For the weekend of June 11, 2010…..

1)Kyle Henderson’s Blue Eyed Soul, 9pm Friday at the Brink Lounge. Remember that MTV video “What’s He Got, That I Ain’t Got,” by the Producers? Kyle was the bass player and lead singer for that band. And Jimmy Voegeli is playing keyboards with him Friday night!

2)Marquette Waterfront Festival Saturday and Sunday at Yahara Place Park. Music, sports, and kids’ activities. Go see the Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band Sunday at 2:45.

3)Mounds Dogfest, 10am-3pm Sunday at Angell Park in Sun Prairie. Crazy pet contests, adoptable pet parade, and lots of “paws-on activities.” Free.

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Breathe Owl Breathe, at Project Lodge Sunday night at 7, along with Kenny Monroe and Anna Vogelzang. From Ann Arbor, Michigan, this duo has roots in indie, classical and traditional music.

For the weekend of June 4——-

Blue Olives at the Capital Brewery Beer Garden, Friday at 6pm. Funk and blues to go with your Capital Supper Club. Admission is free!

Cows on the Concourse: real live cows you can meet personally! Petting zoo, entertainment, dairy products, a mooing contest and the Milk Mustache Tour! Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd at Main Street, Saturday from 8am-1pm.

Ride the Drive: Walkers and bikers are kings on Sunday from 10am-4pm as John Nolen Drive and some other streets in the area are shut off to cars. Bike, walk, stroll…plus lots of other activities. Stop by the Triple M Music Stage in front of the High Noon Saloon!

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Benevolent Elephant, Saturday at 10pm at Mr. Roberts. I googled and googled and could find nothing about this band. Isthmus says they play jam rock.

For Memorial Day Weekend, 2010…..

1)Westside Andy/ Mel Ford Band at the Capital Brewery Bier Garten, 6pm on Friday. It’s the official opening to this summer concert staple. Featuring a harmonica player who looks cooler in sunglasses than Bono (Andy), and a guitar player who isn’t afraid to play guitar with his tongue (Mel). No cover charge.

2)Gomers 25th Anniversary Yacht Rock Party: Friday night at the Majestic Theatre. It’s weird that it’s only their 25th anniversary..seems like we’ve been playing “It’s Not Unusual” every Friday morning for 30 years at least.

3)World’s Largest Bratfest: Friday thru Sunday at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center. More brats and Madison bands than you can shake a stick at. My 3 Bratfest picks: Main Street Wisdom, 2pm Friday, featuring Carleen Wild and Dan Smith (as seen on TV!); Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo, Noon on Sunday, a Madison blues band that just won a bunch of MAMA awards; Honor Among Thieves, 3:10 on Sunday, a blues based Madison band featuring the ageless Andy Ewen on vocals and guitar.

Freaky Band Name of the Week:  Kind of A Big Deal Saturday night at Babe’s. No cover charge. They were going to call themselves Big F**ing Deal, but they would have had to pay royalties to Joe Biden. A cover band from Janesville…who plays stuff like Green Day and Weezer, and most importantly–Dexy’s Midnight Runners!

For the weekend of May 14

Syttende Mai Festival: (Friday through Sunday) Stoughton’s big hoop-de-doo celebrating the city’s Norwegian heritage. Features dancing, food, an arts and crafts fair, quilt show and more. And for some reason, a lot of people think it’s a great idea to walk or run from Madison to Stoughton on Saturday.

The O’Bros at the Harmony Bar Saturday night, 9:45. Jay Moran gets the band together for a reunion show…and more? They’re currently in the studio recording a new album!

Ari Herstand at the Majestic Theatre, Sunday at 6:30pm. The Madison native currently lives in Minneapolis and is known for  his live looping abilities, melding the guitar, keyboard, trumpet, tambourine and beatboxing seamlessly. (At least that’s what it says on his website).

Freaky Band Name of the Week: The Blowtorches. A rockabilly/punk/psychobilly band that plays the Club Tavern Friday night. Free.

