Madison celebrates Independence Day this week with the Elver Park Fireworks and a Star-Spangled Spectacular edition of Concerts on the Square, and surrounding communities join in with the Monona Community Festival, Stoughton Fair, DeForest Fourth of July, and the Shorewood Hills Fireworks. The calendar also includes: live music by The United Sons of Toil, Aesthetic Perfection, Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express, and Undercover Organism with Mad Major Melvin; and, the opening night of the Lost City Music Festival.
Monday 7.2
NOTEWORTHY: Aviatrix Amelia Earhart last heard from, 1937.
Winnequah Park, Monona, 3-10 pm. Also Tuesday (3 pm-midnight) & Wednesday (10 am-midnight), July 3 & 4
The southeastern burb toots its own horn with a fiesta boasting food, a carnival, music, an art fair, fireworks and fun for the kids.
Tuesday 7.3
NOTEWORTHY: Spain legalizes same-sex marriage, 2005.
Mandt Park, Stoughton, through July 8
The high season of summer is upon us, meaning it's time to explore the towns of Wisconsin on the fair circuit. This fair is par for the course, with pig wrestling, a tractor pull and a demolition derby, wherein cars drive around and smash each other up real good.
Fireman's Park, DeForest, 6 pm-1 am. Also Wednesday, July 4, 8 am-midnight
What's the best village in northern Dane County? People from DeForest will tell you it's DeForest, and this weekend they celebrate with a parade, a car show, pony rides, fireworks, and other verities of small-town fun.
Elver Park, 9:30 pm
Celebrate the nation's birth the loud, brightly colored way with the city's official display. Yes, it's a day early, but rockets-red-glare aficionados won't care in the slightest.
Dragonfly Lounge, 9:30 pm
After playing 16 shows in eight countries during their 2011 European tour, this local trio of political noise-rockers needed a breather. A brief rest turned into a yearlong hiatus, which they'll shatter with shards of punk and heavy layers of sludge. With Trophy Wives (see Tour Stop) and the Book-Burners.
Wednesday 7.4
NOTEWORTHY: President Lyndon Johnson signs Freedom of Information Act, 1966.
Capitol Square, 7 pm
With soprano Amanda Huddleston Clark, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra presents the second event of its outdoor season, Star-Spangled Spectacular. It's an evening of patriotic fare, including the sturdy old "1812 Overture." They probably won't play James Brown's "Living in America," but they should consider it.
Shorewood Hills Fourth of July Fireworks
Blackhawk Country Club, dusk
If you feel strongly about seeing July 4 fireworks on July 4, lovely Shorewood Hills is the place to be.
Inferno, 9 pm
This EBM group explore their darkest emotions and basest instincts through a fusion of industrial rock and electronica. With X-RX, Blakopz and Caustic.
Thursday 7.5
NOTEWORTHY: Hormel Foods Corporation introduces Spam, 1937.
Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express
East Side Club, 6 pm
Prophet describes his roots-rock catalog as "sideways," and with good reason: It turns classic country on its ear with lo-fi production and occasional bursts of swamp rock and hip-hop. Though this show will revolve around his new release, Temple Beautiful, a concept album about San Francisco, he's likely to perform some older tunes that Heart and Kelly Willis have popularized. With Josh Harty Band.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Local record label Mine All Mine and music-storage company Murfie have teamed up to helm a new music festival that highlights indie rockers, folk-pop artists, electronic-music projects and other musical curiosities. The concerts commence with a lineup that includes U.K. punks the Cost of Living, Chicago rockers Mutts and local acts Crane Your Swan Neck, Daniel & the Lion and Sleepy Lesbos.
Undercover Organism, Mad Major Melvin
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Undercover Organism will infuse the crowd with jazz-inspired jamtronica, then DJ Mad Major Melvin will steep the theater in a soundtrack of trip-hop and moombah.
