Events
Nester
Friday September 29th
Combining insight, imagination, and exhilarating guitar riffs, Nester creates an original and beautiful rocking repertoire.
Def Sonic opens.
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Shakey/Bent Antenna
Saturday September 30th
Shakey, a Neil Young tribute band, has grown into so much more. Simply put, they’re fantastic.
Don’t miss Bent Antenna as openers. They play energetic indie rock with pretty harmonies!
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
David Landau Kids Show
Monday October 2nd
Every Monday
Fun for the whole family!
$5 cover
05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Open Mixed Mic
Tuesday October 3rd
Every Tuesday
Totally free and totally cool! Local talent performing their hearts out.
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Smarter Than You Trivia
Wednesday October 4th
Monthly on every first Wednesday
Paul’s your guy for the smartest trivia in town!
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Spartz Electric
Thursday October 5th
Spartz Electric is led by James Travis and Jason Edward, brothers from the Upper Midwest's Driftless Area. With decades of experience as performing songwriters, Jason and James mix story songs with rockabilly rave-ups, minor-key ballads, folky anthems, and bluesy grooves.
No cover
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Loving Cup
Friday October 6th
Madison’s premier Rolling Stones cover band will have you up and dancing all night!
$10 cover
09:00 PM - 11:59 PM
After August/Dana Perry
Saturday October 7th
Their a five piece rock band with deep roots in the Madison music scene with support from a beloved Madison staple, Dana Perry!
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 11:59 PM
Tret Fure
Sunday October 8th
Presented by the Madison Folk Music Society, Tret Fure, a prolific artist in the contemporary singer-songwriter arena, Tret has released 18 albums and CDs over the course of her 51 year career. Her new CD "Lavender Moonshine" will be available very soon. How soon? Well, this is her CD release party!
Cover: $17 Advance, $20 day of show.
Advance Ticket link:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/madisonfolkmusicsociety/1005330
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Annie & the Oakies
Wednesday October 11th
Madison favorites Annie & the Oakies present their Harmony show on the second Wednesday of each and every ding-dong month!
No cover
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Gaines & Wagoner
Thursday October 12th
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.
No cover
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Boiled in Lead/The Echo Rays
Friday October 13th
Guitar, bass, fiddle & drums play country music from many countries with power and emotion. Boiled In Lead is the longest-running Celtic punk band in America, and an important part of the foundation of what became Minnesota punk rock.
Coming together over a mutual passion for writing and playing melodic, jangly rock music, Echo Rays is a new Madison band of four experienced tone seekers. The band focuses on creating original songs inspired by Tom Petty, Wilco, The Replacements, and many more. Echo Rays consist of Tony Sellers on drums, Rob Garza on bass and backing vocals, Danny Hicks on guitar, and Jeff Burkhart on guitar and vocals. Watch for an upcoming Echo Rays show!
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
The Periodicals/Wild Violets
Saturday October 14th
Local Madison, WI favorites The Periodicals are hard to pin down to any one category, and that’s just the way they like it. Merging elements of northern soul, classic R&B, and heart-on-the-sleeve rock, their eclectic songs catch you off-guard just as much as they catch you singing along.
https://theperiodicalsband.com/
$10 cover
09:00 PM - 11:59 PM
O’Darby & Sandhill Strangers
Sunday October 15th
It’s O’Darby’s monthly residency LIVE at the Harmony. Enjoy well crafted Irish music with these fine musicians as they feature a different special guest every 3rd Sunday of the month. Music starts at 4pm. This month's special guest is Sandhill Strangers!
Suggested donations: $10-20
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Kalyna Rakel & Dan Gurman
Thursday October 19th
Kalyna and Dan, from Toronto Canada, started playing music together in 2020, just as Covid closed music venues. They’ve come from the hardest of starts and headed west, landing a performance opportunity outside of a pizza truck for the summer on Hornby Island - Canada’s remote west coast. Since then, they've toured over 100,000 kms on land alone - across Canada, the UK (twice), Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand and are back in Canada this summer 2023. Their latest album together, called 'Welcome to the Show,’ is available on all online platforms. They’re committed to their music and that commitment shines through when you hear it.
