, or it may put you further in debt.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
To honor the memory of his father, celebrated Hammond B3 player "Cadillac" Joe Andersen, who recently succumbed to cancer, Aaron Williams has organized a musical tribute. Headlining the event are the Jimmys: Jimmy Voegeli and his nine-piece ensemble stacked with horns, brimming with Chicago blues and bursting with New Orleans funk. Proceeds benefit the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Annex, 10 pm
The soulful Chicago hip-hop artist has a new album out with Lazerbeak, Death of a Handsome Bride, and lots of plans for the new year. Get a hint of what they might be by catching his live act.
Sunday 12.27
BIRTHDAY: French actor Gerard Depardieu, 1948.
Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm
The rootsy rock 'n' rollers aren't spring chickens anymore, but they're about the most loyal band you'll find, returning to Madison Christmas upon Christmas to reprise "She's a Runaway," "Closer to Free" and other crowd-pleasers.
Frequency, 8 pm
Minneapolis-via-Eau Claire musician Peter Miller performs under the moniker We Are the Willows. He performs songs from his debut album, A Collection of Sounds and Something Like the Plague.
