Music
Remembering Lenny
As symphonies around the country celebrate the 100th birthday of the genius composer Leonard Bernstein, Madison Symphony Orchestra has a special angle. Our maestro, John DeMain, worked closely with Bernstein. more
Gustav-Ryberg
Rock ’n’ Roll history lesson
The Barrymore Theatre will rock on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice in “The Greatest War” concert on Nov. 11. more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Nov. 8-15
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. more
James Gill
Satisfying double bill
Madison Opera delivers a passionate and lavish double bill of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” It plays once more on Nov. 4. more
Eric Schirtzinger
Jazz reunion
Johannes Wallmann releases “Day and Night,” a new album of originals and standards that brings together some of the players the pianist worked with in New York City. more
Women warrior songs
“Women at War: Warrior Songs Vol. 2” is an important and heartfelt album sharing the stories of female military veterans. The album release party is at High Noon Saloon on Nov. 10. more
David Michael Miller
Buyer beware
Ticketmaster is under fire after an investigative report revealed collusion with scalpers who use digital tools to buy tickets in bulk and resell them on secondary sites. more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Nov. 1-8
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. more
Stringed fascinations
While Freakfest raged outdoors, the Pro Arte Quartet delivered an exploration of Schubert, Bolcom and Mendelssohn at Mills Hall on Oct. 27. more
Graay Photos
Open book
Lucien Parker, the Minneapolis-born rapper and Madison resident, releases an emotionally open and deft new EP, “Mephoria.” more
Getting wild with The Dirty Nil
With a new album in tow, Ontario punkers The Dirty Nil plan to get freaky here in Madison. They play Freakfest on Oct. 27. more
Free-flowing ideas
Rob Lundberg, who is pursuing degrees in law and environmental studies at UW-Madison, creates a new multimedia event, “Displaced Horizons.” It grew out of his fascination with water systems. more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Oct. 25-Nov. 1
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. more
Songs of love and freedom
Vocalist Leslie Damaso felt disconnected from her roots in the Philippines. Rediscovering Kundiman, the traditional art songs of the southeast island nation, helped her gain a sense of self. more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Oct. 18-25
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. more
Emilie Heidemann
The musical architect
Local singer-songwriter Angela Puerta talks about her roots and balancing a career as a city planner with a thriving music business. more
Thinking in trumpet
Until he saw The Beatles on TV, Pat Metheny was following in his family’s tradition of learning trumpet. Isthmus talks to the jazz guitar virtuoso in advance of his Oct. 14 show at the Wisconsin Union Theater. more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Oct. 11-18
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. more
Scotify Studios
Isthmus Live Sessions: Seasaw
Watch Seasaw perform "Big Dogs" at an intimate show at the Isthmus office in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. more
Songs of resurgence
Since WORT 89.9 FM radio station released its first compilation of Wisconsin political protest songs in 2012, state and local politics have only gotten more toxic. But on the bright side, artists wrote enough songs to do a whole new album. more
