Keep cool this weekend as Madison swelters through these dog days. The calendar includes: Waunafest, Art in the Park, and Greek Fest; productions of The Game Show Show, H.M.S. Pinafore, and Proud Theater: Decade; a talk by Phyllis and Eugene Unterschuetz; a Mad Rollin Dolls bout; the beginning of Restaurant Week; Jazz on a Summer's Eve; more live music by Northern Howl, Thriving Ivory, Black Cobra, The Jacob Jeffries Band, Dead Luke, Tapes 'n Tapes, Beverly Jean and Out of the Southwest, Eyedea & Abilities, and Heartless Bastards; and, Dylan Day.
Friday 7.23
BIRTHDAY: Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967.
Centennial Park, Waunakee, July 22-25
The season of fairs rolls on. This one takes place up in Waunakee, Madison's neighbor to the north, and promises food, carnival rides, sports tournaments, music (Good News First, Super Tuesday, Bob Klinger Band, more). You know, the works.
Project Lodge, 7 pm
Sure, the Twin Cities indie-folksters look adorable in the illustration Daytrotter made of them last year, but their songs are equally charming, wrapping you up like a warm, fuzzy blanket on a cold day. If that sounds too twee for your tastes, fear not: A graffiti-themed film (Bill Daniel's Who Is Bozo Texino?) will be screened at this performance, too.
Phyllis and Eugene Unterschuetz
Baha'i Center, 7 pm
The Unterschuetzes spent 10 years on the road giving talks about race unity, with variously inspiring and uncomfortable results. They describe their experiences in their book Longing: Stories of Racial Healing, which they'll read from tonight.
Majestic Theatre, 7 pm
The San Francisco rock quintet had some success a couple of years ago with a Top 40 hit, the Sept. 11-inspired "Angels on the Moon." They haven't duplicated the feat, and their hopes surely hang on their sophomore release, due out later this year.
Bartell Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Thursday, Saturday & Sunday, July 22, 24 & 25, 7:30 pm
WhoopDeDoo Productions presents another of its interactive theater experiences, this one a mock game show modeled on Hollywood Squares. Actors play the celebrities, and selected audience members play the contestants.
UW Music Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (7:30 pm) & Sunday (3 pm), July 24 & 25
Madison Savoyards presents the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, in which seaborne star-crossed lovers love, singers sing silly but intricately crafted songs, and (spoiler alert!) everything works out in the end.
Broom Street Theater, 8 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2 pm), July 24 & 25
The theater group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth celebrates its 10th anniversary with selections from a decade's worth of shows. Drama, music and poetry are on the docket.
Black Cobra, Struck by Lightning, Howl, Brass Tacks
Frequency, 8:30 pm
The names of the bands on this bill create a very short story about a series of unfortunate -- and painful -- events. The music, ranging from sludge-metal to dark punk, will tap into a similar sense of doom as it rocks you to the core. With Wife.
Annex, 9 pm
Critics in the band's hometown of Miami have compared bandleader Jacob Groten's vocals to those of Jeff Buckley and his stage presence to that of Tom Petty. However, it's his piano playing that may wow you the most as he spins out one pitch-perfect pop number after another.
Saturday 7.24
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules that President Richard M. Nixon must deliver subpoenaed White House tapes to Watergate special prosecutor, 1974.
BIRTHDAYS: Filmmaker Gus Van Sant, 1952; actress/singer/fashion terrorist J. Lo, 1970.
Brittingham Park, 10 am-8 pm
This celebration of hip-hop culture features a 320-foot graffiti wall, which will be painted all day by local artists. Look also for breakdancing and musical performances by local luminaries including DJ Pain 1, MC Starr, Isodynamics and many more.
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4-9 pm. Also Sunday, July 25, 11:30 am-7 pm
They gave us Homer, the Olympics and galaktoboureko. So celebrate the good people of Greece at this festival, which features music, tours of the church, fun for the kids and, of course, food, food, food.
Art in the Barn, Fitchburg, 5:30 pm
The Madison Music Collective presents this evening of jazz featuring local-singer-made-good Jackie Allen, trombonist Joel Adams and his star-studded band, and violinist Randal Harrison's New String Trio.
Alliant Energy Center's Coliseum, 6 pm
It's summertime in roller derby land, which means interleague play. At this bout, Madison's Dairyland Dolls skate against the Houston Hard Knocks, and Madison's Team Unicorn take on the La Crosse Skating Sirens. Whose jammers will score the most?
Project Lodge, 7 pm
Dead Luke's a local home-recording dude, but he's anything but a hermit. He's got a label in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a brand-new album of lo-fi psych-pop that he'll dish out after his set at ProLo. With the Yoleus and the United Sons of Toil.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
It's confusing for a band to evoke both the Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but this Minneapolis indie-rock quartet pulled off the feat six years ago, after recording their self-titled debut EP, Bon Iver-style, in a cabin in the woods of northern Wisconsin. Check out this show to see how their city-dwelling ways have influenced their music as of late. With the Hounds Below and the Selfish Gene.
Beverly Jean and Out of the Southwest
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
Longtime Madison mainstay Beverly Jean played country music here with a band named Out of the West. She makes her home in Austin now, but the rootsy vibe endures tonight as she gets together with old bandmates.
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
The hip-hoppin' duo tend to be a favorite of those who adore Atmosphere and Aesop Rock, but they seem to be adding some rock and electronica fans to their ranks with the sharp guitars and dizzying turntablism of their latest album, By the Throat. With Kristoff Krane, 9 Delegates and Kill the Vultures.
Sunday 7.25
FULL MOON
NOTEWORTHY: Newport Folk Festival audience boos plugged-in Bob Dylan, 1965.
BIRTHDAYS: Model/actress Iman, 1955; pioneering test-tube baby Louise Brown, 1978.
Restaurant Week
Local restaurants, through July 30
Foodies on a budget love this event, wherein eateries like Blue Marlin, Capitol Chophouse and Osteria Papavero offer special three-course dinners for $25. There are 30 participating restaurants (see Dylan Day
Capital Brewery, Middleton, noon
An enormous, all-star lineup of Madison musical talent pays tribute to the bard from Minnesota. Acts include Kevin Tubb and Rainy Day Woman, Ken Lonnquist, Josh Harty, Cris and Ann Plata, Marques Bovre, Lynette Margulies and many more.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 8 pm
Erika Wennerstrom's sizzling vocals melt garage and blues into an elixir you can practically drink. At this show, the Cincinnati quartet are expected to play songs from their 2009 CD The Mountain, as well as some other favorites from the past five years. With Peter Wolf Crier and the Builders & the Butchers.
