Events

Based in Madison, WI, the award-winning husband and wife duo of Mary Gaines (cello, guitar, bass, vocals) and Chris Wagoner (violin, mandolins, lapsteel, ukulele, guitar, accordion, vocals) play an eclectic mix of Americana—original and classic tunes ranging from folk to jazz, bluegrass to blues, honky-tonk and a little singer-songwriter on the side.

Each month, Mary and Chris invite a special musical guest to join them. This month’s guest is This month’s guest is Grandpa’s Elixir (Old timey string band).

Show time 4pm. $15 suggested donation

Bring your kids to the best show in town. David mesmerizes the the kids with the best kids music around. We’ll have our kid menu in full swing. It’s a good time for the whole family!

$5 cover. 5:30 start time.

Paul has all the questions. Do you have all the answers? Prove it!

We’ve got trivia that will rock you. Join us every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Free. Start time 6:30

Melissa Kieler is an eclectic folk/rock/alt/pop singer-songwriter-instrumentalist with a powerful, soulful voice. Playing both originals and covers, she brings a passionate dynamic to the stage, and with it, a pinch of snarkiness and a dollop of dad jokes. Melissa is unlike any singer you have ever heard. Her unmistakable sound has been compared to performance legends Melissa Etheridge, Adele, Alanis Morrisette, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, & Bishop Briggs.

6:30 start time. No cover.

With bagpipes, guitar, fiddle, celtic whistle, and a bodhran drum, Lochanside  play Scottish music, everything from centuries old traditional songs and upbeat dance tunes to new celtic music coming out of Scotland today.

Start time 8pm. No cover

O’Darby plays traditional Irish pub songs, ballads, improvisation & humor... adding lovely original songs in the spirit of the old style.

Start time 7:30. $10 suggested donation

The Sorry Mountain Band plays a varied and tasty mix of bluegrass, vintage country and swing.  Made up of veterans of the Madison bluegrass scene, the band emphasizes three-part vocal harmonies and feature under appreciated gems as well as old favorites.

Start time 6:30. No cover

All the members of Annie & the Oakies were part of the Oak Street Ramblers, a Madison favorite for nearly two decades. In 2022, the band rebranded and released its eponymous debut album. Although Annie and the Oakies has a foundation based on classic bluegrass stylings, its repertoire divulges a wider range of influences. Indeed, the unexpected cover song reworked to fit a bluegrass lineup has become a staple of the band’s live performances.

Start time 6:30. No cover

Canyon Arrow is Dan O'Brien and Nick Brown on vocals/guitar/bass, Andrew Harrison on vocals/lead guitar, Matt Nafranowicz on pedal steel and keyboards, and Ben Wolf on drums. These guys have been holding it down for years in Madison bands including Brown Derby, The North Country Drifters, Pupy Costello & the New Hiram Kings, and more.

6:30 Start time. No cover

Formed in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Bandmates bring a wealth of experience to the stage where their sounds blend the 1980's MTV vibe with classic rock and blues tunes that are sure to get you moving.

9pm start time. $10 cover

With the release of their latest single “Say It’s Over,” Maria and the Coins are ushering in their next era of indie pop-rock while retaining the lyrical integrity, powerhouse vocals, and early 2000s-inspired style that define their sound. The Minneapolis-based fivesome’s catalog consists of big-picture pop anthems, soulful ballads, and driving- with-the-windows-down-belt-your-heart-out bangers. From finding and losing love to struggles with mental health to searching for joy in the little corners of the universe— one idea remains a constant through it all: encouraging listeners to keep moving forward.

Bear in the Forest opens.

Start time 9pm. $10 cover

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Singer, Songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire Andy Ewen will perform an acoustic show with fellow Honor Among Thieves founder Doug DeRosa on bass and emerging young guitarist Ryan Repenshek. 

5pm start time. No cover

Madison's hardest working Bluegrass band, Soggy Prairie, is proud to host the Madison Bluegrass Roundabout, a monthly Tuesday night series highlighting Southern Wisconsin's Bluegrass scene. The series will feature new and upcoming bands, as well as well-established groups. Each month will feature a set from Soggy Prairie followed by a set from guest artists Lucky Pickers.

No cover. 6:30pm start time.

Paul has all the questions. Do you have all the answers? Prove it!

