From intimate jazz performances at North Street Cabaret to the biggest rock tour of all time, Madison’s live music schedule has real range this summer.
Use this guide to Madison area concerts, festivals and more to make the most of the season. For more arts news, read this detailed preview of American Players Theatre’s summer season and our guide to summer onstage.
See an event we missed below? Email us, check our weekly “things to do” section in print and online, and subscribe to the weekly features newsletter at captimes.com/newsletters.
Madison Jazz Festival
Thursday, June 5-Sunday, June 15
Various Locations
madisonjazzfestivalWI.org
Throughout this mostly free 10-day festival, a rich selection of artists will be featured across multiple venues, including Arts + Lit Lab, Cafe CODA, North Street Cabaret and more. The festival’s weekend finale will feature headliners Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few and Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble gracing the Memorial Union Terrace stage.
Music on the Wisconsin Union Terrace
Thursday, June 5-Sunday, July 20
Wisconsin Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
union.wisc.edu
School is out and the party is just getting started at the Memorial Union Terrace. In addition to Madison Jazz Fest, expect a series of free mini music festivals from WUD Music including Fusion/Funk weekend with WURK and STEEZE, Americana weekend with Cork ‘n Bottle String Band and blues/funk/big band weekend with Cashbox Kings and Rare Element. The terrace will also play host to the annual Lakeside Cinema series and the 2nd annual Teeny-Tiny Terrace Trot.
Mad With Power Fest
Friday-Saturday, June 6-7
The Sylvee, 25 S. Livingston St.
madwithpowerfest.com
The rhythmic clang of pinball flappers and heavy gauge guitar strings will fill the Sylvee’s walls at the eighth annual Mad With Power Fest. Founder Ty Christian, who performs in a metal band as Fang VonWrathStein, started Mad With Power Fest in 2017. His popular hybrid festival makes its return with one-day admission priced at $85, two days at $135 and silver and gold VIP options priced at $175 and $200 respectively.
Music at Breese Stevens Field
Friday, June 6 – Sunday, Sept. 21
917 E. Mifflin St.
breesestevensfield.com
Breese Stevens Field kicks off its summer concert series with country singer Megan Moroney (“Tennessee Orange,” “Am I Okay?”) and rock band Queens of the Stone Age, both in June. Co-headliners Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse come to town in August, while Weird Al Yankovic, Halestorm and Lindsey Stirling round out the series in September.
Live on Queen presents ‘Pride-Day the 13th’
Friday, June 13, 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater, 216 State St.
madisonorpheum.com/event/pride-day-the-13th-hosted-by-bianca-lynn-breeze
Drag, dance and music slay when Live on Queen returns for “Pride-Day the 13th,” a one-night celebration of pride, community and queer joy. Host Bianca Lynn Breeze joins “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” star Auntie Heroine, as well as local and travelling performers in a night to celebrate Madison’s LGBTQ+ community. Free admission.
Atwood Music Hall
Opening June 13
1925 Winnebago St.
theatwoodmusichall.com
Madison’s newest venue opens its doors to the public for the first time with a tribute concert to legendary “funky drummer” Clyde Stubblefield. With a focus on tackling socioeconomic and racial equality in the arts, Atwood Music Hall will feature a diverse range of acts all summer, including the People Brothers Band, Spooner, Grupo Candela, Yonder Mountain String Band, a Pride Drag Brunch and Jay & Silent Bob.
Marquette Waterfront Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15
Yahara Place Park, 2025 Yahara Place
marquette-neighborhood.org/festivals
Returning for its 36th year, the lakeside festival will feature many of the staples community members have come to expect: games, vendors, food and, of course, music. This year’s lineup features a wide range of local, regional and even international acts from the local perennial Fleetwood Mac tribute group, Gold Dust Women, to the Tokyo-based never young beach frontman, Yume Abe. Free admission.
Make Music Madison
Saturday, June 21
Various locations
makemusicmadison.org
Art museums and churches, coffee shops and street corners, even individual garages become music venues on Make Music Madison day. This free, citywide music fest features dozens of locations for music, and according to organizers is one of the largest such events in the country. Registration closed on June 1 for musicians; find out specifics of venues and schedules at the event’s website.
