What to do in Madison this weekend: Sept. 10-13, 2026

Bettye LaVette, 'Steady She Goes' and more Isthmus Picks

by

Arts

  • Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, Sept. 10-12, Alliant Energy Center: Quilters are in the house. And for three days, they rule the roost. They’re like Swifties, only with sewing machines. And if you are a quilter, or love a quilter, this is the place to be, with classes, workshops, demos, speakers and lawsy, the vendors. Booths range from crafters selling quilted clothing to nonprofits like Project Linus (security blankets for kids in need). Even non-quilters will find some pleasant rabbit hole to go down. Madison’s own Catrina Sparkman will speak in a special lecture Friday on how Black artists preserve history through textile and narrative (6 p.m., with separate admission). General hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 10-11 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 12; learn lots more at quiltshow.com.
  • Ugly Little Monkeys, Thursday, Sept. 10, UW Union South-Marquee, 6 p.m.: Founded in 1964, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson was the first youth mariachi group in the United States, giving young Mexican American musicians an outlet to show pride in their culture. The members also had to confront plenty of people who weren't quite ready for them. The new documentary Ugly Little Monkeys tells how the group went far beyond its Tucson beginnings to inspire generations of musicians and help spark a national youth mariachi movement. Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD) hosts a screening followed by a Q&A with co-directors David E. Valdez and Enrique Castillo. Tickets at eventbrite.com.
  • Kam Patterson, Sept. 10-13, Comedy on State: Kam Patterson reached a major career milestone when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for season 51. Patterson may still be better known for the fearlessly freewheeling stand-up comedy that he made a splash with as part of the Kill Tony podcast and tours, and his quick-witted crowd work can be Ricklesian when firing back at an audience; it's often NSFSNL. Shows at 7 p.m. Sept. 10, 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 11-12, and 6 p.m. Sept. 13. Tickets at madisoncomedy.com.
  • Ritt Deitz with Wilder Deitz album release, Thursday, Sept. 10, North Street Cabaret, 7 p.m.: Sept. 10 is release day for Transients and Strangers, an album of new songs by longtime Madison musician and writer Ritt Deitz (plus a pair of instrumentals by his son, Wilder Deitz, who also accompanies on piano, mandolin, bass and vocals). Deitz is a master of putting a lot of story in a song with an economical amount of lyrics, as in “Along the Old River,” featuring a musing soldier on the long road home. Other new songs tell human-scale tales of folks thinking about home, and sometimes a long way from it. With Sophie Delaney.
  • Steady She Goes, Sept. 10-27, Overture-Playhouse: Remember that sea shanty craze a few years back? It will have prepped you for the tunes in Steady She Goes. The romance of the sea. The thrill of dangerous winds and waves. Mutiny. These situations worked for Melville and audiences will be reminded of why in this true story. Mary Ann Brown Patten, back in 1856, took control of a merchant marine vessel when her husband, the captain, took ill. And move over, Ahab — she was 19 and eight months pregnant at the time. Brian Cowing directs Erica Berman’s script for Forward Theater; music arrangements are by Scott McKenna Campbell. This production is part of World Premiere Wisconsin. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, plus 2 p.m. on Sept. 19, 24 and 26. Tickets at overture.org.
  • Linda May Han Oh, Thursday, Sept. 10, UW Memorial Union-Play Circle, 7:30 p.m.: Composer and bassist Linda May Han Oh is a modern jazz master who has performed with artists including Terri Lyne Carrington, Kenny Barron and UW School of Music director Dan Cavanagh. Oh’s most recent album as a leader, Beneath Lifted Skies, showcases her playful yet intense style in duets with saxophonist Melissa Aldana. For this show she will be joined by a stellar group with a past history of collaboration with Oh: Fabian Almazan, piano/effects; Greg Ward, saxophone; and Mark Whitfield Jr., drums. Tickets at artsticketing.wisc.edu.
  • Mannequin Pussy, Thursday, Sept. 10, Sylvee, 8 p.m.: During the last decade and a half, Mannequin Pussy have grown from DIY heroes to opening for Foo Fighters during that band’s 2026 tour. All one has to do is listen to a bit of their music to hear why; they’ve long been able to shift from visceral punk blasts to melodic rockers with ease, accompanied by sharp and powerful lyrics and singing by Marisa Dabice. They’re back on tour this summer along with working on a new album. With Finom. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.
  • Midwest Django Fest, Sept. 11-12, Lunney Lake Farm County Park: If your idea of jazz involves dimly lit clubs and a brooding saxophone, Midwest Django Fest offers a considerably outdoorsier alternative. Inspired by legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt and the swinging sound of jazz manouche, the long-running fest brings some serious players to Lake Farm, including Dario Napoli, Gonzalo Bergara, Hot Club of Baltimore, Alfonso Ponticelli, and Madison's own Harmonious Wail, among others. Each night eventually gives way to a jam by a campfire anchored by the burning of a giant wooden guitar designed by local woodcarver Gene Delcourt. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 and 3 p.m. Sept. 12; tickets and the schedule at midwestdjangofestival.com.
