CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SCARY GOOD MUSIC WITH A MISSION
Obligatory Coronavirus Schedule update: Yes, it sucks, but we’re postponing the remainder of the spring schedule. Alasdair and Natalie moved to October 3rd, Barefoot Movement not sure yet. However: we always look on he bright side. Do what you can to keep yourself healthy, especially on the mental side of things. Take up an instrument, go for hikes out in the woods, all that. Do our best to enjoy the fact that you suddenly have a lot less to do. The pressure is off! Want to support live music? Well, we don’t need any money right now, so don’t worry about us. Just follow your favorites and give them words of encouragement. If they’re doing a little concert, maybe show them a buck or two. If you can’t, don’t worry. We’re all in this together.
Looking to play here? Emails only, please, and Read this first by clicking here.
All shows are at the North Madison Congregational Church, 1271 Durham Rd, Madison. See you here soon!!
You can read this first, or scroll down to the shows:
Ticket Sales or Reservations:
1A: Reservations help you get a better seat, but not necessary. We try hard to make sure there’s always room for walk-ins. We will cut off reservations when the main room is full, and leave the side open, for those that know what that means. Check each concert for status.
1B:To reserve seats or for more information for these shows please send us an email. All seats are assigned and reserved in the order in which they come in, so if you reserve early, you get good seats. Keep in mind sponsors have the first few rows, no matter when you email. Bribery helps, too. If the link isn’t working for you, the email is: workdog(at)mindspring.com, or call Charlie at 203-668-3735. Leave a message if he can’t hear the phone due to tools powering away.
1C: Pay at the door, always. Cash or check is fine. We don’t do the pre-pay thing because we’re too lazy to figure it out. Plus, if you’re sick or something, you’re already miserable, and losing the price of a ticket makes it worse.
We are the only concert venue with a mission.We want to educate, inspire, and yes, entertain. Not to waste space here, please look at the “workshops: the mission” page to see what we mean. Virtually EVERY concert is a fundraiser for a local non-profit.
And of course, visit our Facebook Page for links to really cool music… and you know, stuff.
SUNDAY AUGUST 2:
THE ANNUAL MADISON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST FUNDRAISER DOWN AT THE RETTICH PRESERVE
Looking forward to the summer yet? We sure are. But we’ll have to wait for at least this, a most popular event. Great food, great people, a beautiful spot, and yeah, great music. Who will be own the flat bed trailer this year?
THE RUTA BEGGARS
Tons of fun from the young ‘uns. They’re already festival favorites, and will be the perfect antidote to whatever ails you. Our usually sensational level of perfectly-coordinated food, music, scenery and …um… hopefully weather.
FALL 2020
It’s been one crazy year, and who knows if there will even be a fall schedule. But we’re looking on the positive side, and in trying to make up for lost time, we’re cramming in only the originals, the standard bearers, the cream of the crop, the tippest of the top (as PDQ Bach would say.).
October 3, 7:00 PM
Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Do we need to go into detail here? I believe it’s the 4th, maybe the fifth time they’ve been here, the first being around 15 years ago. It’s just two of the world’s best, ok? This also might be the end-of-now-beginning-of-season sponsor and volunteer appreciation party. Anyway, superlatives don’t do either Natalie and Alasdair here, or Ashley, below, justice. Adults $30, kids high school and under, $5.00
October 17, 7:00 pm
Ashley Bathgate
While I can’t say she’s the most important musician of the 21st century, she’s in the group of daring classical musicians exploring what exactly music is. As a group, they are indeed the most important musicians right now. Technical chops are so extreme it’s not even part of the discussion anymore. Ashley’s at the forefront of playing music by contemporary composers that push limits. Some pieces are extremely melodic, and some are on the edge of the “noise” edge of music, some challenge the assertion that 12 tones are sufficient. I’ll say this: anyone who is willing to sit up in front of an audience solo and play weird stuff brilliantly for an hour+ show gets a medal for bravery. But don’t fear, she’ll mix in some old classical standards, just so you can hear the reference points that the modern composers are jumping off from. $30 and 5.
NOVEMBER 14
Mike Marshall and Darol Anger
What do you say about Mike and Darol that hasn’t been said a million times. Oh wait, I know… nothing. The standard bearers, and are two of the maybe six or seven guys who literally and figuratively started it all. Nothing would sound like it is if it weren’t for that group, and these two were at the head of the table. Cost ya $30, with the same 5 for kids high school and under.
In the mix, just trying to see how it goes down:
The Barefoot Movement great reschedule.
Taarka: A most superb duo that shows the restlessness of influences of the post-modern folk fiddle tradition. That does sound stupid, I agree, but it’s gypsy, it’s old-time, it’s jazz, it’s Romanian Village music, it’s bluegrass, …
9 Horses: New stuff from our favorite weird classical/jazz free expression improvisational trio
Katie Martucci Band:
A new wave of musician/artist/whatever that does it all. Frequent Apartment Sessions collaborator, multi-instrumentalist, blah blah blah. Just a beautiful singer to boot. This will be cool.