Willy Street Fair
to
Ray Rupnow
Summer isn’t really over until the close of “Hippie High Holidays,” the Willy Street Fair. This year is the 40th anniversary of Madison’s groovy street festival, where all freak flags fly high. Wear comfortable shoes, because you’ve got lots of territory to cover; five stages feature live music from just about any genre you can name. Saturday’s all about world music, with a headlining set from Haitian-Canadian hip-hop wonder Vox Sandou (World Music Stage, 7:45 pm). Start off Sunday by watching or strolling in (your choice) the annual parade (which kicks off at 11 am by Plan B), a wondrous lovefest led by the Bubble Man in his Bubble Mobile. The day continues with an epic booty-shaking event featuring homegrown talent, with emcee/poet/singer Hiwot Adilow (Culture Stage, 5 pm) and “Black Gandalf” Mr. Jackson (Culture Stage, 6 pm), R&B from People Brothers Band (Main Stage, 4 pm) and 1970s hits by VO5 (Main Stage, 5:30 pm). Come as you are, and appreciate the diversity and creativity of Madison.
WILLY STREET FAIR / 800, 900 AND 1000 BLOCKS OF WILLIAMSON (WILLY) STREET
2-9 pm on September 16 and 11 am-7 pm on September 17
Producer/Benefactor: Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Common Wealth Development
press release:
Saturday:
World Music Festival Stage: Immigré 2:15 pm, Bideew Bou Bess 3:45 pm, Ladama 5:45 pm, Vox Sambou 7:45 pm.
FOLK STAGE: Kaia Fowler 2 pm, Beth Kille 330 pm, Cris Plata Trio 5 pm.
WILLY BEATS: Sassmouth 4 pm, Bill Converse 6 pm, Claude Young 8 pm
Sunday:
Main Stage: Civil Engineers 1 pm, Jaeden James & the Hunger 2:30 pm, People Brothers Band 4 pm, VO5 5:30 pm
Folk Stage: Zachary Scot Johnson noon, Peter Mulvey, Paul Cebar & Josh Harty 2 pm, Listening Party 5 pm
Culture Stage: Yid Vicious noon, TV Dinner DJs 1:30 pm, Asumaya 2:30 pm, Sound Out Loud 4 pm, Hiwot Adilow 5 pm, Mr. Jackson 6 pm
Kids' Stage: Black Star Drum Line noon, Madison Unicyclists 1 pm, Eastside youth performers 1:45 pm, David Landau 3 pm, Limanya Drum & Dance 4 pm, Slag 5 pm, raffle 6:30 pm
WORT Underground Stage: Seasaw noon, DJ Cardinal Din 12:50 pm, Disq 1:10 pm, DJ Bo$$ Lady 2 pm, 3rd Dimension 2:20 pm, DJs Rev. Velveteen & Bad Sister Heidi 3:10 pm, Beefus 3:30 pm, DJ The Other Mr. S. 4:20 pm, The 99ers 4:40 pm, The Real Jaguar 5:30 pm, Nobunny 5:50 pm.
