Brother Ali
October opens with a classic Madison mix of education, entertainment, good works, and cows. The calendar includes: the World Dairy Expo; a talk by Geoffrey West with David Kraukauer about energy and information, and another by David Kennedy about violence; book readings by Michael Perry and Legs McNeil; the Odyssey Project 10th anniversary celebration; and, live music from Two Gallants, Girlyman, Eli Young Band, and Brother Ali.
Monday 10.1
NOTEWORTHY: Walt Disney World opens, 1971.
Energy & Information in 21st Century Biology
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery-DeLuca Forum, 7 pm This free event takes on two major issues in science -- energy and information -- with lectures by professor Geoffrey West and David Kraukauer, director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. The lectures will be followed by a panel discussion; be prepared to consider the very future of life on Earth.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
This San Francisco indie-folk duo is touring The Bloom and the Blight, a comeback album filled with Mississippi-style blues, old-timey murder ballads and some thoroughly modern distortion. With Papa and the Dead Ships.
Tuesday 10.2
NOTEWORTHY: The Twilight Zone premieres on CBS, 1959.
Alliant Energy Center, 9 am-5 pm; through Oct. 6
The theme for this year's celebration of all things bovine is "Market Fresh!" There'll be cattle judging, seminars, skills competition, food... and the Purple Cow Gift Shop (souvenir cow, anyone?).
A Room of One's Own, 6:30 pm
The Badger author reads from Visiting Tom, which profiles a small-town neighbor with a lifetime's worth of colorful stories. It's one of the grand-opening events at the feminist bookstore's new location, 315 W. Gorham St.
High Noon Saloon, 7 pm
This Atlanta quartet explores gender issues through three-part harmonies, drawing favorable comparisons to the Mamas and the Papas from Slate.
Wednesday 10.3
NOTEWORTHY: Allen Ginsberg's Howl ruled not obscene, 1957.
Mickey's Tavern, 8:30 pm
The author of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk will fete the book's Sweet 16, along with a new memoir (see Music).
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
These Texans started climbing the Billboard charts when they brought their guitar-driven country-rock to Nashville. This free concert will most likely include "Crazy Girl" and "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," two hits from their latest album, Life at Best.
Thursday 10.4
Mitby Theater at Madison College-Truax, 1 pm
Kennedy has received props for his novel approaches to reducing inner-city violence, which have been put into effect around the country. He divulges his secrets in this lecture.
Odyssey Project 10th Anniversary
Chazen Museum of Art, 5 pm
The UW's invaluable Odyssey Project offers an introductory humanities course for adults facing economic barriers to higher education. The anniversary celebration includes readings, performances, food and an Odyssey video screening.
Barrymore Theatre, 9 pm
This Madison-born, Minneapolis-raised rapper will perform his new album, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, a bold yet thoughtful meditation on race, religion, poverty and protest. With Blank Tape Beloved, Homeboy Sandman, DJ Sosa and the Reminders.