We’ve got trivia that will rock you. Join us every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Free. Start time 6:30

Season 2, Episode 2! The “Harmonious” songwriters’ showcase at Harmony Bar & Grill features Madison most talented musicians. Host and organizer JT Spartz (Dogtown Hollow) will emcee the round-robin style showcase.

This showcases features the following artists:

Annie Emmenegger is a Madison-based singer-songwriter whose vocal style gives nods to Patsy Cline and Lorde. She is lead singer for Annie and the Oakies, and performs with the Grouvin Family Band and Flyin' by the Seat, a trio focused on country and blues. Her songs are largely influenced by her adventures in the Pacific Northwest, where she lived and played for 11 years. 

 Jason Edward is a singer-songwriter who draws on music of his cassette-era youth. Melodic, guitar-driven songs rooted in common experiences—relationships, memories, aging, and the people and moments that leave a mark—with a recurring belief that the struggle is the best part of the story. 

 James Travis (JT) Spartz hosts and organizes the Harmonious series. His work with local alt.-country rockers Dogtown Hollow includes two recent EPs, nominations for Americana Artist of the Year in 2024 and 2025 (Midwest Country Music Organization), and winner of Country Performer of the Year in 2026 (Madison Area Music Awards).

No Cover. Show starts at 6:30

Loving Cup - We are a Rolling Stones tribute located in Madison, Wisconsin. We love to rock.

Los Bad Hombres - Beware, the original Bad Hombres are coming to your neck of the woods!

$10 cover. 9pm start time. 21+

The Cajun Strangers are an award-winning band from Madison, Wisconsin, that plays traditional Cajun dance music, as you would hear down in Southwest Louisiana and East Texas. A Madison institution, they’ve been playing dances, festivals, events, and backyards for nearly 20 years.  

Start time 4pm. $10 suggested donation

After years of sharing festival bills and bumping elbows at open jams, Starr Moss, Trent Cuthbert, Michael Falk, Claire Kannapell and Paul Kienitz have convened to make their own brand of bluegrass-inspired music. Bigtooth, the culmination of this shared history, keeps one hand on the book of bluegrass standards and the other on the songwriting pen. Count on a distinctive repertoire that intertwines traditional material and original compositions, delivered with precision, finesse, and style.

This month, Bigtooth will be joined by TBD!

6:30 start time. No cover

Max Capacity brings the ultimate 1980s new wave party to life. Specializing in high-voltage synth-pop, new wave, and college radio anthems, we deliver an electrifying live show packed with massive hooks, neon nostalgia, and non-stop movement. From iconic dance floor fillers to sing-along guilty pleasures, we turn every venue into a Saturday night in 1985.

10th annual fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank!

$15 suggested donation. 8pm start time

The Ham n’ Eggers are a Madison, Wisconsin Americana quartet built around rich vocal harmonies and a shared love of traditional American roots music. Formerly performing as the Grouvin Family String Band, the group features Annie Emmenegger on guitar and vocals, Tim Haub on guitar, mandolin and vocals, Max Winkels on banjo, mandolin and vocals, and Doug DeRosa on bass and vocals. Their repertoire draws from bluegrass, folk, blues, and classic Americana traditions, blending skilled musicianship with warm, expressive singing.

No cover. 8pm start

Join our host, Max, and make some beautiful music together.

Sign up is 6:30 with performances starting at 7pm.  Bring your guitar and show us what you’ve got!

Acoustic Duo delivering original music along with classic cover songs. Singers & Storytellers. 

No cover. 6:30 start time.

Based in Madison, WI, the award-winning husband and wife duo of Mary Gaines (cello, guitar, bass, vocals) and Chris Wagoner (violin, mandolins, lapsteel, ukulele, guitar, accordion, vocals) play an eclectic mix of Americana—original and classic tunes ranging from folk to jazz, bluegrass to blues, honky-tonk and a little singer-songwriter on the side. 

Each month, Mary and Chris invite a special musical guest to join them. This month’s guest TBA

Show time 4pm. $15 suggested donation

Lou Shields continues the tradition of American music with a performance that pulls in styles of days-gone-by. On stage you will find him using 1931 National Resonator Guitars, 1930s Arch Tops with D’Armond pickups played through a Fender PanoVerb amp. He accompanies this with a unique front porch style of foot percussion and sometimes a harmonica. Lou carries a full sound during live performances, filling the room with emotion and an early acoustic and electric sound reminiscent of Golden Age Blues and Americana. All while sharing stories, thoughts and experiences with the audience.

