Events

2023 Madison Area Music Awards winners the BirdDogBlues band carry on Madison's Blues tradition. Featured performer Mel Ford got started touring with the Muddy Waters band during the 70s before landing in Madison and teaming up with the legendary Paul Black, then striking out with his own band, Mel Ford & the Fairlanes, then joining up with "Westside" Andy Linderman in a powerhouse ensemble that ruled regional stages for nearly two decades. Singer and harmonica-man Ken "Birddog" Olufs was a longtime sideman with pianist Barrelhouse Chuck and an original member of The Jimmys. He enlisted Mel and two former Fairlanes, bassist/singer Tom McCarty (also formerly of The Midwesterners), and Steve Daugherty, longtime first-call drummer for many regional blues acts. With three different and dynamic vocalists, BirdDogBlues brings their audiences a rare variety of repertoire and style.

$10 cover. 21+. Start time 9pm.

Gaines and Wagoner started The Moon Gypsies with award-winning singer-songwriter, Robert J. Conaway, in 1998, releasing two albums of original material, “The Moon Gypsies” and “Slip”.  We still perform a few times a year as a trio or larger band at clubs and festivals.

4pm start. $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.

The Harmony Drink N Draw is a time to draw together, connect with others, encourage creativity and most importantly have fun! Artists of all levels are welcome. We encourage people to bring their own sketchbooks and supplies but some basic materials will be available. Hosted by Know Love In The City. Come draw with us!

Join us on the first Tuesday of the month. Start time 6pm

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

​Singer-songwriter Dave Tamkin has carved out a distinctive niche in the acoustic music scene with his energetic performances and heartfelt songwriting. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Tamkin's musical journey has taken him through Boulder, Colorado, and he now resides in Madison, Wisconsin. His unique style blends rhythmic acoustic guitar work with personal, honest lyrics, creating a sound that resonates with audiences nationwide. ​

Nick Venturella is a performing folk/pop/rock singer/songwriter and indie/pop instrumentalist and singer/songwriter for sync music opportunities. His songs reflect life's ups and downs underscored by a spirit of hope.

6:30pm start. No cover

Canyonero are 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.

Start time 6:30. No cover

It’s our monthly offering of Annie & the Oakies.  Get ready for a most pleasing mix of folk, Americana and bluegrass.

No cover. Show starts at 6:30

The fourth in our monthly songwriter showcase! Here’s the list of participants:

Kenny Hotopp 

is a Folk / Americana artist with a rich baritone voice, blending the sounds of bluegrass, blues, country, and R&B. His vivid narratives and relatable themes establish him as a strong storyteller in the regional Americana scene. 

Bree Morgan 

is a powerful and engaging songwriter performing throughout the region with her trademark combination of grit, rasp, sass and love. Hear her once and you'll have no doubt why Bree has received multiple nominations from the Midwest Country Music Organization and others. 

JT Spartz

 is the Harmonious series host and primary cat herder. Whether you've heard him around town with local Americana rockers Dogtown Hollow or back in the day with Jim James & The Damn Shames, you'll recognize JT's inimitable mix of vocal grit, songwriting wit, and driving rhythm guitar + harmonica chops. Stories and songs in a listening room environment with great food, cold drinks, and friends both old and new.... It's Harmonious!  

Start time 6:30. No cover

It started as a jam session in 1995 in a now burnt-out St. Paul hole-in-the-wall bar.  Over 30 years later, the Urban Hillbilly Quartet is an award-winning Twin Cities-based ensemble that delivers an eclectic mix of musical styles, blending guitars, fiddle, accordion, bass and drums.  On stage, the UHQ performs mainly original material—most of which can be found on their ten albums.  

UHQ has been compared to R.E.M., The Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, The Grateful Dead, and The Waterboys.

Ticklepenny Corner open.

$10 Cover. 21+. Show starts at 9pm

Back by popular demand, the Currach Irish Trio brings the rich traditions of Irish music to life, celebrating the spirit of St. Patrick's Day with lively performances. With a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, the band captivates audiences with their energetic rhythms and heartfelt melodies.

We’ll have our delicious corned beef and cabbage available.

Will the pipers be there again? Yes!

Will the UW Irish dancers be there? You Betcha!

$15 cover. Start time 8pm

Our weekend celebration of all things kelly green continues with Madison’s own O’Darby! They’ll be serving up their unique blend of harmonies while you are invited to feast on corned beef &  cabbage and a pint of Guinness.

$10 suggested donation. 5pm start time.

