Here is this week's critics' choice calendar. The Guide provides an extended listing of events in and around Madison.
Friday 3.14
Watrous Gallery in the Overture Center, through May 5. Reception: Sunday, March 16, Overture's Wisconsin Studio, 2-5 pm
The Watrous Gallery features solo shows by two Wisconsin photographers who got their start in journalism. Wyman's "The Chords of Memory" includes prints from the 1940s and '50s, focusing on both intimate moments and themes of social justice. Miyazaki's "Camp Home" documents barracks used as internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II.
Chazen Museum of Art, through May 18
This exhibition explores the scribbles and notes people make in the margins of maps. The maps, culled from libraries across the country, date from the 13th century through the 1960s, and the marginalia offer sometimes humorous insights into the historical periods.
High Noon Saloon, 5:30 pm
Rolling Stone noted this band's "nimble-witted New Wave pop" in 2003, and the group's sense of fun is still intact. Check out Time Travel, their first LP as a trio, at this release party. (See Music.)
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
Uncut aptly described this singer-songwriter's music as "beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection." "Everybody's Famous" is a haunting introduction to this Whitewater, Wis., native. With Caitlin Canty.
Fresco Opera Theatre SmackDown
Overture Center's Promenade Hall, 8 pm. Also Saturday, March 15, 2 & 8 pm
Imagine Luciano Pavarotti with the 'tude of WWE diva Sable, and you'll get a sense of this event's vibe. The cutthroat singing competition features eight knockout vocalists from across the country, who use every trick in the operatic playbook to best their foes. Bonus: The audience gets to pick the winner.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
Guest artist Karina Canellakis will display her virtuosity in Mendelssohn's lyric Violin Concerto, and the orchestra will explore the rhythmic richness of Haydn's "Clock" Symphony.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Bring your 'staches, soul patches and mutton chops to the High Noon for this celebration of facial fuzz. Prizes will be awarded to attendees with the best natural growth, as well as those who make cool fake beards out of materials like glitter and spaghetti noodles. With DJ Lovecraft and Redleg Rebellion.
Inferno, 9 pm
This Madison-based artist received a Best New Album nod for Feeling Good Music at the Madison Hip-Hop Awards. He leads a "Midwest mix-up" event featuring local and regional acts like Tre Money, Cory Park, Maniac, Leet Moteef and DJ Jean Le Duke. (See Music.)
Mr. Robert's, 10 pm
The local power-pop band have a lot to celebrate at this free party: their one-year anniversary and a debut EP titled Senses Growing Dull. It's also Pi Day, so there's likely to be a pie raffle and, if things get really crazy, pie in the face of one or more musicians. With Lion's Mouth and the Listening Party.
Mickey's Tavern, 10 pm
Nat Brower made a mark in Madison while still at West High with his band the Acrylicks. Now he's establishing himself in NYC with the rock-steady guitar-drum attack of Nancy. With Thumbsuckers.
Saturday 3.15
NOTEWORTHY: First Internet domain name registered, 1985.
Alliant Energy Center–Exposition Hall, 10 am-4 pm. Also Sunday, March 16, 10 am-4 pm
This family event has something for every kid and kid at heart: obstacle courses, bouncy houses, performances, plus snakes, lizards and alpacas, oh my.
Alliant Energy Center, 10 am-7 pm
For many Latinas, the 15th birthday, or quinceañera, is a very big deal, and they celebrate it in style. They should find oodles of bouffant dresses, sparkly jewelry and more at this first-time event. There's even a Miss Quince pageant.
Goodman Community Center, 1:30 & 7 pm. Also Sunday, March 16, 1:30 pm
The Goodman gymnasium will be magically transformed into a 1920s-style circus ring, complete with trapeze acts, stilt acrobatics, clowns, German wheelers and more from the Wild Rumpus Winter Circus.
High Noon Saloon, 5:30 pm
Performing klezmer music, gypsy-style worldbeat and electro, this band have been active around Madison for two decades. This 20th-anniversary celebration will feature some of their most prominent alumni.
Panoply Performance Laboratory
Evolution Arts Collective, 6 pm (performances start at 8 pm)
The quiet little arts collective at 202 S. Dickinson St. has invited this interdisciplinary New York City troupe to present three pieces of performance art at a free show that also features visual art and live music.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
A purveyor of spiritual folk and country-blues, Parr lists Mississippi John Hurt and Spider John Koerner as influences. Thanks to appearances at events like the Pickathon Music Festival, he's building an ardent following. With Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.
