What to do in Madison this week: July 20-23, 2026

The Head & the Heart, Collard Fest and more Isthmus Picks

by

Arts

  • Getting Real on Affordability in Wisconsin, Monday, July 20, Center for Black Excellence, 5 p.m.: Among the many issues to be faced by Wisconsin’s next governor is the affordability crisis; many state households are working full time (or more) and still can’t make ends meet. This forum hosted by the Kaleidoscope WI coalition (a group of statewide nonprofits) will focus on what solutions current candidates for governor are proposing. All candidates were invited, and scheduled to participate are Francesca Hong, Sara Rodriguez and Kelda Roys; Angela Russell moderates. A meet and greet starts at 5 p.m., and the forum at 6 p.m.; RSVP at kidsforward.org.
  • Graham Nash, Monday, July 20, Orpheum, 7:30 p.m.: Graham Nash, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, has written the kind of songs that feel less like oldies than family photographs. “Teach Your Children,” “Our House,” “Marrakesh Express,” “On a Carousel” — they’ve been in the room so long it’s easy to forget somebody had to write them. As Nash brings six decades of harmony, protest and soft domestic ache to Madison, the history is a draw, obviously, but it will also be a chance to hear more recent material such as songs from the 2023 album Now. Read Joshua Miller’s interview with Nash here. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.
  • Collard Fest, Tuesday, July 21, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 6 p.m.: A leafy green vegetable takes center stage as part of the Olbrich After Hours series, with Madison farmers, chefs, artists and community leaders celebrating the role of collards in African culture and culinary traditions. Attendees can browse vendor tents for locally sourced food or sit in the grass and listen to live music (by Obi Original & the Black Atlantics, with an opening set by Black Star Drum Line) and stories about the cultural relevance of collard greens. This year marks the third annual fest and the ongoing partnership between Olbrich, REAP Food Group and Yusuf Bin-Rella — a local chef and founder of TradeRoots Farms — all growing and cooking crops of African roots. Reserve free tickets at olbrich.org.
  • Madison Mystery Tour, Tuesday July 21, DeForest Library, 6:30 p.m.: As you probably guessed, Madison Mystery Tour is a Beatles cover band. Since not all of us can get Paul McCartney to sing at our wedding, this long-running ensemble featuring veterans of the Madison music scene is the next best thing. It has also come to our attention that some young parents are introducing their children to KPop Demon Hunters instead of “Yellow Submarine.” Remember, this is not an either/or situation. It is a yes/and situation. The concert is on Market Street outside the library.
  • Soggy Prairie, Tuesday July 21, Harmony Bar, 6:30 p.m.: Hate to break it to you but if you start summer at Memorial Day and end it at Labor Day, we hit the middle last Thursday. Tick this item off your summer bucket list (“we must listen to bluegrass…at the Harmony”) at this monthly Madison Bluegrass Roundabout show. Hosts Soggy Prairie play a set and each month welcome a guest band. This month doubles as a Sugar Maple Festival preview and also features veteran Madison grassers SpareTime Bluegrass Band.
  • The Head & the Heart, Tuesday, July 21, The Sylvee, 8 p.m.: The Head and the Heart built its name on songs that feel like they were meant to spill out of open car windows on the ride home from a happening that mattered. The Seattle folk-rock band is taking its self-titled debut out for a 15th-anniversary lap, accompanied by a newly released hometown show live version recorded in 2011. “Rivers and Roads” remains the big communal throat-catcher. Wilderado opens, which should keep the evening firmly in the lane of big-hearted, road-worn singalongs. Tickets at ticketmaster.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: 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.
  • Casey and Diana, through Sept. 24, American Players Theatre-Touchstone: The world has seen many urgent health emergencies including a global pandemic since the AIDS crisis. That can almost make Nick Green's Casey and Diana, set in 1991, seem as much set in the distant past as the Shakespearean drama that made APT’s reputation. It’s a revisit well worth the audience’s time, though, as Princess Diana visits the Toronto AIDS hospice Casey House. Both the hospice and the princess were forward-looking in their acceptance of and compassion for people dying of AIDS. Read Katie Reiser’s review of the play here. In repertory through September 24; upcoming performances at 7:30 p.m. July 22 and 8 p.m. July 25. Find tickets and the full schedule at americanplayers.org.
  • Stone Prairie + Troye Shanks, Thursday, July 23, East Side Club, 5:30 p.m.: Madison is often dinged for not taking full advantage of the lakes – there are relatively few eateries directly on the water, for instance. The East Side Club hatched its Tiki Bar concept to solve that — its grassy lawn right on Lake Monona becomes a bar and grill which also hosts bands. Stone Prairie features a crew of veteran Madison musicians and some enthusiastic newcomers, playing Americana covers and originals. Acoustic singer/songwriter Troye Shanks has been nominated for many a MAMA. You won’t be sorry.
  • Big Honey Little Improv Festival, July 23-26, Broom Street Theater: The Big Honey Little Improv Festival is a four-day extravaganza of spontaneous comedy hosted by local all-star troupe Big Honey. Two nightly shows include some of the ensemble’s recurring concepts (HiveMind, I’mProv/You’reProv), duo shows, and guest performers from Monkey Business Institute and Atlas Improv. Newcomers can jump into several open jams, while audiences can sit back and enjoy the kind of comedy that exists for one night only and will never be repeated. Shows begin at 6 p.m. on July 23, 7 p.m. on July 24-25, and 1 p.m. on July 26. Find the schedule at amalgamimprov.com.

The Matchmaker, through Oct. 2, American Players Theatre, Spring Green: This play, by Madison favorite-son playwright Thornton Wilder, is a farce set in New York circa 1896. But it's also of the moment, as more and more young people become fed up with the ruthless roundabout of dating apps. The Matchmaker centers on Dolly Gallagher Levi, “a professional meddler with a knack for rearranging other people’s lives,” writes our reviewer, Michael Popke. Dolly is played to perfection by APT Core Member Tracy Michelle Arnold. (Read the full review here.) And the play is chock full of that APT secret sauce: plot twists and mistaken identity. In repertory through Oct. 2; next up is a 7:30 p.m. performance on July 23. Find tickets and the schedule at americanplayers.org.

  • ASTRO, Thursday, July 23, Cafe Coda, 8 p.m.: The acronym ASTRO stands for Anders Svanoe's Teleporting Rhythmic Orchestra. It’s also evocative of the term “astral”; stars and/or mysterious forces come to mind upon hearing the music created by this large ensemble of talented improvisers, usually anchored by two bassists and two percussionists. Composer Anders Svanoe directs the band from behind his baritone saxophone and the band’s interplay is as thrilling as the challenging but fun music. They’re back at Coda on fourth Thursdays for summer and fall.

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