It's another crazy-busy summer weekend in the Cap City, with a music extravaganza on top of the usual fine-weather distractions. Meanwhile, Isthmus alumni are dropping literary salvos from afar.
With this issue comes the eight-page program for the inaugural "Make Music Madison" event this Friday and Saturday. Hundreds of free musical performances will take place all over the city. Check the supplement for details.
Among the events will be the annual Isthmus Jazz Festival at the Memorial Union Terrace. Everything is free at the two-day celebration, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, including the Mills Hall performance by Carmen Lundy on Saturday evening. Our arts lead story fills in the highlights.
As for the literature, former Isthmus staffers Mike Baron and Fred Milverstedt are touting new books. Baron, a former arts editor and writer for Isthmus who now lives in Colorado, has written his third book and first crime novel, Biker, published by Airship 27 and available on Amazon. Folks who've been around here awhile might remember Baron from his first forays into publishing with the comic books Nexus and The Badger.
Milverstedt, who co-founded this newspaper over 37 years ago, now lives in Plymouth, Minn. One More Ride is his nonfiction account of adventures encountered astride his motorcycles over the years. A Madison native, he has much to say about his experiences here as well as the places he's visited.
Having never really left here in heart, Milverstedt will be back in person on Thursday, June 27, for a book signing at the One Barrel Brewing Company on Atwood Avenue at Schenk's Corners. The ink starts flowing at 4 p.m.
In the meantime, get out and listen to some local music. And if there's a tip jar around, put something in it. If not, buy a musician a beer. Or two. Somebody will be glad you did.
