Isthmus Jazz Festival
Monday 6.2
Madison Mallards
Warner Park, 7:05 pm. Also Tuesday, June 3, 7:05 pm
The local baseball franchise will tame the Mankato Moondogs in early-season action.
The Nels Cline Singers
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Currently a member of Wilco, guitar polymath Nels Cline has picked everything from country to jazz to noisy experimental music during his varied career. His recorded work with this trio finds him jumping all over the place, with stupefying dexterity. Painted Saints open. Fret-head pick of the week #2.
Tuesday 6.3
Wednesday 6.4
Binka Le Breton
University Book Store-Hilldale, 7 pm
The British journalist reads from The Greatest Gift: The Courageous Life and Martyrdom of Sister Dorothy Stang. It's about a nun who worked to protect poor Brazilian farmers from rapacious loggers and land developers, receiving death threats -- and finally death -- for refusing to back down.
Sheryl Crow
Alliant Energy Center Coliseum, 7:30 pm
Both Crow's breakup with Lance Armstrong and dustup with Bush henchman Karl Rove had an influence on her politically minded Detours. She'll serve up plenty of the polished pop, rock and twangy folk-rock she's known for. Brandi Carlile opens.
Thursday 6.5
Artists' Proposals
Overture Center's Wisconsin Studio, 5:30 pm
The Madison Arts Commission has chosen finalists in its search for a site-specific artwork/fountain for State Street's Frances Plaza. The finalists will present their proposals at 5:30 pm, giving the public a chance to weigh in before the selection committee makes its decision later in the evening.
Art of Note
Madison Club, 6-9 pm
Eleven visual artists have transformed unplayable violins into works of art. The one-of-a-kind objects will be raffled off tonight at a benefit for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras; it also includes food, music and auctions.
The Silos
High Noon Saloon, 6:30 pm
Art-rock, roots-rock, guitar pop -- these estimable vets still handle all of them with aplomb, despite the recent loss of longtime member Drew Glackin to heart failure. A portion of tonight's proceeds benefits the Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT), which helps musicians get information about obtaining health insurance. Weinland opens.
Isthmus Jazz Festival
UW Memorial Union, 7 pm. Through June 8
The festival's first day includes vocalist Gerri DiMaggio & Friends, who simmer on Latin fare, standards and original material. The 19-piece Madison Jazz Orchestra plays the music of jazz legends like Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, as well as contemporary charts.
Eric Sherman and Dave Mickelson
Barnes & Noble West, 7 pm
Editor Sherman and contributor Mickelson discuss Along Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail, a collection of essays and poems celebrating the land the glacier made.
Innerpartysystem
Loft in the Lussier Teen Center, 7:30 pm
Innerpartysystem's updates of synth-heavy industrial music don't break any new ground, but the Philly foursome will make you sweat. A lot.
Landmines
Frequency, 9 pm
Fist-pumping Madison punkers the Gusto, Things Fall Apart and Landmines rave in celebration of the Frequency nightclub's grand opening. Head on down and wish 'em well.
