Madison's spring arts season concludes with one last busy weekend. The calendar includes: Gallery Night and the Madison Audubon Society Art Fair; the Mad Rollin' Dolls season finals; productions of Souvenir and Girl Talk and a program by Jazzworks Dance Company; a revue by the Second City Improv All Stars; performances by the MSO and its Community Hymn Sing; more live music from the Tony Rice Unit, Todd Snider, Henry Wolf, Ted Leo with Title Tracks, A-Trak with Kid Sister, Beats Antique, The Felice Brothers, Jonathan Richman, Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, Girlyman, and Yelle; and, Listen to Your Mother, along with more book readings by Rae Meadows and Mary Gordon.
Friday 5.6
BIRTHDAY: Actor/filmmaker George Clooney, 1961.
5-9 pm
The semiannual showcase for Madison's visual-arts scene includes special events at 62 galleries, museums and businesses, including demonstrations and artist receptions. Highlights include paintings by Randall Berndt and Charles Munch at Grace Chosy Gallery; Point of View: The Veteran Print Project at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum; and prints by Briony Marrow-Cribbs, S.V. Medaris and Patrick Smyczek at Overture Galleries.
Orpheum Theatre, 6:30 pm
The storied Chicago comedy factory's scripted revues are a touring staple, but here's a chance to see the troupe's famous improv in action. The program is called Stand Up for Kids, and proceeds benefit Dane County Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
The dynamic Madison troupe presents a program featuring jazz and Bollywood dancing, plus a 30-minute tribute to the Beatles. This Jazzworks concert is the last one for retiring artistic director Carol Marion Ceniti.
Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), May 7 & 8
The orchestra concludes its season with help from flutist Stephanie Jutt and harpist Karen Beth Atz, who perform Mozart's concerto for their instruments. Also on the program is Mahler's Symphony No. 2, featuring soprano Julia Faulkner, mezzo-soprano Jamie Van Eyck and the Madison Symphony Chorus.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
The progressive-bluegrass pioneer is also a consummate performer of traditional Americana and acoustic jazz. Pay tribute to the guitarist's legend -- and more than 40 years of recording -- at this concert (see Music).
Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins
Bartell Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday May 7, 7:30 pm & Sunday May 8, 3 pm
Madison Theatre Guild presents Stephen Temperley's play about Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944), the soprano who was celebrated, if that's the right word, for her painfully bad singing.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm. Also Thursday, May 5, 8 pm
In this followup from the team that brought you Girls Night: The Musical, which came to Overture in 2007, radio cohosts conclude their show's 10-year run with chat and songs by the likes of Beyoncé and Pink.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
The Americana singer-songwriter's 2006 release, The Devil You Know, landed on Rolling Stone's year-end best-of list, and 2011 brings a new live album, which has been burning up the Billboard Heatseekers chart. See how his live show compares.
Project Lodge, 8:30 pm
Crafting deceptively simple pop songs, the L.A. singer-songwriter, former Bravo Silva frontman, and son of Meryl Streep has earned comparisons to Randy Newman and Paul Simon. Check out his solo debut, Linda Vista, at this show. With Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 8:30 pm
Punkish indie rocker Leo landed on the Billboard charts -- and numerous critics' best-of-the-year lists -- with his 2010 release, The Brutalist Bricks (see Tour Stop). Catch him with stellar power-pop outfit Title Tracks, the Q and Not U offshoot whose new album, In Blank, gets a thumbs-up this week. With Davey Von Bohlen.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
A-Trak, Kanye West's DJ of choice, also serves as producer for Lupe Fiasco and Kid Sister, blending electro-house savvy with hip-hop chops. Sis joins him for this show, reprising hits from her 2009 debut, Ultraviolet. With the Gaslamp Killer.
Saturday 5.7
NOTEWORTHY: German U-boat sinks the British ocean liner Lusitania of the coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 passengers en route from New York to Liverpool, 1915.
BIRTHDAYS: Filmmaker Amy Heckerling, 1954; singer Eagle-Eye Cherry, 1971.
Madison Audubon Society Art Fair
Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
The society, which advocates for birds and the environment in various ways, throws its annual art-apalooza, with painting, sculpture, ceramics and more from 120 national and local artists.
Overture Hall, 11 am
At this Madison Symphony Orchestra-sponsored event, organist Joe Chrisman leads you -- yes, you -- in the vocalizing.
Alliant Energy Center, 6 pm
The roller-derby league's season concludes with the finals match between the Vaudeville Vixens and the Reservoir Dolls. The Quad Squad and the Unholy Rollers skate for third place. Come for the athleticism and stay for the funny derby pseudonyms.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Traditional belly-dance music mingles with tango tunes, classic jazz and breakdancing beats when this Frisco electronic trio hit the stage. Enjoy tunes from their two 2010 releases, the LP Blind Threshold and an EP entitled The Trunk Archives. With Beard-o-Bees.
UW Union South's Sett, 9 pm
Though they're known for fusing folk, country and straight-ahead rock 'n' roll, these former subway buskers take a dancehall-inspired direction on their forthcoming album, Celebration, Florida. Sample their new sound before it hits stores May 10. With Shovels & Rope.
Orpheum Theatre's Stage Door, 9 pm
The founder of proto-punk trailblazers the Modern Lovers has influenced alt-rock staples such as the Violent Femmes, Weezer and the Pixies. Honor his legacy and see what he's been up to lately.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 9:30 pm
Spice up your Saturday night with some calypso. This troupe of Michigan-based steel drummers has won a Grammy, performed for the Queen of England and jammed with Liberace.
Sunday 5.8
MOTHER'S DAY
NOTEWORTHY: Beatles release Let It Be, 1970.
BIRTHDAYS: Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz, 1951; Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen, 1953.
A Room of One's Own, 1:30 pm
Madison-based until recently, Meadows reads from her new novel, Mothers and Daughters. It weaves together stories about a Madison mom, her dying mother and her grandmother, who traveled to the Midwest as a little girl.
Barrymore Theatre, 3 pm
Take Mom to this presentation of readings on motherhood by Madison writers, among them Suzy Grindrod, Jennifer Rosen Heinz and Elizabeth Katt-Reinders. Proceeds benefit rape survivors in the Congo.
A Room of One's Own, 3:30 pm
The acclaimed novelist, essayist and memoirist (Final Payments, The Company of Women) reads from her latest novel, The Love of My Youth, about one-time lovers who run into each other in Rome, 40 years later.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The harmonious folk rockers have opened for several Indigo Girls tours and earned a big feature on Slate last year when their live show captured the heart of political correspondent John Dickerson. With Coyote Grace.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
The French electropop trio rarely sing in English, but American fans don't seem to mind when they're prancing ecstatically to their big hit, "Je Veux Te Voir." Enjoy sounds from the group's chart-climbing sophomore album, Safari Disco Club, at this performance. With French Horn Rebellion and DJ KittyBump.
