Africasong
The 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in the Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda
Monday 1.21
Martin Luther King Day Celebration
The city, county and state all pay homage to Martin Luther King's civil rights dream. The state's tribute (Capitol Rotunda, noon) features an address by UW professor Gloria Ladson-Billings and performances by the UW Gospel Choir, Complete Praise Mime Troupe and others. The city-county program (Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 6 pm) includes a keynote address by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King in 1957. County Executive Kathleen Falk presents the Dr. King Awards, and a community choir performs.
All Time Low
Loft in the Lussier Teen Center, 7 pm
The Maryland band serves up breathless, pitch-perfect pop punk. Mayday Parade, Just Surrender, Every Avenue, and Ivory also appear.
The Greyboy Allstars
Majestic Theatre, 7:30 pm
Saxophonist Karl Denson and the rest of the reunited Allstars (some of whom appear in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) have long understood the value of remaining deep in the pocket. Their soul-jazz grooves aren't blazing any new territory, but, man, they sure are funky.
Tuesday 1.22
Paula McLain
Borders West, 7 pm
The author of the memoir Like Family reads from her novel A Ticket to Ride, in which a lonely teenager falls under the spell of a charismatic cousin.
Romeo & Juliet
Overture Center, 7:30 pm
St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre leaps into town for an evening of Russian-style classical ballet. This newly revised version of Romeo & Juliet features Prokofiev's music and artistic director Yuri Petukhov's choreography, which adds folk and modern-dance elements.
Wednesday 1.23
U-Melt
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
By turns a jazzy fusion act, a jangly rock band and an electronically enhanced prog machine, the New York groove enthusiasts mean to take the college circuit by storm. Prism opens.
Thursday 1.24
Indestructible
Waisman Center, 6 pm. Hors d'oeuvres at 5 pm
In the award-winning documentary, ALS patient Ben Byer turns the camera on himself as he travels the world seeking answers. Byer and producer Rebeccah Rush will join a post-film panel with a scientist and clinician.
Glenn Hurowitz
A Room of One's own, 6 pm
The progressive journalist discusses his book Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party, which looks at five politicians and activists: some whom Hurowitz considers heroes (including the late Sen. Paul Wellstone) and others whom he calls spineless weasels.
Carolina Chocolate Drops
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The rising young African American string trio use banjo, fiddle, guitar, jug and other traditional instruments, putting their own spin on the string music of the North Carolina and Virginia Piedmont. Gilded Bats open.
