Abi Wolf at UW Memorial Union Rathskeller
Here is this week's critics' choice calendar. UW Homecoming
Various locations. Also Saturday, Oct. 12
U-rah-rah Wisconsin! Badger fans of all stripes will paint the town red in this annual celebration of alma mater and football, not necessarily in that order. Highlights include a homecoming parade with classic cars, floats and Buckingham U. Badger himself (Friday, 6 pm, starting at Gilman and State streets), followed by a Post-Parade Spirit Stop (Alumni Center, 650 N. Lake St.); Badger Huddle Homecoming Tailgate (Saturday, noon, UW Field House); and the big game (vs. Northwestern, 2:30 pm, Camp Randall Stadium).
Overture Center's Promenade Hall, 7 pm
Madison's poet laureate from 2008-2011 reads from Mary Lou Williams: Remember Me, her ode to the notable composer and jazz pianist, as Nick Moran and Jane Reynolds provide musical accompaniment. A book signing follows this free event.
Overture Hall, 7:30 pm
The Madison Symphony's organist kicks off the orchestra's 2013-14 Concert Organ series with his transcription of the waltz from Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin and his interpretation of Sonata on the 94th Psalm by Julius Reubke.
Orpheum Theater, 7:30 pm
With six tunes that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, Currington has received praise for creating mellow vibes and likable tracks like the new "Hey Girl." With Michael Ray.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
Guest pianist Bryan Wallick visits from South Africa to solo on Saint-Saëns' "Egyptian" concerto, and the orchestra performs Britten's Young Apollo to celebrate his 100th birthday. Beethoven's famous Symphony No. 5 concludes the evening.
Segredo, 9 pm
The Gifted, the third album by D.C.-based rapper Wale, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Southern hip-hop notable Bubba Sparxxx is likely to hype up the crowd with hits like "Ms. New Booty" and "Deliverance."
Kiki's House of Righteous Music, 9 pm
The Austin-based singer-songwriter has a new record, Stories They Tell, which shows off his strong folk-country vocals and witty storytelling, backed up by guitar and percussion that sound like murder in the air of a Texas desert town. With Matthew Grimm.
Frequency, 9 pm
Don't let the fact that Teen Daze's music is made on a laptop keep you from embracing it. This dreamy, ambient fare is so relaxing that it could be considered spiritual. With Camp Counselors.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
Combining powerful electro-pop backup and soaring vocals, this artist's sound is as intense as that of an early Björk album.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
This Minneapolis artist raps convincingly about both hard knocks and hard partying. His live shows are among the wildest in the Twin Cities. With Sean Anonymous and Ragelife.
Mickey's Tavern, 10 pm
These energetic punk rockers from Chicago will show off their third album, Mild Mannered. With Sons of Atom and Jetty Boys.
Saturday 10.12
Overture Hall, 2 pm & 8 pm
Tony Award winner Christian Hoff and three other stars from the original cast of the Four Seasons-themed Broadway hit Jersey Boys perform hits by the Beach Boys, the Beatles and other '60s legends.
Overture Center's Playhouse, 2:30 & 7 pm. Also Sunday, Oct. 13, 2:30 pm
Children's Theater of Madison presents a musical rendition of the classic children's book by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It's about a feisty young girl who wins over her adoptive parents on Prince Edward Island.
Majestic Theatre, 6:30 pm
This family trio's rock melodies will please those who grew up loving the Goo Goo Dolls. With Megan Nicole and Madilyn Bailey.
Madison College's Mitby Theater, 7:30 pm
The local dance company presents fresh contemporary works in a performance that benefits the Alzheimer's Association.
Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 pm
This mandolin prodigy is also a talented songwriter who recently earned a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. Madison fans will be among the first to hear her new album, Build Me Up From Bones.
