Spring forward reclaims an hour off the clock this weekend, so be sure to make the most of the remaining time. The calendar includes: Bike-o-Rama and Canoecopia; productions of The Odd Couple and Cinderella; Boomerfest and a performance of 100 Years of Broadway; the conclusion of Literacy 24/7; live music by The August Teens, bomshel, The Machine, Rodrigo Villanueva Quartet, Greensky Bluegrass, LMFAO, Kieran McMullen, 1964 the Tribute, the UW Chamber Orchestra with the Eroica Trio, The Kissers, David Ford, and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists; and the Madison St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Friday 3.12
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. House of Congress votes 323-89 to admit Hawaii as 50th state, 1959.
Alliant Energy Center's Arena, noon-9 pm. Also Saturday (8 am-9 pm) & Sunday (10 am-6 pm), March 13 & 14
Spring is just days away, so prepare for outdoor recreation on two wheels at this expo, featuring the latest in cycling plus the stunt riding of Jeff Lenosky, who can jump over just about anything.
Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall, 4-9 pm. Also Saturday (9 am-6 pm) & Sunday (10 am-5 pm), March 13 & 14
If outdoor recreation on the water is more your style, don't miss the annual confab devoted to all things paddling, with exhibitors, vendors and speakers (see Recreation).
High Noon Saloon, 5:30 pm
Treat your ears to tunes from the local power-pop group's new CD, A Kiss in Wisconsin. Sample a tune from the disc in this week's MadTracks review.
MATC-Truax's Mitby Theater, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (2 & 7:30 pm) & Sunday (2 pm), March 13 & 14
MATC Performing Arts presents Neil Simon's classic with an adventurous twist: As usual, men perform on Friday and Saturday at 2 pm -- but women perform the Saturday evening and Sunday matinee shows.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
The two women of bomshel have toiled in the middle of the country chart with songs like "Fight Like a Girl" and "19 and Crazy." A recent Academy of Country Music nomination for Best New Duo may raise their profile. With Madison County.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
This group pays tribute to Pink Floyd, the English rockers whose albums have for generations been making college students say "Oh, wow."
Brink Lounge, 8 pm
Drummer Villanueva, a professor at the University of Northern Illinois, has performed jazz, Latin and otherwise, throughout his native Mexico, as well as at your workaday Chicago gin joints.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
The bluegrass outfit out of Kalamazoo, Mich., is best known for its live concerts, or, more accurately, Appalachian jam fests. With SweetGrass.
Orpheum Theatre, 10 pm
The Grammy-nominated hip house duo of Redfoo and Sky Blu perform their 2009 release, Party Rock, and perhaps discuss Blu's recent run-in with Mitt Romney (true story). With Dani-Vi, Just One Duran, Dirty Disco Kids and Vinnie Toma.
Saturday 3.13
BIRTHDAY: Actor William H. Macy, 1950.
Marriott-West, 10 am-4 pm
If you remember Howdy Doody, you might be interested in this day of baby-boomer-oriented seminars, exhibitors and health screenings.
Overture Hall, 2 & 7:30 pm. Also Sunday, March 14, 2 pm
Madison Ballet presents Prokofiev's 1945 classic, which continues to give stepsisters a bad name. Artistic director W. Earle Smith choreographs guest dancers Jennifer Tierney and Genevieve Custer-Weeks along with 80 Madison-area performers.
Edgewood College, 6 pm
Three local stars of letters appear at the reading-a-thon's concluding event: Acclaimed novelist Michelle Wildgen, UW biologist and National Book Award finalist Sean B. Carroll and Madison poet laureate Fabu.
Loft in the Goodman Community Center, 6:30 pm
McMullan has almost as many ideas about music as he has hometowns, and that's a lot, considering that he's lived all over the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. His songs bring together music from each of these places, melding jazz and acoustic rock with electro, hip-hop and more. Also at this Madison Area Music Association benefit: With Fighting Aurora, Loftland, Waking Grace and Good News First.
Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
A cast of Broadway performers offer showstoppers by the likes of Cole Porter and Andrew Lloyd Webber. A full evening of showstoppers may feel like 100 cups of espresso.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
This gang of moptops pays tribute to the pre-Sgt. Pepper Beatles. We're not holding out for "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand."
UW Chamber Orchestra with Eroica Trio
Wisconsin Union Theater, 8 pm
The acclaimed piano trio joins the orchestra for music of Scarlatti, Beethoven and Ives.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Get ready to jig and swig: The local legends of Irish pub rock will reunite to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a bit early.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
The English singer-songwriter is a master of looping and layering techniques, but his best feature may be the emotion he puts into his vocals, a gift that's won him gigs supporting Aimee Mann and Elvis Costello, among others.
Sunday 3.14
U.S. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS (SPRING FORWARD)
BIRTHDAY: Talking Heads singer-guitarist/world-music impresario David Byrne, 1952
Barrymore Theatre, 1 pm
The list of local roots-music greats for the Harmony's birthday bash has grown so long that the gig's been moved down the street from the beloved Atwood Avenue bar and music venue (see Music).
Capitol Square, 1:30 pm
It's about time we saw a little green around here. The annual parade gets a boost from grand marshal Al Toon, the UW and NFL footballer. The fun starts with a run/walk at 10 am.
Dardanelles, 7 pm
The lefty activist and journalist is in town to discuss his book IraqiGirl (Diary of a Teenage Girl in Iraq). He'll also be at Rainbow Bookstore March 18 at 7 pm to discuss El Monstruo: Dread and Redemption in Mexico City.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
TL/Rx do a mean live show, infusing their brand of indie rock with a mega-dose of punk, plus a bit of dub from time to time. This show will showcase their forthcoming album, The Brutalist Bricks, which is filled with catchy hooks and a passion that's difficult to pigeonhole. With Title Tracks.