Sessions at Garver Feed Mill
Thursday-Sunday, June 19-22
Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green
sessionsatmcpike.org
As it moves to Garver Feed Mill, Sessions returns to Madison with a fresh coat of paint. A new outdoor-indoor hybrid model allows for indoor performances, namely a dance hall and refuge from unpredictable weather. Sessions will also feature a flea market, food trucks and access to onsite vendors (Ian’s Pizza, Roll Play and Ledger Coffee, among others). (See story for more information.)
Morgan Wallen, shown at the 2022 CMA Awards, will perform his I’m The Problem Tour on June 28-29 at Camp Randall.
Morgan Wallen
Saturday-Sunday, June 28-29, 5:30 p.m.
Camp Randall Stadium, 1440 Monroe St.
uwbadgers.evenue.net
The last time Camp Randall hosted a concert, Bill Clinton was president, Google.com had just been registered as a domain name and Elton John was dominating the airwaves. This summer, country singer Morgan Wallen and UK band Coldplay usher major music acts back to the Badgers’ home field for the first time in 28 years. Tickets ($83 and up) are still available for Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” tour, with Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert as openers.
La Fête de Marquette
Thursday-Sunday, July 10-13
McPike Park, 202 S. Ingersoll St.
wil-mar.org
Six stages. Over 60 artists. And always, free admission. This popular festival returns to Madison’s east side for four days in July, bringing its familiar flavor of French culture back in full-force. This year’s headliners include funk-rock group Five Alarm Funk and “folk trash” singer-songwriter Lisa LeBlanc. Come for the kids’ activities, food carts and Wil-Mar Community Center fundraisers, stay for the excellent zydeco, swing, big band brass and DJs.
Coldplay
Saturday, July 19, 6 p.m.
Camp Randall, 1440 Monroe St.
uwbadgers.evenue.net
Viva la Vida! The land of cardinal red and white turns all yellow this July, as Coldplay tries to fix you. Running since 2022 and crowned the biggest rock tour of all time two years later, “Music of the Spheres World Tour” promises a lot of flash — one Seattle reviewer described “fireworks, confetti, lasers, light-up wristbands, giant balloons, LED alien masks and even a muppet,” as well as “soul-stirring songs.” At press time, tickets were sold out via UW, and prices are substantial ($462 and up) on the secondary market.
AtwoodFest
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27
2000-2100 blocks of Atwood Avenue
atwoodfest.com
Come to this fun neighborhood festival early for Mama Digdown’s Brass Band and Steely Dane, and stay late to see the Adem Tesfaye band, Minnesota trio American Scarecrow and Mr. Blotto, a Chicago-based jam band. The fest runs noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, with arts and craft vendors, booths from local shops, and lots of food (Cinn City Smash burgers, La Taguara arepas, Roost Fried Chicken, cotton candy from Lily’s Magical Treats).
Sugar Maple Festival
Friday-Saturday, Aug. 1-2
William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park, 4330 Libby Road
sugarmaplefest.org
This year’s Sugar Maple slate features a swath of American roots acts, including folk/blues/country singer Lizzie No, bluegrass fiddle player Jason Carter’s band and the New Orleans-based band the Deslondes. Tickets start at $35 for Friday, $45 for Saturday or $55 for a two-day pass. Kinds under 17 get in for free with a ticketed adult.
Dane Dances
Fridays, Aug. 1-29
Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive
danedances.org
Latin-soul fusion from Orquestra Salsoul Del Mad, the rock/pop/reggae grooves of The LoveMonkeys, S.O.S. Motown Revue and local disco band V05 will get Dane County dancing on the top of Monona Terrace. Every Friday in August, come by early to this free evening of music and dance, with dance lessons before and between acts from dance teacher Francis Medrano.
Orton Park Fest
Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31
Orton Park, 1003 Spaight St.
marquette-neighborhood.org/festivals
The full lineup for the 60th incarnation of Orton Park Festival has yet to be announced, but based on previous years, expect a selection of local and touring bands as well as a return performance by aerial dance group Cycropia. All under the famous great oaks, of course. Full musical lineup TBD. Free.
Taste of Madison
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 30-31
Capitol Square
tasteofmadison.com
No lineup has been announced for this annual Labor Day festival just yet. But given past versions, expect a wide variety of food and beverage options alongside live music all day long. Free admission.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source captimes.com ’