  • Snake on the Lake, Friday, Sept. 11, UW Memorial Union Terrace, 7 p.m.: This year’s Snake on the Lake mini-fest hosted by campus radio station WSUM-FM features three independent artists finding personal approaches to folk/Americana sounds. Why Bonnie’s Blair Howerton draws on the deep well of singer-songwriters from her native Texas and gives the sound a fuzzed-up shoegaze-y spin. Baileyrp’s songs often take the emotive approach of bedroom pop but are built with a compelling blend of minimal synth and hyperpop. Cosmovisión, the third album by Half Gringa, finds songwriter Isabel Olive taking an appropriately expansive musical approach on songs thoughtfully considering big questions and not proposing any easy solutions.
  • Do it to Julia! Sept. 11-27, Broom Street Theater: It’s the year of dystopian drama! This retelling and homage based on the granddaddy of all totalitarian society novels, 1984, is told from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia. And it’s about time. With the focus on Julia and the pressure to conform, viewers may be reminded of the Apple TV series Pluribus but at the same time this remains your grandpappy’s 1984. Do it to Julia! stars Rose Popma as Julia and Matt Beyer as Winston; this Broom Street Theater production is directed by Melissa Minkoff. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
  • One Liner Madness, Friday, Sept. 11, The Annex, 8 p.m.: The concept of “One Liner Madness” is simple (but the advance coordination required to produce an event sounds like its own show): Put 64 regional comedians in a room and let 'em rip in a bracketed joke battle, with audience applause determining who advances. This traveling showcase was created and is hosted by Emily Winter, a UW-Madison graduate with a prolific resume on the national comedy scene, who not too long ago moved back to the Madison area. Tickets at eventbrite.com.
  • Wisconsin at Work, Saturday, Sept. 12, History Maker Space, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Wisconsin has a long history of working people organizing, and occasionally raising a little hell, for better working conditions. With “Wisconsin at Work,” the Wisconsin Historical Society presents a walking tour of downtown Madison tracing the people, places and movements that shaped labor rights from the mid-1800s through the 1970s. Comfortable shoes recommended; comfort with the status quo optional. The tour starts at the History Maker Space in the US Bank building on the Square; tickets at historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org.
  • Greek Fest Plus, Saturday, Sept. 12, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.: You don't need a plane ticket to experience Greece when Greek Fest Plus returns for one delicious day in Madison. Arriving hungry would be a very good idea: expect chicken souvlaki, gyros, spanakopita, tyropitakia, and enough Greek pastries to make choosing just one seem downright foolish. There's also Greek and other music, dancing, strong coffee and gifts and pantry item vendors. Take a break from eating and tour the church’s beautiful Byzantine-style iconography, then go back for dessert. Or another dessert. Rain date: Sept. 13. Find more info at madison-greekfest.org.
  • Jardines de Espacios: Picturing the Latino/e Perinatal Journey in Dane County, Sept. 12-19, ART House 360, Verona: This exhibition presents photos and accompanying captions drawn from a Roots4Change Coop project documenting the experiences of Latina and Indigenous women through the birth process and afterwards. “Jardines de Espacios” aims to raise awareness of and spark action in response to issues faced by mothers, including rising preterm birth rates and a lack of postpartum care. Opening (1-5 p.m., Sept. 12) and closing (noon-4 p.m., Sept. 19) receptions feature a talk about the project, and childcare is available with an RSVP at jardines.roots4change.coop, where you can also find information on related events.
  • Gigi Mosconi, through Oct. 3, Textile Arts Center; reception Sept. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: The Textile Arts Center is a worthy venue centering the fiber arts. Its latest gallery exhibit, “Moving the Needle,” showcases the quilts of Gigi Mosconi, in this retrospective of four decades of making. Mosconi started with more traditional quilts, moving to embrace geometrics, bold colors and improvisation to create exhilarating, invigorating, thoughtful and contemporary works of graphic and textile art. A reception will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12. Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
  • Bettye LaVette, Saturday, Sept. 12, Stoughton Opera House, 7:30 p.m.: Bettye LaVette had a hit right out of the gates as a teenager with “My Man - He's A Lovin' Man," her first single in the early 1960s. What followed for the next few decades is a winding tale of the worst aspects of the music industry hindering the career of a great talent. Happily LaVette proved as steadfast as talented and finally got her due in the 2000s with a series of masterful recordings (most recently, 2025’s Worthy) and a pile of honors and awards. Don’t miss this chance to hear one of the originators of soul music in person. Tickets at stoughtonoperahouse.com.
  • Sips & Slices, Sunday, Sept. 13, The River Food Pantry, 1-4 p.m.: This fundraiser is a great opportunity to support the essential work of The River Food Pantry and see its new headquarters, which opened at the beginning of this year. Nibbles and small plates from local chefs, including Francesco Mangano of Osteria Papavero, Marie Arzel Young from Far Breton Bakery, Son Inthachith from Sern Sapp, Sam Williams from The Coopers Tavern, and many more. Guests can also check out the new facilities at 3301 Packers Ave., including the outdoor dining patio. Ticket info at riverfoodpantry.org.

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