Eken Park Festival
to
Eken Park 2407 Coolidge St. , Madison, Wisconsin 53704
Willow Ray
Kat and the Hurricane in a stairwell.
Kat and the Hurricane
Up-and-coming but modest Eken Park Festival combines a traditional neighborhood gathering with kids’ activities (and a kids' parade at 4:15 p.m.), with vendors and the hippest music lineup, with Kid Jordan & the Second Line at noon, Pink Halo at 1:40 p.m., Nester at 3:10 p.m., Kat and the Hurricane at 4:45 p.m., and The Periodicals at 6:30 p.m. No wonder everyone’s moving here. Note: This year the festival is in its namesake park rather than on Mayer Avenue. More at facebook.com/ekenparkfest.
media release: The Eken Park Neighborhood Association is excited to announce the 8th Annual Eken Park Festival!
This family-friendly, community-oriented event is moving this year: one block north to Eken Park, 2407 Coolidge St. Still easily accessible via public transportation courtesy of the city of Madison Metro Transit (bus lines B and D) or by bicycle (the Starkweather Creek Bike Path or Demetral Field Trail).
2024 Stage Schedule
12-1 Kid Jordan and the Second Line
1:40 -2:40 Pink Halo
3:10 – 4:10 Nester
4:15 Kids Parade
4:45 – 5:45 Kat and the Hurricane
6:30 – 7:45 The Periodicals
https://www.ekenpark.org/festival.htm and https://www.facebook.com/ekenparkfest
More on the bands:
Kat and the Hurricane is genre- and gender-bending indie-pop/synth-rock trio from Madison, Wisconsin. Lead singer/guitarist Kat Rhapsody (they/them), keyboardist/vocalist Benjamin Rose (they/them), and drummer Alex Nelson (they/them) deliver a unique blend of pop and haunting indie rock they affectionately refer to as "sad lesbian music." Or to put it in technical terms, a gender- and genre-defiant mix of queer emo & sapphic bops.
Pink Halo is a vibrant indie pop band hailing from the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. Through their infectious melodies, danceable grooves, and anthemic choruses, they will take you on a musical journey through time and sound into their own unique sonic universe. Drawing inspiration from the funky disco-like bass lines of the 70s, the neon-infused 80s synth tones, and a medley of contemporary indie pop giants, Pink Halo has crafted a sound that's both familiar and fresh. Their live show features a full band to amplify the fearless energy they bring to the stage. Their music isn't just a listening experience; it's an invitation to let loose, embrace the moment, and lose yourself in the music. Bring your dancin’ shoes!
Nester is a Madison based experimental indie pop band. Influenced by a wide variety of music, from Sylvan Esso to The Strokes, Nester creates an original, beautifully rocking repertoire. While transgressing musical boundaries, this band aims to please, traveling from serenity to explosiveness and leaves their audience sneakily inspired.
Kid Jordan Second Line was formed in 2007 by Ben “Kid” Bell Bern and Jordan Cohen to play the music of New Orleans. Both longtime members of Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, they formed Kid Jordan to explore the “indoors” tradition of New Orleans jazz, as opposed to the street parade instrumentation of a brass band. Inspired by New Orleans luminaries such as Leroy Jones, Shannon Powell, Herlin Riley, and Wendell Brunious, the band pays tribute to this uniquely accessible & danceable style of jazz.
Formed in 2013, The Periodicals are a British/American Wisconsin-based ten-piece band featuring guitars, horns, keyboards, violin, and sensational vocals that have been earning rave reviews for their tight live sets and unique blend of northern soul and alternative rock. Whether its on the festival stage or in the intimacy of a downtown bar, the Periodicals rock the house - blowing the dust off and thumbing through a rich catalog of original material with a classic feel, along with their take on some iconic cuts of northern soul.