Friday 2.15
Matt White
Majestic Theatre, 7 pm
A MySpace phenom gone mainstream, the singer-songwriter may be headed to big-time pop-rock stardom. Zox and Mike Droho & the Compass Rose open.
Madison Symphony Orchestra
Overture Center's Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), Feb. 16 & 17
Violinist Cho-Liang Lin will give a graceful lilt to Beethoven's "Violin Concerto." John DeMain also conducts Puccini's elegiac "Chrysanthemums," Mendelssohn's stormy "Overture to Ruy Blas" and Janácek's athletic "Sinfonietta."
The Vagina Monologues
Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday, Feb. 16, 7:30 pm
The UW spices up Eve Ensler's play -- in which women discuss both their private lives and private parts -- with song and dance. Proceeds benefit the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services.
Gretchen Parlato & Esperanza Spalding
Wisconsin Union Theater, 8 pm
Here's a chance to check out rising young New York City jazz stars: Parlato, a nuanced singer with a taste for Brazilian sounds; and Spalding, a spunky bass player.
Greg Abate
Farley's House of Pianos, 8 pm
With a trio, the Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist careens through bebop numbers Charlie Parker-style. The cat can blow.
Carnaval
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm. Also Saturday, Feb. 16, 9 pm
The High Noon's Brazilian-style celebration features music by Pagee GoGo, Trio Eletriko and the Handphibians; movement by Massamba Brazilian Dance Co.; and capoeira demonstrations. The next-best thing to being in Rio.
El Valiente
Annex, 9:30 pm
Just when you think the local instrumentalists are all about limitless desert vistas and parched bones glowing in the moonlight, they let loose with an explosion of guitars that takes you back to the glory days of post-punk. The Moment, the Projection People and Revolving Doors also appear.
The Low Czars
Mickey's Tavern, 10 pm
The local band performs Love's Forever Changes, one of the masterworks of '60s psychedelia, in its entirety. DJ Bob opens.
Saturday 2.16
Madison Polar Plunge
Olin-Turville Park, 11 am-3 pm
You can support the Special Olympics by taking a dive into the frigid lake. On the other hand, you can also just write them a check.
International Festival
Overture Center, 11 am-5 pm
The mostly free event celebrates Madison's diverse cultures with a craft bazaar, a food court, demonstrations and performances by the Cajun Strangers, Yid Vicious, Tania Tandias, Hmong comedian Tou Ger Xiong and others. The one ticketed concert features Ballet Folklorico México.
Carrie Newcomer
Brink Lounge, 7 pm
Newcomer uses her warm, full-bodied pipes to excellent effect on the loping twang and crystalline folk that fill out her new CD, The Geography of Light. She celebrates its release with support from the jazz-grass-inclined Bob Westfall Band.
The Bachelors
Mitby Theatre at MATC-Truax, 8 pm
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre presents a quirky comedy -- set in Madison -- about two reincarnated bachelors plagued by a reincarnated woman with revenge on her mind.
Blitz Smackdown
Bartell Theatre, 8 pm
Mercury Players Theatre presents its exercise in spontaneous genius: short plays written, designed and rehearsed in the last 24 hours.
Backyard Tire Fire
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
We've no clue as to why the soulful -- and much-praised --roots-rockers are playing a freebie at the UW's favorite bierstube. But, hey, we'll take it.
Sunday 2.17
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie...
Mitby Theatre at MATC-Truax, 2 pm
TheatreWorks USA presents a musical revue based on several children's books, including Owen, Amazing Grace and the charming title story.
Jessica Mills
A Room of One's Own, 2 pm
The punk musician and political activist discusses her book My Mother Wears Combat Boots, a parenting guide for alternative types.
Dark Night Shorts
Bartell Theatre, 2 pm. Also Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 18-20, 7:30 pm
StageQ presents a collection of short plays by Linda Suzuki and Carol Mullen: five comedies and one drama.
Old Yeller
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 3 pm
Omaha Theater Company offers a stage version of the poignant young-adult novel about a boy and his dog. Old Yeller is evoked by a lifelike puppet -- but that doesn't mean you'll be any less attached to him.
Richard Shaten & Ken Lonnquist
Oakwood Village-West Auditorium, 8 pm
Singer/pianist Shaten continues his ongoing series of salutes to great American singer-songwriters with a tribute to the most influential one of them all, Bob Dylan. He gets help from veteran folkie Lonnquist.