Dane County Fair
Monday 7.14
The Duhks
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The Winnipeg band's thrilling, at times portentous acoustic mash-up of folk, gospel, world music and old-timey country has made them one of Canada's most treasured neo-folk acts. Corey Hart opens.
Tuesday 7.15
Dane County Fair
Alliant Energy Center, through July 20
Dane County displays its bounty: sheep, horses, pigs, cows and frighteningly large rabbits. On the non-furry end of things, there'll be a carnival, acrobats, a wild west show and a nine-foot robot. Come on -- suspend your diet and get into some serious funnel-cake eating.
Wednesday 7.16
Blooming Butterflies
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, through Aug. 10
The annual event offers an up-close look at the miracle of metamorphosis. More than a dozen species of butterflies emerge from their chrysalises and flutter picturesquely around the Bolz Conservatory.
Concerts on the Square
Capitol Square, 7 pm
The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra continues its free outdoor pops series with a program called "Songs Without Words," featuring music by Berlioz and Wagner. Bassist Kathryn Nettleman is the soloist.
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles and The Patrick Sweany Band
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Part alt-country songbird, part desperately rockin' singer-songwriter, Boston-based Sarah Borges whips up a twangy sock hop for discerning young adults.
Thursday 7.17
John Hiatt & the Ageless Beauties
Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm
A gifted songwriter as well as an engaging, down-home roots-rocker, Hiatt's the kind of artist you miss for months after his tour bus has left town. For the first time in a decade, he's bringing a full band to the Cap City.
Family Groove Company
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
The funk-flavored Illinois jammers may be fans of both Herbie Hancock and James Brown, but at points they come off sounding like the Doobie Brothers. They top a jam-band bill that also features Fat Maw Rooney and Weapons of Mass Defunktion.