What a busy weekend of great events it's going to be in Madison, so of course, I'll be out of town. I AM going to do something really fun in Minneapolis... a festival Friday night with Weezer, One EskimO, Eric Hutchinson and Grace Potter, just to name a few. But what I'm going to miss, amongst others is:
La Fete De Marquette 8th-11th with lots of great performers, including Marcia Ball and Sonny Landreth. It's the weekend for Art Fair On ( and Off) the Square. Some of the artists on the Triple M music stage include Mark Croft, Natty Nation and the Selfish Gene.
If you like blues, Jonny Lang will be at the Capitol Theater on Sunday and for fans of laughter, comic Patton Oswold will be at the Majestic.
The weather is supposed to be wonderful, so get out and discover why Madison is one of the greatest cities in America!
Saturday night was the Madison Area Music Awards at the beautiful Capitol Theater. This event helps to raise money to put instruments into the hands of children. This is especially important since too many school systems are cutting music programs. IN addition to ticket sales, Yamaha donated a guitar signed by Bon Jovi and a keyboard signed by Elton John! These items will be auctioned off sometime in the future.
Everyone was all dressed up and it was a festive evening.
The show started by Jimmy Voegli at the giant pipe organ playing, of all things, In-A-Gadda-da-Vida, which was a hoot and a half. There were lots of performances by young people, including an amazing violinist and a group called Stereocolor ( I think) with a 14 year old lead singer. Other performances were by Whitney Mann, multi-award winner Beth Kille, Hip Hop group Dumante and some wonderful dancers, whose name I have forgotten. ( sorry guys). I totally LOVED VO5, a disco tribute band complete with big hair and even higher platform shoes.
Two of my favorite bands, Harmonious Wail and Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo scored BIG, with the Hoodoo winning Artist of the Year. I think this is the first time a blues band has won this award. And of course, John Urban was awesome as host.
Please try to go to this show next year. You will not be disappointed, I promise.
Oh yeah, and one more thing: SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC!!!
If you were to describe me to your friends, I'm pretty sure the words fashion show and brides would not be mentioned. But you would be wrong!
For more years than I want to remember, I have been the announcer at Joy Publications's Wedding Planner and Guide Bridal Shows, one weekend in Madison, and the following weekend in Milwaukee.
Since I have been doing this for so long, the models, the staff, the vendors and the guys running the music and I have  bonded and the show weekends are like a family reunion.
For me, the first show is always a challenge because it's the first time I will see the models and hear the music. I have no idea what the clothes will look like and what special things they have been planning. There's nothing like a dress rehearsal in front of hundreds of people to get a girl's adrenaline flowing.
But, boy, is it fun. See! I'm smiling!
I can't wait for next year to do it all over again.
We all have our storm stories this week. I stayed on the Westside Tuesday night so I could be sure to get into the radio station on Wednesday. My first heroes are the guys in town from Ohio who were also staying at the West Towne Suites. The parking lot was plowed, but I needed the help of 2 young strangers who dug my car out of the lot.
My second knight in shining armor was Tony our engineer. I managed to make it to within several feet of our driveway here at work, but got stuck on Ganser Way. Tony dug me out of the mess I left myself in, and I was able to get back into work and then home. Of course, they didn't plow my parking lot at home, so I have to thank the people at Ken's Market who let me leave my car in their lot for a few hours.
Next is David George. Did you know he never went home Tuesday night? I heard on the news last night that he was up for almost 40 hours. So thank you David and the other hard working meterologists and newspeople who braved the storm to tell you to stay home.
Now tell me... how freakin' great are the road crews? My drive in on the Beltline this morning was effortless. I've said it before , but it needs to be said over and over again. You people ROCK! I've lived all over the country, but I have NEVER seen major roadways like the beltline cleared so quickly afer a major storm.
Finally, thanks to our friends Sims and Maggie of Harmonious Wail for braving the storm and posting these video's. Maggie almost makes it sound fun!
Boy, do I love the Willy Street Parade. Where else do you see stiltwalkers, a giant caddy-bubble machine, dancing gorilla's and giant pasta forks? And let's not forget the self-appointed Willy Street Parade Diva Queen!Â
If you like Phish and The Grateful Dead, do I have a show for you tonight!
Check out the show at the High Noon Saloon, with Phun, a Phish tribute band featuring the awesome guitar work of  Mike from Run Side Down. I've heard him play Phish songs and boy can he capture the music.Â
Opening will be Elf Lettuce, doing songs of The Grateful Dead.
The show starts at 9:30 and will only set you back $7.00! Get out and SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC!
I'm not sure why Pete Yorn decided to name his new music project after a European cave dwelling aquatic salamander, but if he stops by to play us some songs in Studio M, we'll have to ask him.
The Olms is a collaboration between Pete Yorn and...
Today's song was written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. It was inspired by the 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago. No one was inspired by the song this morning. It was rejected by almost all the listeners.
Today is World Goth Day, a day to celebrate the post-punk, anti-establishment, dark clothes-wearing subculture.
I'm pretty sure I was a Goth for at least for little while, for two reasons.
1) I almost hardly ever wear pastels.
2) I used to...
Hello to all from Nfusion. Another round of challenges has moved beyond us all. Congrats to those of us lucky enough to have survived to this point. Sad to see the others eliminated as they were all very creative and talented. Good Bye to our new friends...
This morning it seemed like just about everyone was in the mood for some Funky Cold Medina...except Kitty. This ridiculous song made it all the way to number 3 in 1989. Jonathan says any song that references advertising dogs from the 80's has got...
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
I'm not sure why Pete Yorn decided to name his new music project after a European cave dwelling aquatic salamander, but if he stops by to play us some songs in Studio M, we'll have to ask him.
The Olms is a collaboration between Pete Yorn and...
Today's song was written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. It was inspired by the 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago. No one was inspired by the song this morning. It was rejected by almost all the listeners.
Today is World Goth Day, a day to celebrate the post-punk, anti-establishment, dark clothes-wearing subculture.
I'm pretty sure I was a Goth for at least for little while, for two reasons.
1) I almost hardly ever wear pastels.
2) I used to...
Hello to all from Nfusion. Another round of challenges has moved beyond us all. Congrats to those of us lucky enough to have survived to this point. Sad to see the others eliminated as they were all very creative and talented. Good Bye to our new friends...
This morning it seemed like just about everyone was in the mood for some Funky Cold Medina...except Kitty. This ridiculous song made it all the way to number 3 in 1989. Jonathan says any song that references advertising dogs from the 80's has got...
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
For me, the first show is always a challenge because it's the first time I will see the models and hear the music. I have no idea what the clothes will look like and what special things they have been planning. There's nothing like a dress rehearsal in front of hundreds of people to get a girl's adrenaline flowing.
But, boy, is it fun. See! I'm smiling!
I can't wait for next year to do it all over again.
Check out the show at the High Noon Saloon, with Phun, a Phish tribute band featuring the awesome guitar work of  Mike from Run Side Down. I've heard him play Phish songs and boy can he capture the music. 
Opening will be Elf Lettuce, doing songs of The Grateful Dead.
The show starts at 9:30 and will only set you back $7.00! Get out and SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC!
