Here is this week's critics' choice calendar. Live on King Street with Delta Spirit and PHOX Madison World Music Festival Wisconsin Triennial Jesse Lee Kercheval The Night of the Iguana Triggered Mike Super Railroad Earth Shigeto with Beacon DJ Abilities Saturday 9.21 Food for Thought Festival Central Library Grand Reopening Madison Contemporary Vision Dance Oakwood Chamber Players Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang Terravita Sunday 9.22 Jackie Allen The Black Crowes David Wax Museum BandSwap Monday 9.23 Daughter Har Mar Superstar Tuesday 9.24 Transforming Worlds Karen Joy Fowler Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations Wednesday 9.25 Mary Louise Roberts Michael Franti & Spearhead Ewert & the Two Dragons Thursday, 9.26 Iron & Wine Jill Sobule with Julia Sweeney Foghorn Stringband The Orb
100 block of King Street, 5 pm
If Delta Spirit haven't reached icon status yet, they're pretty darn close, with their latest album of indie rock hitting number one on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Local folk-pop act PHOX are well on their way, too, with recent performances at Lollapalooza in Chicago and iTunes Fest in London. With Hugh Bob & the Hustle and DJ Nick Nice.
UW Memorial Union Terrace, 5-10 pm. Also Thursday, Sept. 19, 5-10 pm; and Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:30-11 pm and at Willy Street Fair, 1:30-8:30 pm
The celebration of global music takes place at the UW Memorial Union and Willy Street Fair. Friday's lineup features Canadian hip-hop act Nomadic Massive (9 pm) and more at the Union, and Saturday features performances by Dominican bachata star Joan Soriano (9:30 pm) at the Union and Spanish bagpiper Cristina Pato (7:30 pm) on Willy Street.
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, through Jan. 5. Reception 6-9 pm
Hit MMoCA's rooftop sculpture garden at 6 pm for live music and hors d'oeuvres to kick off this prestigious exhibition of Wisconsin art, featuring more than 40 artists. (See Art.)
Mystery to Me, 7 pm
The UW professor discusses her new novel, My Life as a Silent Movie, whose depiction of a grief-wracked woman has drawn praise from Kirkus Reviews.
Bartell Theatre, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday & Thursday, Sept. 21 & 26, 7:30 pm
Madison Theatre Guild presents Tennessee Williams' drama about a minister who grapples with his sexual drive while leading a busload of Baptist ladies on a tour of Mexico.
Broom Street Theater, 8 pm. Also Saturday & Thursday, Sept. 21 & 26, 8 pm
In the wake of the Trayvon Martin case, Callen Harty's new play shows how a random killing profoundly changes several characters lives.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 8 pm
The illusionists's blend of humor and gravity defiance has won him a Merlin, the Oscar of the magic industry.
Majestic Theatre, 10 pm. Also Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 pm
Railroad Earth have 12 years of experience with string-band funk, blues and folk. They'll spend two days noodling their way into the hearts of local concertgoers.
Frequency, 9 pm
Electronic musician Shigeto has jumped into the dubstep game despite the minimalist leanings of his label, Ghostly International. This show should focus on R&B beats rather than bone-crushing bass when he partners with instrumental duo Beacon. With Nitemoves.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
This hip-hop DJ from Minnesota's Rhymsayers collective has bounced back after the tragic death of his emcee, Eydea, in 2010. Since then, he's collaborated with Killer Mike and other notables. With Jel, Sole and Serengeti.
100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 8:30 am-1:30 pm
The stomach is the way to the heart and the mind at REAP's 15th annual fest, which emphasizes sustainability and local food. The free event features speakers, kids' activities, tastings and a cooking competition.
Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., 8 am-9 pm. Also Sunday, Sept. 22, 1-5 pm
This two-day event celebrates the arrival of the new Central Library with a ribbon-cutting (Saturday, 9 pm), a hard-hat tour (Saturday, 2 pm), a reading by British author Jojo Moyes (Saturday, 7 pm, RSVP required), live music, food carts and numerous drop-in events. (See Willy Street Fair
800-1000 blocks of Williamson Street, 1:30-9 pm. Also Sunday, Sept. 22, 11 am-6 pm.
Summer's not over until you've experienced this celebration of culture and camaraderie featuring live music on several stages, food and oodles of vendors. The electronic stage welcomes DJ and deep-house icon Fred Everything (8 pm) on Saturday, while Sunday kicks off with a parade (11 am), followed by music from Black Star Drum Line (noon), Dick the Bruiser (3:30 pm), Whitney Mann (5 pm) and others.
Overture Center's Playhouse, 2 & 7 pm. Also Sunday, Sept. 22, 2 pm
Paintings by Salvador Dali and Georgia O'Keefe inspire this presentation of physical feats by local dancers and choreographers.
