Madison extends a late winter string of big DJ shows with a set by Rusko at the Orpheum. The calendar also includes: Bockfest, Camp Bingo, and the opening of the Israeli Film Festival; Compendium 2012 at the Chazen; a talk by Joanne Griffith; productions of Yankee Tavern and Fiddler on the Roof; performances by David Finckel with Wu Han and Philip Setzer, the WCO, Festival Choir of Madison, and Randy Sabien String Quartet; Sleazefest and the Johnny Cash Birthday Bash; and, more live music from Advance Base, Pushmi-Pullyu with Young Jesus, Tennis, Astronautalis, Chris Webby, Golden Donna, Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, and Crocodiles.
Friday 2.24
NOTEWORTHY: Elton John knighted, 1998.
Chazen Museum of Art, through April 1
The University of Wisconsin presents its quadrennial show of works by dozens of faculty members, staff members, affiliates and emeritus faculty. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, video and much more are on display; gallery talks and demonstrations will take place throughout the show's run.
David Finckel, Wu Han, Philip Setzer
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
The trio of Finckel (cello), Han (piano) and Setzer (violin) are set to wow us with a program dedicated exclusively to the Romantic composer Mendelssohn: the Sonata for Cello & Piano in D Major (Op. 58) and the two trios for piano, violin and cello in D minor (Op. 49) and C-minor (Op. 66).
Bartell Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday, Feb. 25, 7:30 pm
Madison Theatre Guild stages Steven Dietz's 2007 play about characters in a rundown bar and the 9/11 conspiracy theories they share.
Overture Hall, 8 pm. Also Saturday (2 & 8 pm) & Sunday (1 pm), Feb. 25 & 26
A traveling production of the classic Broadway musical stops by for a short run. A family struggles to maintain Jewish traditions in a changing Russia, circa 1905.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
The ensemble performs Benjamin Britten's 1935 "Night Mail: End Sequence," which has W.H. Auden-penned words that will be delivered by American Players Theatre's James Ridge. Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky joins in on Beethoven's emotionally sweeping Violin Concerto in D Major.
Inferno, 9 pm
Don't bring the kids. Local bands Tiger Clutch, Whisky Pig, 626 and Butt Funnel perform, along with the burlesque act Peach Pies, at this self-styled celebration of all things dirty and wrong. Highlight: 1970s porn on the televisions. Dress trashy.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
Formerly known as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, multi-instrumentalist Owen Ashworth has morphed into Advance Base, a project that marshals the magical musical powers of autoharps, Omnichords, Rhodes pianos and antique rhythm boxes to create dreamy, minimalist electro-pop.
Dragonfly Lounge, 9:30 pm
Local experimental rockers Pushmi-Pullyu join forces with Chicago indie soundsmiths Young Jesus to rattle the foundations of the subterranean Dragonfly Lounge. With Temple.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Born during an epic sailboat trip down the eastern seaboard, this garage-tinged rock band's first album, Cape Dory, earned raves from Rolling Stone, Time and The New Yorker last year. Check out their sophomore release, Young and Old, at this show. With Surgeons in Heat.
Saturday 2.25
NOTEWORTHY: Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) defeats Sonny Liston to take heavyweight title, 1964.
Capital Brewery, Middleton, noon
Capital Brewery's release of Blonde Doppelbock is the main event, but costumes, live music and a 1K race should help pass time in between sips.
First Baptist Church, 7:30 pm
The members of the choral group blend their voices in a program called "The Language(s) of Love." On the docket: music of Monteverdi, Fauré and Brahms, plus Morten Lauridsen's "Chanson des Roses."
UW Union South Sett, 9 pm
With a sound rooted in indie rock, blues and electro, this Twin City rapper draws comparisons to Beck while blazing trails in the hip-hop realm. Sample his new album, This Is Our Science, at this free show (see Tour Stop). With Bi-Polar Bear and Hewn.
Orpheum Theatre, 9 pm
This English dubstep producer's work with M.I.A. and Santigold has gained him notoriety in recent years, and his recent collaboration with Cyprus Hill is likely to draw even more hip-hop fans to his team. Preview tunes from his forthcoming album, Songs, during this live DJ set. With Eliot Lipp and DJ Nick Nice.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Powered by YouTube fame and a slew of popular mixtapes, this rapper has been filling big venues such as New York's Webster Hall with dozens of rhymes and thousands of fans. Bust a move on the bandwagon at this show.
Dragonfly Lounge, 9:30 pm
Electro-funk and krautrock make strangely beautiful babies when local music-maker Joel Shanahan hits the stage. With TrinTran and Catacombz.
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
A product of Milwaukee's 1970s coffeehouse folk scene, Cebar has evolved into a consummate performer. His latest band, Tomorrow Sound, explores the American soul and R&B traditions alongside sounds from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sunday 2.26
NOTEWORTHY: Bomb explodes in World Trade Center garage, killing six and injuring more than 1,000, 1993.
UW Hillel, through March 1
This year's festival, Hillel's ninth, is called "Diversity in Israel" and kicks off today at 1 p.m. with the family film Super-boy. Films, two per evening, include the comedy This Is Sodom (Tuesday, 9 p.m.) and the documentary Voices from El Sayed (Thursday, 6 p.m.), whose director, Oded Adomi, leads a panel discussion on Thursday at 7 p.m. See israelfilm.weebly.com for details.
Wil-Mar Center, 2 pm
The Los Angeles-based BBC radio journalist, a native of Luton, England, talks about her new book, Redefining Black Power: Reflections on the State of Black America.
Edgewater Hotel, 2:30 pm
Enjoy the subtle pleasures of bingo and know your money is going to a good cause at this fundraiser for the AIDS Network. The theme this time is "Tacky and Tasteless Bingo," the host is the incomparable performer Cass Marie Domino, and the celebrity ball callers are Leigh Mills and Christine Bellport of NBC15.
Brink Lounge, 3:30 pm
A classical violinist turned jazz fiddler, Sabien lights up the stage with smart, danceable ditties and mind-bending improvisational jams, earning guest spots on Austin City Limits and NPR's A Prairie Home Companion. With Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines.
Frequency, 8 pm
This duo of distortion junkies swathes sunny pop tunes in fuzzy blankets of feedback, nabbing a thumbs-up from Spin and Stereogum. With Reading Rainbow.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
Local musicians Whitney Mann, Liam Ford, Josh Harty, Robby Schiller, Earl Foss & the Brown Derby, and the Midwesterners perform some of the Man in Black's greatest hits to mark what would have been his 80th birthday.