Join Soggy Prairie as they host this special St. Patrick’s Day edition of the Madison Bluegrass Roundabout. This monthly series goes kelly green as it highlights Southern Wisconsin's Bluegrass scene.  This month’s guest band is Lilies of the Midwest! Grab a Guinness and some corned beef & cabbage because Irish eyes are smiling!

No cover. 6:30 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

Travel back in time with Emmy Award winning songwriter Jack Norton for a concert of vaudeville blues, old-time country, and vintage Americana folk music. Oddball ukulele legend Tiny Tim hailed Norton as “the greatest entertainer I have ever seen!” The Minneapolis Star Tribune called Jack “one of the most entertaining acoustic musicians in the Midwest.” His performances are an authentic throwback to a simpler time and bygone era.

No Cover. 6:30 start time

The 2026 Fundraiser for Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. will be quite a party! Three SWBMAI member bands will perform at this event. Come early, join the open jam, & stay all afternoon for great music and a fun time. Help us promote bluegrass music in Wisconsin & beyond!

Noon - Open Bluegrass Jam

2 pm -Northern Comfort

3 pm - The Grazers

4 pm -Sparetime Bluegrass

$10 donation appreciated.

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. 

$10 suggested donation. 4pm start time.

It’s SPRING BREAK and David has added an early show to his regular Monday mayhem at the Harmony.  This week catch the 3pm or 5:30pm show!

$5 cover. Show starts at 3pm.

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.

No cover. 6:30pm start.

This 6-piece Bluegrass band showcases talented instrumentalists and amazing 3-part harmonies. And, they’re really nice fellas!

No cover. 6:30pm start time.

Midwestern songstress, Leah Brooke, dishes out a dignified spread of Bluesy Jazzy Pop Rock music featuring her own lyrical oddities enveloped within reimagined favorites. Blended-genre medleys and mashups infuse Brooke's delivery with nuance and whimsy, even as her own sweet & sour siren songs pierce the heart and examine the soul. 

No cover. 6:30 start time.

Emerald Grove is a Madison-based band known for its energetic "Switchblade Folk" style, blending traditional bluegrass, Americana, and folk with modern rock influences. The four-piece features banjo, guitar, violin, and mandolin for lively shows with both original songs and covers, reminiscent The Band or Trampled By Turtles.

No cover. 4pm start time.

The Grazers come together as bluegrass devotees to interpret the songs, also drawing influence from folk, country and other derivatives of American roots music.

No cover. Start time 6:30.

It’s our monthly offering of Annie & the Oakies.  Get ready for a most pleasing mix of folk, Americana and bluegrass.

No cover. Show starts at 6:30

The Doors Of Perception ensemble (DOPe)

 plays blues infused rock with eclectic improvisation. Find us at

dopetunes.org

  The band consists of Kevin Clark, Maury Smith, Marc Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal. The band members been active musicians in the Madison area for decades. This benefit supports:

 Voces de la Frontera 

and

 350 Wisconsin.

Voces de la Frontera Is a statewide civil rights organization supporting and protecting immigrant rights since 1994.  

 350 Wisconsin is a statewide environmental organization working to protect our planet and transformational progress towards environmental justice and addressing the climate crisis.

$10-20 suggested donation. Show starts at 6:30.

Classic country presented by some of Madison's finest honky-tonkers!

Show starts at 5pm. No cover

The fifth in our monthly songwriter showcase! List of participants TBD.

No cover. Show starts at 6:30.

Cornfields aren't the only things in Nebraska... Based in Omaha, Secret Formula is a 4-Piece Progressive Groove Rock band that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. From playing shows in bars and clubs, to their first theatre performance within a year of gigging, they have quickly become a staple in their local scene. 

 With a formula of storytelling lyrics and free-flowing riffs and grooves, the band's eclectic style and ever-expanding catalog of songs keeps audiences on their toes. After quickly finding their niche, Secret Formula has continued to connect with fans through music and blissful moments in time one can only experience by SEEKING FORM.

Tom Howl and the Scowl open

$10  cover. 9pm start time. 21+

Moon Boot is a Madison-based synth-heavy, guitar-driven psych/garage rock band. Formed by veterans of local acts like Tongue and Oak Street Ramblers, they are known for high-energy performances.

Def Sonic opens

$10 cover. 21+. Show starts at 9pm.

Their distinctive brand of Americana twists timeless folk songs with newer deep-cut covers, and seasons the blend with carefully crafted originals – always with ample space for fresh improvisation. Simple is beautiful.