Oakwood Village-University Woods Center, 7 pm. Also Sunday, Sept 22, UW Arboretum Visitor Center, 1:30 pm
The local chamber ensemble's latest program has a Mediterranean theme, with works by Spain's Enrique Fernandez Arbos and Italy's Vincent Gambaro.
Overture Hall, 8 pm
The 77-year-old blues-guitar legend who penned "Stone Crazy" joins a 32-year-old prizewinner who's got one of the most distinctive voices in the biz. (See Dustin Wong
Good Style Shop, 8 pm
The former member of art-rock band Ponytail entrances crowds with intricate loops of guitar (see Immortal Technique with Brother Ali
Barrymore Theatre, 9 pm
Immortal Technique's two passions -- hip-hop and social activism -- converge in raps that tackle thorny subjects like institutional racism. Madison native Brother Ali made a strong showing with 2012's Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, whose raps denounce bullying and police brutality. With Poison Pen, Diabolic and I Self Devine.
Segredo, 9 pm
Boston's rising drumstep stars offer thumping club beats and a heavy low end.
NOTEWORTHY: First issue of National Geographic published, 1888.
Brink Lounge, 3 pm
The Chicago-based jazz vocalist discovered her musical talents while growing up in Madison, and she's since proved herself a national-caliber talent.
Orpheum Theater, 7:30 pm
The rock superstars have sold more than 35 million albums thank to radio hits like "She Talks to Angels." They're fresh off a summer gig with the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Frequency, 8 pm
This act's novel blend of American and Mexican son music has wowed lots of fans at South by Southwest. Watch for solos on south-of-the-border percussion instruments such as the quijada. With Bombadil.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
This musical partnership between Madison and Fort Collins, Colo., presents a showcase that includes local rockers Sexy Ester and Colorado's Common Anomaly. Other local acts can hit the downtown Great Dane at 11:30 am for a "starving artist networking party" featuring music industry execs and treats from Colorado-based burrito cafe Illegal Pete's. (RSVP at Andrew W.K.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
The hard rocker has turned improvised piano recitals into dance parties and played in a happening in which 77 drummers took over a New York City park. With Whisky Pig and Sunspot.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
This London trio explores loss and longing through poetic lyrics and intense yet intimate vocals. With Bear's Den.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
This randy R&B artist performs nearly nude onstage. The Quietus aptly describes his new album, Bye Bye 17, as "one knockout after another." With Purple and Lizzo.
NOTEWORTHY: Congress creates federal judiciary system, 1789.
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, 6 pm
Author Esther Dischereit and dancer Holy Handman-Lopez perform the U.S. premiere of Dischereit's Klagelieder/Morning Songs, which explores the nexus of words, sound and movement.
A Room of One's Own, 6:30 pm
The author of The Jane Austen Book Club discusses her new novel, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, which examines human consciousness and animal rights in its tale of a human and chimp raised as twins.
UW Humanities Building's Mills Hall, 7:30 pm
The piano virtuoso explores Beethoven's legacy with words and music, performing "Für Elise" and more.
UW Elvehjem Building, Room L140, 5:30 pm
In a lecture called "Five Ways to Look at a Corpse," the UW professors explores the U.S. military's handling of dead soldiers during World War II's Normandy invasion.
Orpheum Theater, 7:30 pm
The alt-hip-hop band's joyful "The Sound of Sunshine" was a summer anthem in 2010, and their new single, "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)," cranks up the cheer another notch.
Frequency, 9 pm
A good match for fans of Edward Sharpe & he Magnetic Zeroes, these indie folk-rockers from Estonia have won multiple music awards in their homeland and praise from the San Francisco Chronicle. With Trapper Schoepp and Corey Hart.
NOTEWORTHY: Fidel Castro announces Cuba's support for U.S.S.R., 1960.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7:30 pm
This bearded folkster's slowed-down, unplugged cover of the Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" became at least as popular as the original when it appeared in an M&M's ad. His new album, Ghost on Ghost, gets more playful with the addition of jazz and R&B influences.
Stoughton Opera house, 7:30 pm
Saturday Night Live alum Sweeney teams up with singer-songwriter Sobule for a night of music, comedy and social commentary. Sweeney's androgynous character Pat has performed with the goofy rockers of Ween, so he/she might join in on one of Sobule's upbeat numbers.
High Noon Saloon, 8:30 pm
Hailing from Portland's underground roots scene, this fiddler, guitarist, bassist and mando player bring timeless talent to their performances of old-time music. With Dead Horses.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
Get an electronic-music history lesson as you dance the night away to music by this English act credited with founding the ambient house genre. With DJs Nick Nice, Wyatt Agard and Mike Carlson.
The Week: Madison calendar for September 20-26, 2013
Cristina Pato at Madison World Music Festival