No cover
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Evan Murdock and the Imperfect Strangers/Nick Brown Band
Friday October 20th
The Imperfect Strangers are a rag-tag amalgam of ruffians and roustabouts held together by their dedication to music and beer.
The Nick Brown Band - original slacker country folk from Madison, WI
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
The Droors
Saturday October 21st
We are The Droors, a Doors tribute band with dedicated members from the Sheboygan, Milwaukee, and Madison areas of Wisconsin. The Doors are a universally loved classic rock band and tribute bands for them are rare. If you are a Doors fan, our hope is to awe you. If you are not familiar with The Doors, our goal is to make you a fan.
$10 Cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Charming Disaster/Professor Pinkerton
Sunday October 22nd
Goth-folk musical duo Charming Disaster, based in Brooklyn, NY, perform playfully dark original songs inspired by death, crime, myth, magic, science, and the occult. The band was formed in 2012 by Ellia Bisker and Jeff Morris, inspired by the macabre humor of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, the murder ballads of the Americana tradition, and the dramatic flair of the cabaret. Their latest album, Super Natural History, is a musical cabinet of curiosities inspired by the natural world and the metaphysical realm, uniting the worlds of magic and science with songs that explore subjects like witchcraft, monsters, and the underworld alongside bats, plants, poisons, and parasites.
Professor Pinkerton (Milwaukee) opens.
No cover
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Cork N Bottle String Band
Wednesday October 25th
Madison's most delicious bluegrass band
No cover
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
David Sewell
Thursday October 26th
Traditional country artist. Before Americana was Americana, there was David Sewell.
No Cover.
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Skalloween (Bad Graffiti/Skapital Corruption/Courtesy of Tim)
Friday October 27th
Skalloween is back! Get ready for a fun filled, high energy night of ska!
$10 cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
The Haunted Disco: Ken Lonnquist & The Lost Band
Sunday October 29th
The Haunted Disco of PumpKENland featuring Ken Lonnquist and the bone-rattling, pule-pounding KENLAND BAND. Dress in your scariest costume for the costume ball! Bring the kids! All ages! Join the dancing spirits!
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Kelly Hunt
Thursday November 2nd
Hunt was raised in Memphis, TN amidst a motley mélange of musical influences ranging from Rachmaninov to Joni Mitchell to Mississippi John Hurt. Her penchant for storytelling and intriguing arrangement cast a spell which No Depression describes as “the musical equivalent of a book you can’t put down, one you’ll want to revisit again and again to catch every nuance and turn of phrase.”
Kelly’s sophomore album “Ozark Symphony" is out now.
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Desperate Electric
Friday November 3rd
Hailing from the mountains of Montana, Desperate Electric is a captivating soul-pop duo that brings vibrant energy and infectious melodies to the forefront of the music scene. Comprising of two electrifying individuals, their name alone evokes a sense of urgency and excitement that resonates with audiences worldwide. With their flashy outfits, magnetic stage presence, and unparalleled live performances, Desperate Electric is a force to be reckoned with.
$10 cover
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Yes Ma'am & Comedy Dance Chicago
Saturday November 4th
Monkey Business Institute invites you to the Harmony stage for a unique and delightful comedy double-header featuring Comedy Dance Chicago and Yes Ma'am!
Comedy Dance Chicago’s combination of sketch and physical comedy, dance, word play, music, and overall goofiness has entertained Chicagoland audiences for years. Throw in some audience participation, and you get what The Chicago Reader describes as “one of the funniest, most enjoyable hours you’ll spend on a Friday night.”
Company members bring a range of comedy and dance styles to the show and have trained with the Second City, iO Chicago, American Theatre Conservatory, and the Accademia dell'Arte. Credits include: Queen City Comedy Experience (Blumenthal, Charlotte NC), San Francisco Sketchfest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (Stage 773), iO Chicago, Dance Chicago (The Athenaeum Theatre), Woodstock Opera House, Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor Conference, House of Blues.
Yes Ma'am is a mashup of true storytelling and improv comedy created by the women of Monkey Business Institute for audiences of all genders. Sky-high energy, amazing connections, and unabashed joy are hallmarks of this weird and wonderful comedy show featuring a rotating cast of Madison's most fearless and experienced improvisers. Credits include: The Nestival (The Nest Theatre, Columbus, OH), Broom Street Theatre, Madison Comedy Week, The Lady Laughs Comedy Festival (Madison, WI)
Doors 8:30 PM
$20 Cover
Tickets: monkeybusinessinstitute.com
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Annie & The Oakies
Wednesday November 8th
Madison favorites Annie & the Oakies present their Harmony show on the second Wednesday of each and every ding-dong month!
