Joey's Song

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Katarzyna Cepek Photography

Dave Pirner on stage.

Dave Pirner

This annual all-star event that raises money for epilepsy research is always a highlight of the city’s concert calendar. But this year’s “Battle of the Bands” theme promises to deliver a new level of excitement with The Know-It-All-Boyfriends (featuring Butch Vig and Duke Erikson of Garbage, Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne and other regional and national artists) vs. The Know-It-All-Girlfriends (with Gail Greenwood of Belly, Vicki and Debbi Peterson of The Bangles and more). Other guests scheduled to appear include Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum, Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! and comedian Charlie Berens of the Manitowoc Minute video series. The concert has sold out every year since 2014 and has raised almost $1 million, and this year's concert is no different; however, tickets are available for a livestream.

media release: Join Grammy award winners and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers for an epic battle of the bands at the Joey’s Song benefit on January 6, 2024, at The Sylvee in Madison.  Members from the Bangles, Belly, Cheap Trick, Garbage, Portugal. The Man, Soul Asylum, and more will create a one-of-a-kind performance that evening. Wisconsin native and comedian Charlie Berens will also make a special appearance.

“One of the best parts of last year’s show was when the bands joined each other on stage to play crowd favorites such as Cheap Trick’s I Want You to Want Me and Portugal. The Man’s Feel It Still.  So, we’re taking it a step farther this year and the musicians will perform rock n’ roll classics in a battle of the bands,” said Mike Gomoll, Founder of Joey’s Song.

The concert has sold out every year since 2014, and the global, award-winning artists volunteer their time and talent in the fight against epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes seizures.  The event honors Joey Gomoll who had a rare, severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome, but he loved music and could dance and sing in his own way.  When Joey passed a week shy of his fifth birthday, the family took their grief and focused on epilepsy education and raising funds to support families facing this disease.  Since 2010, the Joey’s Song non-profit foundation has helped raise nearly $1 million in the fight against epilepsy. This year's event also includes an online silent auction (ending at 11:59 pm on Jan. 6), which can be found here.

Proceeds from the January 2024 benefit concert will go to CURE Epilepsy, select Epilepsy Foundation affiliates, and Wisconsin Badger Camp.

Battle of the Bands features:

The Know-It-All Boyfriends: Butch Vig (Garbage), Duke Erikson (Garbage), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Wally Ingram (Sheryl Crow), Freedy Johnston, Cory Chisel, Jay Moran, James ”Pie” Cowan, Frank Anderson, Alex Drossart

-vs-

The Know-It-All Girlfriends: Gail Greenwood (Belly), Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo), Vicki Peterson (The Bangles), Debbi Peterson (The Bangles), Linda Pitmon (The Minus 5, ZuZu’s Petals), Ella Feingold (Silk Sonic), Gina Volpe (Lunachicks)

Special Guests:

Jody Stephens (Big Star)

Jon Auer (The Posies)

Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum)

David Ryan Harris (John Mayer)

John Cowsill (The Cowsills, The Beach Boys)

Brian Aubert (Silversun Pickups)

Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!)

Charlie Berens (Manitowoc Minute)