UW Humanities Building's Mills Hall, 8 pm
This free recital features works by early Baroque composer Samuel Scheidt and spaghetti-western soundtrack creator Enrico Morricone.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9 pm
With two members from charming lo-fi act the Unicorns, these L.A.-based Montreal natives bridge the American and Canadian rock traditions with quirky, hook-laden tunes. Their new album, Ski Mask, pairs heartbreaking lyrics with catchy melodies. With Brazos.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
Callahan began laying down fuzzed-out rock tracks at home, under the moniker Smog, long before the bedroom-to-blog recording frenzy began. His song "Cold-Blooded Old Times" helped elevate the High Fidelity soundtrack from good to great. With Circuit Des Yeux.
Sunday 10.13
Mystery to Me, 5 pm
The UW police chief reads from A View From the Interior, about her experience keeping the peace at the Capitol during the 2011 protests.
High Noon Saloon, 7:30 pm
Last year the former Fleet Foxes drummer released his strongest solo album yet, with mischief and humor replacing the melancholy of his previous records. With Kate Berlant.
Overture Hall, 8 pm
The beacon of sarcasm and host of HBO's Real Time visits Madison with his hilarious combination of standup comedy and political commentary, which has earned him more than 20 Emmy nominations.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
This band's blues-inflected country is from a different universe than Carrie Underwood-style country-pop. Their new album, Negativity, has generated lots of positivity from Paste and Pitchfork. With Robert Ellis.
Monday 10.14
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Ranaldo joins fellow Sonic Youth alum Steve Shelley in this new band, whose solid debut, Last Night on Earth, dropped a few days ago. (See Les Claypool's Duo de Twang
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
Expect lots of slap bass and whammy-bar action from Primus' oddball-in-chief when he teams up with guitarist friend Bryan Kehoe. With Reformed Whores.
Overture Hall, 8 pm
Husband-and-wife team Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi bring their formidable talents -- Trucks' legendary slide-guitar chops and Tedeschi's gospel-blues vocals -- to a nine-piece ensemble that received a Grammy for its debut album, Revelator. With the Congress.
Wednesday 10.16
NOTEWORTHY: China detonates its first nuclear weapon, 1964.
Animal Collective, Deradoorian
Orpheum Theater, 8 pm
See if the hypnotic voice of former Dirty Projectors member Deradoorian can top the psychedelic carnival of Animal Collective's live set, which should feature lots of tunes from their 2012 LP, Centipede Hz.
Shockrasonica, 8 pm
Johnson's eclectic guitar work combines experimental electronica with minimalist folk in appealing ways. With Nonfinite, Stitsr and Aquarelle.
Frequency, 8 pm
Founded by members of Bear's Den and Mumford & Sons, Communion is a showcase of up-and-coming acts from across the country that plans to visit Madison each month, beginning this week. Offering indie folk with country twang, Roadkill Ghost Choir captured the blogosphere's attention last fall with their debut EP, Quiet Light. Also featured are Willy Mason, the 4onthefloor, the Living Statues, Anna Vogelzang and Yacht Club.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
The R&B artist has built a large YouTube following over the past two years with his croon-filled covers, samples and original songs. With Michael Medall and Kid Slim.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The frontman of rock band Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers released Blunderstone Rookery, his first solo album in 10 years, to praise from American Songwriter. With Fort Atlantic and Caroline Brooks.
Thursday 10.17
NOTEWORTHY: Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to U.S., 1933.
Leo Kottke & Loudon Wainwright III
Barrymore Theatre, 7:30 pm
Kottke will highlight his masterful fingerpicking, which has inspired many guitarists to adopt the technique. Wainwright will showcase his wry, dry humor in folk songs culled from his 22 studio albums.
Majestic Theatre, 7:30 pm
This reggae-infused act won the "Best World Music" title at the San Diego Music Awards a few years back. With Passafire, Ballyho, Fortunate Youth and Tropical Riddims Sound System.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
This multimedia extravaganza features fashion shows, visual works and more by early-career artists from the area. Local bands the Flavor That Kills, Cato Falls and Owls, Foxes & Sebastian will flaunt their sonic skills as well.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Frequency, 9 pm
Performing indie pop that will please fans of MGMT and Vampire Weekend, this band just unveiled a new album, Fly by Wire. With A Great Big Pile of Leaves and Little Legend.
Edited by Leif Eriksson