No cover
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Noah James Hittner
Thursday November 9th
Musician and author, Noah James Hittner, was born and raised in the beautiful driftless region of the rural Midwest, where his work has led him to appear on both radio and network television.
Influenced by everything from folk-rock to hip-hop, Noah has recorded and released several albums which blend the singer-songwriter, acoustic, rock, urban, and electronic styles into a singular Acoustic-Tronic genre.
Noah James Hittner’s 3rd solo album, willing is available now on all major streaming and download platforms.
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Mars Williams
Saturday November 11th
DARK STAR ART BAR AND BLUESTEM JAZZ PRESENTS:
An evening with Mars Williams
Mars Williams is an American jazz and rock saxophonist. Exposed to big band and dixieland jazz by his trumpet-playing father, Williams played classical clarinet for ten years, then migrated to saxophone in his last year of high school, citing the influence of Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker. He attended De Paul University and later the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians where he studied under founders Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell. In 2004 he was selected by the Moers Festival as their featured artist.
Williams is a musician, orchestrator, and arranger who has played with The Waitresses and The Psychedelic Furs. He was only to tour with The Furs in Australia for a month in 1983 as then sax-player Gary Windo was unable to make the trip. After a successful tour with The Furs and the breakup of the Waitresses, he was asked to stay on as a permanent member of The Psychedelic Furs, which he did until 1989 and later rejoined in 2005. He has also performed with Billy Idol, the Power Station, Billy Squier, Massacre, Ministry, and Die Warzau and the Ike Reilly Assassination.
He has toured and recorded with the Peter Brötzmann Tentet, the Vandermark 5, Cinghiale, Our Daughter's Wedding, and Mark Freeland's Electroman, and is the bandleader of several spin-off jazz groups: Grammy Award nominated, acid jazz pioneer Liquid Soul, Hal Russell's NRG Ensemble, Witches & Devils, Slam, and XmarsX. He is active in the Chicago improvisational jazz underground scene both individually and as a member of the quartet Extraordinary Popular Delusions.
Tickets $20
09:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Lightfoot
Sunday November 12th
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Jane Hobson/Blinker
Saturday November 18th
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
O'Darby's & Friends
Sunday November 19th
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Cajun Strangers
Sunday November 26th
$7 Suggested Cover
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Electric Spanking/Lower 5th
Saturday December 2nd
Rocking audiences with a celebration of life's joys and trials, the Lower 5th shares their unique blend of Americana, which they simply call "Midwestern Soul". Their music drifts from charged renditions of timeless classics to soulful originals that keep happy crowds singing and dancing into the night.
Riding in on a majestic steed with a psychedelic sound scape-coat,Electric Spanking takes the genre of "jam" to a new realm. Blurring lines between funk, rock, pop, and hippy-hulu-hooping riffs and taking lessons from powerhouses such as Phish, The Meters, Average White Band, and Barry White, this 5-piece group has it all.
09:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Shecase
Thursday December 7th
07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
The Motor Primitives/The Ghost Particles
Sunday December 10th
The Motor Primitives were a four-piece band from Madison, Wisconsin. The group played rock'n'roll they called Proto Pop Punk. Their sound infused catchy melodies with the raw elements of proto-punk music. They’re together again to play their self titled album that was released in 2006. Their live performances lead their audiences through a set that span high-energy rockers to mid-tempo head-bobbers to warm, grooving, melodic songs.
The ghost particles is a new band comprised of veteran Madison musicians, some of whom have been active on the local music scene since the mid ‘70s. Bassist Joel Tappero (Spooner), keyboardist Don Irwin (The Rousers), guitarist, harmony vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Dave Benton (Spooner, The Rousers, The Waterdogs) and lead singer, songwriter
05:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Annie & the Oakies
Friday September 13th
Annually on September 13th
Madison favorites Annie & the Oakies present their Harmony show on the second Wednesday of each and every ding-dong month!
No cover