Music and events venue The Bur Oak is also home to restaurant Ahan.
For live music enthusiasts, there's nothing quite like feeling the music flowing around and through you. After a seemingly interminable past year, shows are returning, both outdoors and indoors.
Thanks to the early arrival of mild weather, the Harmony Bar and the Cider Farm began hosting music by mid-March. Since then patios have continued to fire up around Dane County, including long standing outdoor concert series at Tyranena Brewing and Bowl-A-Vard Lanes.
Indoor events are also returning, but more cautiously. Cafe CODA, an early adopter and consistent provider of livestreamed concerts, also was the first arts venue to resume indoor live music, with limited attendance shows beginning March 19.
The desire was for Cafe CODA to “maintain its cultural relevance in Madison," writes co-founder Hanah Jon Taylor in an email, and events there include community-oriented talk shows, talks with visual artists and youth educational programs as well as concerts. Along with in-person seating, CODA will continue streaming its events, and is also living up to the cafe part of its name by opening daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with coffee and breakfast items. Saxophonist/flutist Taylor also is playing a weekly set Fridays at 10 a.m. as a duo with pianist Luke Leavitt.
The Bur Oak (formerly The Venue on Winnebago Street) was one of several area venues that kept postponing and rescheduling dates throughout the pandemic, providing some optimism for live music fans. "While there may be some shows that will move again, it feels like most shows on our calendar currently will play on their respective dates," writes venue partner Toffer Christensen in an email. "Our summer shows are mostly local acts who can afford to play in a scaled down capacity because they can go home afterwards."
Following a pair of sold-out shows by comedian Steve Hofstetter on May 16, music returns to The Bur Oak on June 4 with the JB3's. "We have taken the same precautions we did last summer when we briefly opened for a few local shows before closing again…cleaning and sanitizing protocols, seated shows only with spacing between parties, face masks for staff and patrons when not consuming," says Christensen. "We also feel great about the vaccination rates in the area and that our patrons have a general respect for their fellow show-goers’ safety and well-being.” Christensen understands that some people will still not feel comfortable going out to shows: “We get it, and hope to see them down the line when they are ready."
As of mid-May, most of the other dedicated music and performing arts venues remain closed. But there are signs of change coming; Overture Center announced its fall lineup on May 10 and rescheduled dates in late summer and fall are beginning to pop up on the websites of the Barrymore Theatre, Stoughton Opera House and FPC Live's venues.
While the most up-to-date information can be found in the Isthmus calendar of events, this post will also be updated as venues continue to reopen, and entertainment resumes in the myriad of other hosting spaces. Also, you can find a list of annual concerts and summer concert series (as well as many festivals) in our post "A summer not on Zoom". As always, if you know something we don't, please email updates to calendar@isthmus.com.
Anchor Inn, Edgerton (Newville): Live on the River Stage series on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and noon and 3:30 p.m. Sundays.
Arts + Literature Laboratory: Currently livestreaming music (including the DIG Jazz series), poetry readings and classes.
BarleyPop Live: Currently closed.
Barrymore Theatre: Rescheduled and new shows starting in late summer.
Biergarten at Olbrich Park: Currently open; occasional music and community fundraiser nights.
Bos Meadery: Music on the patio.
Bowl-A-Vard Lanes: Car Night Wednesdays (6 p.m.), Bike Night Thursdays (6:30 p.m.).
Breakwater, Monona: Music on the rooftop, 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays.
Breese Stevens Field: Hosting Concerts on the Square at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, July 7-Aug. 4; Willie Nelson and The Avett Brothers on Aug. 7; plus Forward Madison FC soccer and Bodega nights.
Brink Lounge: Salsa/Tango dancing is happening on Tuesdays; return of music and other events pending.
Brix 340, Waunakee: Events resume in September.
Buck & Honey's: Music is back at all three locations (Monona, Sun Prairie and Waunakee).
Bur Oak: A busy schedule of new and rescheduled concerts really gets rolling in June.
Camp Beef Butter BBQ, Westport: Outdoor satellite pop-up location hosting music Fridays and Saturdays.
Capital Brewery, Middleton: Beer garden open; some nonprofit events will be happening but music is on hold for the time being.
Cargo Coffee-East: Cargo is now open to an audience during shows (usually Fridays-Saturdays), with reservations no longer needed; some sets will still be livestreamed.
Cider Farm Tasting Room: Music in the greenhouse most Saturdays at 6 p.m., and other select dates.
Come Back In: Music on the patio Thursdays-Sundays, weather permitting.