6:30 start time. No cover

All the members of Annie & the Oakies were part of the Oak Street Ramblers, a Madison favorite for nearly two decades. In 2022, the band rebranded and released its eponymous debut album. Although Annie and the Oakies has a foundation based on classic bluegrass stylings, its repertoire divulges a wider range of influences. Indeed, the unexpected cover song reworked to fit a bluegrass lineup has become a staple of the band’s live performances. 

Start time 6:30. No cover

Richard has been a presence for over 50 years in the Wisconsin music scene, and has just released his fourth solo CD, "Live in Mazomanie."  His solo style leans more on country blues and the Piedmont style of fingerpicking, and in performance pulls songs from his solo CDs along with 4 original CDs by his band The Midwesterners.   Richard has won song of the year twice from the Madison Area Music Awards, once for "Richard's Rondo" on 'Wiegel Room', and once for "Pecatonica Mud" on The Midwesterners CD 'Pecatonica Mud.'

6:30 Start time. No cover

Electric Spanking is an all-star, four-piece funky jam band from Madison that refuses to let your feet stay still or your musical expectations make sense.  They serve up a high-octane blend of originals and wildly unpredictable covers, seamlessly bridging the gap between Booker T. and Warren G.  Come out for the infectious funk-rock grooves, and stay for the only show in town where yacht rock and 90's hip-hop happily coexist in a glorious, dance-driven melting plot.

Start time 9pm $10 cover. 21+

O’Darby plays traditional Irish pub songs, ballads, improvisation & humor... adding lovely original songs in the spirit of the old style.

Start time 7:30. $10 suggested donation

Madison's hardest working Bluegrass band, Soggy Prairie, is proud to host the Madison Bluegrass Roundabout, a monthly Tuesday night series highlighting Southern Wisconsin's Bluegrass scene. The series will feature new and upcoming bands, as well as well-established groups. Each month will feature a set from Soggy Prairie followed by a set from guest artists TBA.

No cover. 6:30pm start time.

Season 2, Episode 2! The “Harmonious” songwriters’ showcase at Harmony Bar & Grill features Madison most talented musicians. Host and organizer JT Spartz (Dogtown Hollow) will emcee the round-robin style showcase.

This showcases features three talented artists TBA

No Cover. Show starts at 6:30

8pm start time. No cover

The Cajun Strangers are an award-winning band from Madison, Wisconsin, that plays traditional Cajun dance music, as you would hear down in Southwest Louisiana and East Texas. A Madison institution, they’ve been playing dances, festivals, events, and backyards for nearly 20 years.  

Start time 4pm. $10 suggested donation

After years of sharing festival bills and bumping elbows at open jams, Starr Moss, Trent Cuthbert, Michael Falk, Claire Kannapell and Paul Kienitz have convened to make their own brand of bluegrass-inspired music. Bigtooth, the culmination of this shared history, keeps one hand on the book of bluegrass standards and the other on the songwriting pen. Count on a distinctive repertoire that intertwines traditional material and original compositions, delivered with precision, finesse, and style.

This month, Bigtooth will be joined by TBD!

6:30 start time. No cover

Got friends in town for the holidays? Bring them out to see one of Madison’s storied bluegrass bands. They’ve got the cork AND the bottle.

Start time 6:30. No cover

Robert J. is an award-winning singer/songwriter/recording artist who has been a mainstay in the Wisconsin music scene for decades.  2026 has been especially rewarding for the Madison troubadour. The Madison Area Music Association honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the local music scene and for founding Mama Cares, a program that supports musicians during medical emergencies and family crises. At the annual awards show, he also won five MAMAs, including Album of the Year for Miscellaneous Me, Singer/Songwriter Performer of the Year, and Song of the Year in both the blues and jazz categories. This spring marks 40 years since he released his first LP, Boys Town, recorded at Smart Studios with producer Butch Vig. 

His solo show features finely crafted original songs alongside familiar classics. Using acoustic guitar with a looper, harmonica, kick board, and soulful vocals, he creates an authentic sound that is distinctly his own.

Start time 6:30. No cover