Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Middleton Holiday Pops Concert
Holiday festivities really get going this weekend, with festivities including the Madison Holiday Open House, a production of The Santaland Diaries by the new Laboratory Theatre, and concerts by the Oakwood Chamber Players and WCO. The calendar also includes: book signings by Ron Dayne and Bob McGinn; performances by Daniel Barash and Raffi Besalyan; and, more live music by Natty Nation, the Charles Walker Band, Barrelhouse Chuck with Billy Flynn, Grooms, 12 Gauge Pump, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Motor Primitives, Peaking Lights with Daughters of the Sun, Primitive Culture, and the Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble.
Friday 11.27
NOTEWORTHY: San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supv. Harvey Milk assassinated, 1978.
BIRTHDAYS: Camelot first daughter Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, 1957; actress Robin Givens, 1964.
University Book Store-Hilldale, 11 am
It was 10 years ago this month that star UW running back Dayne set the NCAA rushing record. Here's your chance to relive the memory, meet the man himself and grab a copy of his new book, The Dayne Game: Ron Dayne and the Greatest Day in Wisconsin Football History.
Oakwood Village-West Auditorium, 3 & 7 pm
The holidays are here, so it's time to start making yourself feel holiday-ey. One way to do that is to dig in to the oodles of holiday-related musical offerings, including this one by the local ensemble. The program is dubbed Lighting the Way and features music of Mozart, Brahms, Nino Rota, Ave Maris Stella and others.
Bartell Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 28 & 29, 7:30 pm
Laboratory Theatre, in its debut production at the Bartell, presents a theatrical adaptation of David Sedaris' hilarious essay about his stint as a department-store elf. The one-man show offers shrewd commentary on parenting, race, celebrity obsessions, hygiene and the commercialism of the holidays.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The local purveyors of island sounds bypassed Jamaica recently and headed straight for Japan to share dancehall, dub and reggae with their fans in Okinawa. Welcome them home by dancing up a tropical storm. With F. Stokes, T.U.G.G. and Tropical Riddims Sound System.
Brink Lounge, 9 pm
The Madison- and Milwaukee-based blues and funk combo celebrates a CD release (see Music).
Barrelhouse Chuck, Billy Flynn
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
You may not immediately think piano when you think Chicago blues, but postwar artists like Sunnyland Slim made the 88 keys a vital part of the sound. Barrelhouse Chuck Goering learned the trade from Sunnyland Slim, and tonight Goering carries on the tradition with Chicago guitarist Flynn.
Saturday 11.28
NOTEWORTHY: Lady Astor becomes first woman elected to British House of Commons, 1919.
BIRTHDAYS: Scary filmmaker Joe Dante, 1946; comedian/actor/Daily Show guy Jon Stewart, 1962.
State Street and the Capitol Square, 10 am-6 pm
This is downtown Madison's answer to the post-Thanksgiving buying frenzy at the malls and big-box stores. It's a more human-scaled affair, featuring walking tours, gift bags for kids, free trolley rides, carolers and activities at the Overture Center. Downtown stores offer sales, refreshments, hands-on events and charitable opportunities.
Overture Center's Rotunda Stage, 9:30 & 11 am, 1 pm Based in Washington, D.C., Barash works in the mysterious art of shadow puppetry. He presents a work called Spin Me a Shadow, Tell Me a Tale in this Kids in the Rotunda event.
Project Lodge, 7:30 pm
The Brooklyn, N.Y., noise-pop trio known for destroying their own songs just released a new album, Rejoicer, that offers some very creative melodies and harmonies, then annihilates them with a Moog synthesizer, pedal steel guitar and more. With Lasco Stroud.
Marriott-West, Middleton, 8 pm. Also Sunday, Nov. 29, 1 pm
The WCO's holiday pops concert features tenor and UW voice prof James Doing plus the Middleton High School Concert Choir. The program includes Wendel's "A Christmas Overture," Adam's "O Holy Night" and other selections calculated to jolly your holly.
Area 51 Bar & Grill, 9:45 pm
It's too cold for an outdoor show these days, but the local stoner-metal foursome will keep things hot and heavy inside the east-side bar stocked with PBR. With BTT.
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
After Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert lost his major-label record deal, he traveled back to 1969, donning some dreadlocks and forming a 10-person folk-rock ensemble that many a music journalist has dubbed "the hippie version of Arcade Fire." Join the be-in by taking in some songs from the group's debut album, Up From Below, which came out over the summer. With Fool's Gold and Local Natives.
Crystal Corner Bar, 10 pm
Pop and post-punk fist-bump and high-five when this quartet of Madison music veterans, which includes former members of Backbiter and the Appliances, take the stage at the popular watering hole. Also on tap is Sean Michael Dargan, who'll show off the solo work he's been polishing since The Kissers kissed the Madison music scene goodbye.
Peaking Lights, Daughters of the Sun
Mickey's Tavern, 10:30 pm
Psychedelic haze and live electronics make a lovely, mind-bending pair when they're in the hands of local duo Peaking Lights. Expect an equally entrancing drone-meets-om sound from Minneapolis' Daughters of the Sun. With Stephanie Nilles.
Sunday 11.29
NOTEWORTHY: Beatles alumnus/Traveling Wilbury George Harrison dies, 2001.
BIRTHDAYS: Filmmaker/serious man Joel Coen, 1954; actress Kim Delaney, 1961.
Chazen Museum of Art, 12:30 pm
The pianist and UW-Stevens Point prof performs in this "Sunday Afternoon Live" event, broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio.
Barnes & Noble West, 3:30 pm
A Super Bowl may not be in the cards for you Wisconsin football fans this season, but surely you can rally yourselves for this event, at which Milwaukee Journal Sentinel scribe McGinn signs his new Ultimate Super Bowl Book.
High Noon Saloon, 4 pm
These five Madison musicians who've been blending blues, jazz, Latin music, funk and reggae together for more than a decade play live versions of songs from their new CD, which will be released at the show. Download a track from this week's MadTracks.
Gates of Heaven Synagogue, 4 pm
The local ensemble uses period instruments to perform music of Telemann, Guillemain, Luzzaschi and more.