Each voice contributes equally to the band’s wooden mélange. Singer/guitarist David Heuring (The Driftless Plowboys, The Resistance) was joined early on by Kevin Tipple (Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble, Chicken Bacon), who brought Greta, his double bass, to the party. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Mark Roeder (Wet Behind the Ears, The Best Westerns) adds fiddle and mandolin, and the estimable Kenny Koeppler (way too many bands to list) ties it all together on drums.

No cover. 5pm start time.

Soggy Prairie hosts this monthly event and brings on a guest band you'll be sure to love.

Soggy Prairie has the five-piece instrumentation of a traditional bluegrass band, but don’t call them traditional. With a mix of bluegrass standards, modern takes on country and Americana, and original music, Soggy Prairie puts on a show that demonstrates the versatility and broad appeal of string music.

No cover. 6:30pm start time.

By the early 1980s, Lonnquist was well known in the singer songwriter community, from his years singing about nature and environmental issues for Wisconsin's Environmental Decade (now Clean Wisconsin) to his Irish Pub Rock stylings.

Celebrate Earth Day with Ken at the Harmony Bar!

No cover. 6:30 start time.

The Cork 'n Bottle String Band is a long-standing 6-piece bluegrass ensemble from Madison, Wisconsin, known for its mix of traditional bluegrass and witty stage banter. Forming in 1996, the band became a local institution through its legendary residency at the now-defunct Ken's Bar & Grill.

No cover. 6:30pm start time.

Jules & the Jems is a Madison-based "soulful-folk dynamo" led by singer-songwriter Jules Iolyn. Since 2017, the group has been a staple in the local music scene, known for high-energy performances that blend original songwriting with a "girl power" attitude. Their sound is often compared to a mix of Carole King, Brandi Carlile, and Lou Reed.

$10 cover. 9pm start time. 21+

What did the drummer do when he turned 60? Why, he played drums of course - with three bands! 

 The German Art Students 10:45pm-Midnight As Isthmus stated recently, Randy, Annelies, Andy, and Kirk "combine a deft hand for garage pop with a brainy, cheeky take on the foibles of contemporary life with hymns to absurdity like "Civil War Reenactor" and "Robots in Raincoats." Since 1997! 

 The Lee Rays 9:50-10:30pm The Returnables and the German Art Students played many shows together in Chicago and Madison over the years until the untimely passings of guitarist John Glick (Bobby James Lee Ray) and bassist Bran Harvey (Reggie Lee Ray). Surviving Returnables Jonathan Benisvy (Frankie Lee Ray) and Art Kubin (Arturo Lee Ray) have saluted their former band with many different line-ups of friends as The Lee Rays. The most recent Lee Rays configuration features Frankie backed by The German Art Students (Rollo Lee Ray, Flossie Lee Ray, Keith Lee Ray, Kinky Lee Ray) to bring you the racing melodic power-pop of The Returnables.  

Formerly The Thumbs 9:00-9:40pm The final show of Randy's college band took place in 1989 at Cabaret Metro in Chicago opening for Bongos, Bass, & Bob, a band featuring Penn Gillette of Penn & Teller. Then Randy went into radio, Brian went to med school, and Charles became an international man of mystery. Randy and Brian reconnected recently, conversation turned to a reunion, and here we are! Hear original "hits" like Frat Boys Look Funny, Ice Cream, and Mr. Woodcock along with a well-curated collection of post-punk covers. Special guests likely. 

 Social time 7:00-9:00pm. Show up early and hang out with Randy and friends pre-show! The Harmony has great food! $10 Cover. All proceeds go to the Fritz Food Pantry at Goodman Community Center on Madison's East Side. 

9pm start time. This is a 21+

Come celebrate the Cajun Strangers last Harmony Bar show of the season!

No cover. 4pm start time.

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.

No cover. 6:30pm start.

Chris Powers is a prominent musician, music educator, and radio host based in Madison, Wisconsin. He is widely recognized as a "string wizard" proficient in guitar and mandolin.  

 No cover. 6:30pm start time.

Gaines & Wagoner is an award-winning musical duo based in Madison, WI, consisting of husband-and-wife multi-instrumentalists Mary Gaines and Chris Wagoner. The duo is known for an eclectic mix of Americana, spanning vintage jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, and honky-tonk. Their performances are characterized by "high-wire" improvisational chemistry and humorous stage banter. 

This month, Mary and Chris will be joined by award winning Chicago-based singer/songwriters Robin & Jenny Bienemann.

 $15 suggested donation. 4pm start time.