Comedy on State: Touring comedians Thursdays through Saturdays; open mic has also resumed, 9 p.m. Wednesdays.
Communication: Likely no shows until fall; shop open Fridays (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-6 p.m.).
Crucible: In person events are back; current hours are 6 p.m. to close Wednesday through Saturday..
Crystal Corner Bar: Bar open, but limited music until September.
Doundrins Distilling, Cottage Grove: Music and other events in the Cocktail Garden.
Driftless Music Gardens, Yuba: Festivals are happening, with limited attendance; other drive-in style shows through the summer.
East Side Club: Music is taking place on the lakeside patio space, 5:30 p.m. most Thursdays and Sundays.
Full Mile Beer Company, Sun Prairie: Music resumes June 24 with Soggy Prairie.
Garver Feed Mill: Concerts (including many BlueStem Jazz dates) and other ticketed events taking place in the atrium and on the patio.
Harmony Bar: Nick Matthews and guests play outdoors at 4 p.m. Fridays; other shows being announced on a regular basis.
High Noon Saloon: Rescheduled and new shows beginning in July, plus a monthly virtual concert series in partnership with The Cap Times.
Hody Bar, Middleton: Bands mostly on Saturdays for the time being, with start time moved to 8 p.m.
Hop Garden Tap Room, Paoli: Hosting music outdoors in adjacent Mill Park, Thursdays through Sundays.
Hop Haus Brewing, Fitchburg: New location open, with live music on the patio on weekends.
Hop Haus Brewing, Verona: Live music on the patio.
Karben4 Taproom: Hosting music on the patio.
Liquid: Some new shows on the calendar starting in September.
Lone Girl Brewing Company, Waunakee: Music at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Sundays, on the rooftop.
Main Street Music, Brooklyn: Shows on Fridays and Saturdays.
Majestic Theatre: Rescheduled shows in late summer/fall.
Malt House: Currently no music scheduled, but the bar is open.
Mariner's Inn: "Live on the Lawn" series, outdoors, 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 19-Aug. 21.
Mickey's Tavern: Reopened with regular hours; music currently on hold, but patio music will resume soon.
Mineral Point Opera House: 2021-22 season kicks off Sept. 4 with BoDeans; tickets on sale June 14.
Monk's Bar and Grill, Verona: One show that took place indoors through the winter was a weekly gig by John Duggleby, who continues to play at 6 p.m. Saturdays.
Nau-Ti-Gal: Music outdoors, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, June 3-Sept. 4.
North of the Bayou: Music resumed on the patio as of June.
North Street Cabaret: Outdoor shows in the parking lot beginning July 9.
Ohio Tavern: Open Tuesday-Sunday, music taking place on the patio.
Orpheum Theater: Rescheduled shows beginning in September.
Otto's: Music outdoors at 5:30 pm Tuesdays through Fridays; reservations required at 608-274-4044.
Our House: Outdoor house concerts; contact annedave@chorus.net for info.
Overture Center: Remains closed, with occasional livestreams; announced 2021-22 season on May 10.
Paoli Schoolhouse, Paoli: Music at 6 p.m. Thursdays and Satudays, beginning June 5.
Pooley's: Music on the patio starts June 4, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.
The Rigby: Trivia on Tuesdays resumed, with occasional live shows and a monthly drag brunch.
River Arts on Water, Prairie du Sac: Outdoor concerts on select Fridays and Saturdays through the summer.
Robinia Courtyard: Outdoor events taking place.
Shitty Barn, Spring Green: Planning a shortened season beginning in August; details TBA.
Stoughton Opera House: While many shows are rescheduled for fall, the full 2021-22 season announcement is planned for mid-July. Also, the venue's Catfish River Music Fest is once again canceled.
The Sylvee: Outdoor "Side Stage" series begins June 10, with the patio open 4-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; new and rescheduled shows starting indoors in August.
Tip Top Tavern: Bar and food service open, no events as of yet.
Toot + Kate's Wine Bar, Verona: Music resumed in June.
Twisted Grounds: From June 6-Sept. 26, the Under the Oak series features music Fridays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m.
Tyranena Brewing Company, Lake Mills: Music outdoors in the beer garden at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Up North Pub: Happy hour music Mondays-Wednesdays.
UW Memorial Union Terrace: Music, movies and pop-up art workshops happening on the Terrace.
The Wisco: Bar and food service open, music still on hold.
Wisconsin Brewing Company, Verona: Music in the backyard once again taking place, mostly on Saturdays; Depth Charge scheduled for July 10.
Yahara Bay Distillers, Fitchburg: Live events resuming in June.
Editor's Note: Last updated on June 18.