Overture Hall, 8 pm
The country and folk legend has been performing since the '70s and has a spot in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Johnny Cash named him as one of the artists he admired most. With Iris DeMent.
Frequency, 8 pm
This hard-rocking Midwestern band have performed with the likes of Godsmack and Sevendust. They recently took a yearlong hiatus but are back with a promising sophomore album, Elevate. With Real Knives, Beyond Fate, War of Abaddon and Left of Reason.
'80s vs. '90s: St. Paddy's Day Edition
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
DJs Nick Nice and Mike Carlson explore Irish music of all kinds, from U2's arena rock to House of Pain's old-school rap jams at this dance party featuring an ocean of green beer.
Inferno, 9 pm
A fixture in the Midwest's underground electronic music scene since the early '90s, DJ WhiteRabbit throws down dark electro, industrial and trance beats. This birthday party for Inferno owner Apollo Marquez also includes comedy and burlesque performances.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
This local metal band celebrate a new bass player and a full-length CD with this all-metal party. With Thira, I Am Dragon and Grotto.
Badger Bowl, 9:15 pm
VO5's lively disco and funk covers have earned them lots of dance-obsessed fans and a Madison Area Music Award. For this event, the Badger Bowl encourages visitors to "disco with leprechauns" and partake in some bowling.
Sunday 3.16
Capitol Square, 1:30 pm
Time to pay your respects to the great scourge of Irish snakes by parading around the Square in his honor. Related events: a Shamrock Shuffle (Overture Center, 10 am), raising of the flag of Ireland (Capitol Rotunda, noon), and traditional Irish contests such as "most freckles" and "largest clan" (corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Mifflin Street, 1 pm).
High Noon Saloon, 3 pm
This fun and lighthearted Irish act has played Celtic heritage festivals and events around Wisconsin for years. They'll perform at an afterparty for the aforementioned St. Paddy's Day Parade.
Overture Hall, 7 pm
Though they're best known for creating delightful characters for kids young and old, Jim Henson's puppeteers have a naughty side that's completely unfit for the Sesame Street set. It's the focus of this outrageous, improvised sketch show built upon the crowd's bawdiest suggestions.
Monday 3.17
NOTEWORTHY: Referendum to end apartheid in South Africa passes, 1992.
Tuesday 3.18
NOTEWORTHY: Mohandas Gandhi sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience, 1922.
Wednesday 3.19
Smart Studios Documentary Fundraiser
Genna's Lounge, 6 pm
Freedy Johnston and Jay Moran perform at this benefit for The Smart Studios Story, a documentary Madison's Wendy Schneider hopes to make about the iconic recording studio that closed in 2009.
Communion Madison featuring Pearl and the Beard
Frequency, 8 pm
The folk-pop trio's sweet, appealing sound has been featured on NPR's World Cafe. With Step Rockets and Dresses.
High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm
Listen to "Too Cold for Magic" for a taste of this act's exuberant dance-pop, which feels like a cashmere tapestry of glam, funk and New Wave. With Golden Donna and Samarah.
Thursday 3.20
High Noon Saloon, 7 pm
Peaches Staten & the Groove Shakers and Blythe Gamble & the Stand Back Blues Band plan to blow fans' minds with their powerhouse vocals and tight rhythm sections at this benefit for Blues in the Community and Domestic Abuse Intervention Services.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
The band's husband and wife act are blessed with different but equally wonderful voices. Allison Russell provides smooth, silky textures and doo-wop influences, while JT Nero brings grit and soul with a bit of twang. (See Tour Stop.) With the Ragbirds.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7:30 pm
The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players present the silly, satirical opera about a ship captain's daughter smitten with a lower-class sailor. Though it's more than a century old, you're likely to enjoy the show's skewering of patriotism, party politics and other timely topics.
Brink Lounge, 7:30 pm
Famed for his work as a flat-picking guitarist, Rice has performed with Bela Fleck and Lee Ann Womack and has several instructional guitar DVDs to his name. With Clay Hess.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
Need a Page and Plant fix, but recordings just aren't cutting it? Check out this touring Zeppelin tribute act, which will perform 1975's Physical Graffiti in its entirety.
Edited by Sir Tim Berners-Lee
