Music
Isthmus Picks Playlist: March 21-28
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Joe Stanton
First look
Madison’s punk blues wizards Meat Jelly slip out a new single on Bandcamp and vinyl. Here’s a look at the new video for “Chuck Downfield.” Read more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: March 14-21
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Songs for environmental justice
Award-winning choral director Gabriela Hristova will visit Madison to guest conduct for Festival Choir of Madison on March 16. She will bring a chamber choir from Flint, Michigan, performing a work on the city’s water crisis. Read more
Shervin Lainez
Creative journey
Liz Cooper & the Stampede depart Nashville for a tour with a special blend of roots-rock with tinges of psychedelia. They’re at the High Noon Saloon on March 13. Read more
Marc Campa
Precision and group spirit
Cuarteto Casals is one of today’s greatest string quartets. Its March 1 performance in Madison demonstrated the ensemble’s talent and stylistic versatility. Read more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: March 7-14
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Our rare instrument
The Capitol Theater’s Grand Barton Organ is one of few surviving the silent film era. Overture Center has secured funds for a long-overdue restoration of the gem. Read more
VANESSA TORTOLANO
New life for troubled club
After stories of discrimination and harassment surfaced at Plan B, the club has closed down. Now founder Rico Sabatini is back in, and the club is reopening as Prism on March 1. Read more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Feb. 28-Mar. 7
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Departures and arrivals
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra says goodbye to departing CEO Mark Cantrell. As a consolation prize, the great Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev plays with WCO on Feb. 22. Read more
Lili Pepper
Almost famous
After her breakout role starring in the Amazon series “Mozart in the Jungle,” Lola Kirke is embarking on a new path as a country singer-songwriter. The youngest of three famous sisters, she’s finding her own voice. Read more
Jonah Westrich
New tricks
No Love Dog, formed by former members of Bassliss, has released an excellent debut EP. They’re still learning, but the scrappy funk-rock band has a lot of promise Read more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Feb. 21-28
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Pure Harbison
UW-Madison’s school of music celebrated the 80th birthday of composer John Harbison with a marvelous chamber concert featuring the Pro Arte Quartet and violist Sally Chisholm on Feb. 17. Harbison was there to take his bows. Read more
Co-writing with Bob Dylan
Trapper Schoepp fleshed out pieces of the lyrics written by Bob Dylan in the 1960s, marrying the words to an original, supper club-like waltz. Schoepp re-dubbed it “On Wisconsin.” Read more
Isthmus Picks Playlist: Feb. 14-21
Listen to a curated list of tracks from artists playing shows in Madison this week. Read more
Giles Clement
Isthmus Live Sessions: The Devil Makes Three
Watch Americana band The Devil Makes Three perform "Deep Down" at an intimate Isthmus Live Session at our office in downtown Madison. Read more
Final coda
A friend and former bandmate says goodbye to Madison-area musician Lou Cruz, who died on Feb. 1. Read more
Nathan Gibson
Yodeling fame
UW-Madison professor emeritus Jim Leary will be at the Grammys this year, hoping for a liner notes award. This nomination, his second, is for an archival collection of songs by Swiss and Austrian immigrants, “Alpine Dreaming.” Read more
