You may have noticed some construction barrels and "Do Not Enter" and "One Way" signs on Willy Street this summer..and may have worried what that would mean for the Willy Street Fair. Well worry no more! The fair is on this Saturday and Sunday! Bob Queen with the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Association says you won't have to wear your hard hat..but white shoes might be the worse for wear afterwards.
If you've never been to the Willy Street Fair, you've really got to check it out. It's a bittersweet thing, because it means the end of summer. But it's a party like no other. There will be entertainment on ten stages over two days, plus food and beverage vendors, street performances, and a parade that could only happen on Willy Street!
For the 3rd year, the Willy Street Fair teams up with the Wisconsin Union Theatre and the World Music Festival to bring acts from around the world to Madison on Saturday. New this year..free Greyhound bus shuttles from campus to the fair on Saturday.
Here's the entertainment lineup for 2011:
Saturday, September 17 / 1:45 pm to 9:00 pm, 900/1000 block of Williamson StreetMain Stage
1:45 Luisa Maita
3:30 Marco Calliari
5:30 Sergent Garcia
7:30 Bomba Estereo
3:00 & 5:00 pm Dragon Knights Grounds Parade
Folk stage
2:00 Blake Thomas and Josh Harty
3:30 Eric Schwartz
5:30 Cris Plata
Madcat Electronic/DJ Stage
2:00-7:00 Local/Regional Electronic/DJ Performers
7:00 East Coast/West Coast Legend, Dr. Dunks
Sunday, September 18 / 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, 800, 900 and 1000 blocks of williamson street
Willy street fair parade: 11:00 amMain stage
1:00 Emmettville
2:30 the Midwesterners
4:00 Bumpus
5:45 the Kissers
Kidâs Stage
1:00 Mad Rollinâ Dolls Demonstration
2:00 Wil-Mar Teen Fashion Show
3:00 Madgadders
4:00 EMCC BreakDancers
5:00 Truly Remarkable Loon
6:30 Willy Street Fair Raffle
Culture Stage
11:45 Yid Vicious
1:00 Cajun Strangers
2:00 Sadira and the Riad Dance Company
2:45 An Blas Quartet
3:50 Xtring
4:55 Atimevu Drum and Dance
6:00 Charanga Agosa
WORT Underground Stage
12:00 Whitney Mann (& Band)
1:10 Roboman
2:20 the Shabelles
3:30 Venus In Furs
4:40 Weapons of Mass DeFunktion
5:50 (From Toronto, Canada) The Sadies
Folk Stage
12:00 Small Potatoes
2:00 Bret & Frisk
3:30 Bill & Kate isles
5:00 Moonhouse
Gotta love those Madison summer festivals...
It was an extremely warm afternoon in Madison, but folks looking for entertainment and camaraderie got what they were looking for at Atwood Summerfest on Saturday!
And it was all for a good cause..the Goodman Community Center.
This Saturday it will be extra festive around the Barrymore Theatre..it's Atwood Summerfest time again!
This is one of Madison's great summer festivals, with tasty food, refreshing beverages..and great live music. Local bands make up this year's lineup, with a little something for everybody.
Proceeds benefit the Goodman Community Center (which used to be the Atwood Community Center). They've got great programs for kids and adults and really do great work. This is one of their major fundraisers, so let's hope it's a big success.
Now I know it's going to be HOT this weekend, but here's another great thing about this festival. It's located within convenient walking distance of several air conditioned bars.
Here's the lineup for 2011!
Harmony Bar / Capital Brewery BLUES Stage
12:00 pm The Roddys: a duo that mixes country with the blues
1:10 pm Cris Plata and Extra Hot: original Tex Mex
2:20 pm Sigourney Weavers:Â original rock/alternative
3:30 pm David Hecht and Primitive Culture: funk, blues, tropical
4:40 pm Kyle Henderson and Blue Eyed Soul: soul & blues from an original member of the Producers
5:50 pm The Jimmys: 8-piece Chicago style blues led by rock-n-roll farmer Jimmy VoegeliMaximum Ink / Ale Asylum ROCK Stage:
12:00 pm Unity the Band: reggae
1:20 pm Lova Nova: get your groove on
2:40 pm Soul Shaker: rock n roll, blues
4:00 pm Baghdad Scuba Review: progressive rock
5:30 pm VO5: funk/disco/dance
I'm not really a winter person..but I'm looking forward to spending some time outside this weekend in Wisconsin Dells. It's the 21st annual Flake Out Festival, which includes the official Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition.
You really have to see these things to appreciate them! The artists spend all weekend..night and day..creating these amazing works of art, and the judging is on Sunday. The winners get to go onto the national competition!
There are lots of great activities..from live music outside in a tent to kids activities, an ice maze, snow tubing, an arts and crafts show and more. Most of the stuff is free, but some activities require you to buy a $5 snow pass.
Don't forget to check out Moosejaw Pizza and Brewing Company while you're there and try a tasty brew!
Click here for more information!
There was a brief heavy downpour during La Fete de Marquette yesterday-- but that didn't ruin any of the fun.
If you haven't caught this fun community event...mark it on your calendar for next year. It's a French themed festival..with Cajun and Louisiana music mixed in with more traditional French and Acadian tunes.
I was really looking forward to seeing Sonny Landreth again..even though I just saw him two weeks ago at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago. Of course he did not disappoint. He even got a little wild to get the crowd fired up.. "I wanna hear ya yell! I wanna hear you holler!" He's usually so mild-manner that seemed a little odd to me. I saw a lot of Madison musicians in the crowd..so maybe they were picking up some pointers from Sonny. And Trombone Shorty was amazing as well.
Earlier Sunday morning, Jonathan and I hosted the Acoustic Cafe breakfast at La Fete. We enjoyed music from two groups--Vishten, from Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the Red Stick Ramblers from LaFayette, Louisiana.
Guitar wizard Jeff Beck turns 66 today. I wonder what I should bring him for a gift when I go see him Saturday at the CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL in Chicago?
To say that I'm a little excited about the concert at Toyota Park, would be an understatement. It's Eric Clapton's deal...a fundraiser for his Crossroads Antigua drug rehab clinic. He's invited a lot of his best friends and guitar playing buddies to join him..including Jeff Beck, BB King, Steve Winwood, Robert Cray...and the list goes on.
One band that was scheduled to appear, the Allman Brothers Band won't be there, because Greg Allman just had a liver transplant yesterday. In his place will be the Derek Trucks-Susan Tedeschi Band, with Warren Haynes on guitar, and other "special surprise guests."Â I guess I can live with that.
If you're reading this on Thursday and are interested in going to the concert, some tickets are expected to be released at 5pm today (both general admission and reserved). Click here for more info about the concert and the tickets going on sale later today.
Meanwhile, here's Jeff from the last Crossroads concert in 2007.
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Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
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Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
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