What to do in Madison this week: July 13-16, 2026

Lyle Lovett, 'Our Parks on the Big Screen' and more Isthmus Picks

by

Arts

  • The Moth StorySlam, Monday, July 13, High Noon Saloon, 7:30 p.m.: Madison’s Moth storytelling event focuses on a theme of “revenge” tonight. Admit it, we’ve all thought about it, taking action when karma fails. Of course, in these days of Ring doorbells and Flock cameras, someone is watching you. So stick, maybe, to storytelling? Prepare a true five-minute story to perform on the night’s theme. Sign up for a chance to perform, or just get inspired by others. Danielle Hairston Green hosts. Find ticket info at the Moth in Madison Facebook group.
  • The Burroughs, Tuesday, July 14, Olbrich Gardens, 7 p.m.: It’s rare to catch Colorado soul music powerhouse The Burroughs in the Madison area other than at festivals; last year they visited for a People Fest slot, and this year made a stop at La Fête de Marquette. But they’re also playing this Olbrich After Hours date, which will be a fine chance to hear their adventurous uptempo R&B for those looking for a chiller atmosphere than a packed La Fete. Tickets at olbrich.org.
  • Our Parks on the Big Screen, Tuesday, July 14, Barrymore, 7 p.m.: This showcase hosted by Cut the Deck Creative features six films about the intersections between environmental conservation and community, including the premiere of a short incarnation of The Park People, being filmed in Madison and planned as a full-length feature. Donations at the event help support the production, and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and reception. RSVP at cutthedeck.co.
  • Blooming Butterflies, July 15-Aug. 9, Olbrich Gardens, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: There’s good reason to head into the Bolz Conservancy this summer (as every summer). It is magical to see butterflies — up to 19 species — inhabiting the tropical dome, and attentive (or lucky) visitors may even witness a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis during Blooming Butterflies. The theme continues in the outdoor gardens with an “I SPY Pollinators” scavenger hunt and a storybook walk for kids. Butterfly Action Day, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on July 31, features even more special activities. Find more info at olbrich.org.
  • Krause Family Band, Wednesday, July 15, Bur Oak, 7 p.m.: It’s time to celebrate 1970s folk-rock queen Linda Ronstadt’s 80th birthday. She’s been sidelined from performing for many years with a disease first diagnosed as Parkinson’s and now as progressive supranuclear palsy. Krause Family Band, along with special guests Nick Lang on drums and Danny Tyksinski on lead guitar, will sample her songbook with deep cuts and hits, and there are plenty of both, as this member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also worked with figures as disparate as Philip Glass, Flaco Jiménez and Earl Scruggs. Tickets at theburoakmadison.com.
  • Concerts on the Square, Wednesdays, through July 29, Capitol Square, 7 p.m.: The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s annual summer Concerts on the Square season continues every Wednesday in July, and you can save your spot on the lawn with a blanket starting at 3 p.m.; the concerts take place on the King Street corner. Still to come: a Paris-themed evening with guest violinist Tim Kliphuis on July 15; film music and guest pianist Angelina Chang on July 22; and a focus on works by guest pianist Stewart Goodyear on July 29. In case the weather looks sketchy, a rain call will be made by 3 p.m. Find more info at wcoconcerts.org.
  • Lyle Lovett & His Small Large Band, Wednesday, July 15, Overture-Capitol Theater, 7:30 p.m.: Texas singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett’s unmistakable blend of country, jazz, folk, blues, gospel and swing has earned him four Grammy Awards and a devoted following drawn in by his sharp storytelling. Returning to Madison with his Small Large Band, Lovett will build a set from a catalog that includes longtime fan favorites such as “If I Had a Boat,” “She's No Lady” and “That's Right (You're Not From Texas)” along with newer material. Few artists can make a big room feel as intimate as Lovett. Tickets overture.org.
  • L.A. Buckner & Big Homie, Wednesday, July 15, Gamma Ray, 8 p.m.: The most recent album by L.A. Buckner & Big Homie, Norfside, is a shout-out to and continuation of the genre-blurring music of recent decades from Buckner’s Minneapolis home. It’s jazzy and funky, with room for blazing rock guitar, soulful horns, and Buckner’s own active and swinging drumming. The band’s new single, “Watch Your Step,” is a frenetic collaboration with keyboard master Cory Henry. With Automatic Lover. Tickets at gammaray.bar.
  • Dane County Fair, July 16-19, Alliant Energy Center: While the greater Madison metropolitan area is rapidly taking over rural Dane County, we’re still in the midst of corn, cows and family farms. And we still have a county fair that reminds us that yes, the original name of the Alliant Energy Center was in fact the Dane County Fairgrounds — and we still know how to put those barns to good use. Much fun is on hand, from the music (who would skip a performance of a band called Cornfield Keg Party? They’re from Milwaukee and play Friday) to roller derby (Thursday) and plenty of rides and funnel cakes. Be sure to check out the projects in the Exhibit Hall and tell the kids they’re doing a good job. They put a lot of work into this. Peruse the full schedule at danecountyfair.com.
  • Alta Vista, Thursday, July 16, North Street Cabaret, 7 p.m.: On their debut album, Alta Vista took a meditatively atmospheric approach to reinventing a set of songs drawn from an old country music songbook. Won’t Believe in Dust, their 2025 follow-up, finds the trio embarking on a set of mostly original songs that bump up the volume and intensity from their debut and obliterate genre boundaries with glee. Is it post-rock, free jazz, surf or jam? Yes, and….
  • On Flourishing: 50 Years of Science and Practice, Thursday, July 16, Overture Center-Playhouse, 7 p.m.: It only makes sense that Madison is the home of the Center for Healthy Minds, Dr. Richard J. Davidson’s think tank on what makes us happy and, in this case, what makes us flourish. (Living in Madison, maybe?) In this free program, Davidson, civil rights activist Roshi Joan Halifax (founder and abbot of the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico), and Dr. Sona Dimidjian (director of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at CU Boulder) will look through the lenses of both modern science and the contemplative tradition to teach us all more about what makes us flourish. And who couldn’t use some hints about that? Register at overture.org.

Find the individual Picks collected here, and as part of the full calendar of events.