Music reigns on Madison's stages this week, one of only a few left this year. The calendar includes: a touring production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast; a talk by Joe Garden and Carol Kolb; the Madison Music Makers benefit with Gerri DiMaggio; and, more live music from Asumaya with Fort Wilson Riot, Avey Tare, Tatsuya Nakatani, and The Melismatics.
Monday 12.5
NOTEWORTHY: Madison temperature reaches 64 degrees to set record December high for the city, 2001.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
Garden, an editor at The Onion, and Kolb, from the Onion News Network, present "An Evening with The Onion." It's been a long time since Madison could claim the satirical newspaper as its own, but the old ties remain.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Luke Bassuener of local groups Control and This Bright Apocalypse showcases his solo project, whose bold bass lines and layers of percussion recall his time spent teaching in Africa. Minneapolis-based duo Fort Wilson Riot regales the crowd with indie rock that ranges from gleeful and energetic to lovelorn and haunting. With Phantom Tails and Weather Duo.
Tuesday 12.6
NOTEWORTHY: Altamont, 1969.
Madison Music Makers benefit with Gerri DiMaggio
Cardinal Bar, 5 pm
Jazz chanteuse DiMaggio headlines this concert to support the local organization, which provides music lessons to lower-income children. DiMaggio has a brand-new album out, It's Coming on Christmas.
Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 7 & 8, 7:30 pm
The touring incarnation of Disney's hit Broadway musical, based on the hit Disney movie, features the timeless "Be Our Guest" along with several songs written just for the stage version.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
Animal Collective's Tare treats fans to a solo show as he unveils a new LP of freak-folk experiments and other delights. With Eric Copeland.
Wednesday 12.7
NOTEWORTHY: Ted Turner and Jane Fonda proclaim their engagement, 1990.
Audio for the Arts, 8 pm
Pennsylvania-based percussionist Nakatani creates astonishing sonic textures as he improvises in various surprising ways, bowing gongs or spinning bowls on a drum. With Luke Polipnick.
Thursday 12.8
NOTEWORTHY: John Lennon assassinated, 1980.
Frequency, 9:30 pm
Stunning pop hooks abound as these Twin Cities indie rockers showcase their forthcoming album, Mania! , which was produced by Jon Auer of the Posies and Big Star.