Saturday night was the Madison Area Music Awards at the beautiful Capitol Theater. This event helps to raise money to put instruments into the hands of children. This is especially important since too many school systems are cutting music programs. IN addition to ticket sales, Yamaha donated a guitar signed by Bon Jovi and a keyboard signed by Elton John! These items will be auctioned off sometime in the future.

Everyone was all dressed up and it was a festive evening.

The show started by Jimmy Voegli at the giant pipe organ playing, of all things, In-A-Gadda-da-Vida, which was a hoot and  a half. There were lots of performances by young people, including an amazing violinist and a group called Stereocolor ( I think) with a 14 year old lead singer. Other performances were by Whitney Mann, multi-award winner Beth Kille, Hip Hop group Dumante and some wonderful dancers, whose name I have forgotten. ( sorry guys). I totally LOVED VO5, a disco tribute band complete with big hair and even higher platform shoes.

Two of my favorite bands, Harmonious Wail and Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo scored BIG, with the Hoodoo winning Artist of the Year. I think this is the first time a blues band has won this award. And of course, John Urban was awesome as host.

Please try to go to this show next year. You will not be disappointed, I promise.

Oh yeah, and one more thing: SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC!!!

For the weekend of May 7….

Gallery Night: Friday night from 5-9pm. Special events and artist receptions  at 65 galleries around town.

Madison Area Music Awards: Saturday night at the Capitol Theatre at the Overture Center. Madison musicians pat each other on the back..with lots of live music to keep you entertained. Plus host John Urban will keep things moving along!

Drag Down Cancer  Comedy Benefit: Saturday from 7-9 at the High Noon Saloon with an after-party at Woofs. The fun includes drag queens and kings, singers, comedy and more.

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Crooked Mouth String Band at Mother Fools Saturday night, 8pm. From Northern Illinois. They have Howdy Doody as their profile pic on Facebook..so you’ve got to like that.

For the weekend of 4/30/10…..

1)Madison Audubon Society Art Fair, Saturday from 9:30-4:30 at the Warner Park Community Center. Free parking and admission!

2)Mighty Short Bus CD Release Party: Saturday at the High Noon Saloon, 10pm. Their new album is called The Forever Endeavor.

3)The Crickets at the Stoughton Opera House. Yes, those Crickets. The guys who used to play with Buddy Holly! 7:30pm Saturday.

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Huffin’ Glue, 5pm Friday at the UW Memorial Union Terrace. A country/alternative rock band from Madison. They say they get their name from the occupation of one of the band members–repairing shoes.

For the weekend of April 23…

1)King Bees at Gray’s Tied House in Verona. 9pm Saturday. Is this really an 8-track release party? I guess you’ll have to show up to find out! Free. (Blues)

2)Earth Day Party…on the Library Mall Saturday afternoon. With music, environmental info, and recycling of ink cartridges, cell phones, and digital phones. Noon-7pm.

3)Indigenous..Saturday night at Murphy’s Tavern on East Washington, with Bluedog and the Electric Road Kings. I thought for sure it was some other band with the same name as those brothers from South Dakota…but this is the real deal. At Murphy’s Tavern…which used to be Tailgators. Surprise of the week!

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Roast Beef, at Mr. Roberts Saturday night. Punk. (Did you have any doubt?)

For the weekend of April 16, 2010…

1)Triple M Earth Day Concert with the Bodeans. Friday night at the Barrymore Theatre. It’s a CD release party too! Their new album is called “Mr. Sad Clown.”

2)Dane County Farmers Market, on the Capitol Square Saturday. It’s the first outdoor market of the season, so that makes it so much more special.

3)Cross Canadian Ragweed with openers Madison’s very own Mighty Short Bus, 9 pm Saturday at the Majestic Theatre.

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Let’s Wrestle..at the Annex Satuarday night with Quasi, and the Hemlines. Described as grunge-salsa-Dutch pop. What? They’re from London.

For the weekend of April 9, 2010….

1)Queenie & The Blue Cats: 5-7pm Friday at the Memorial Terrace (or inside if the weather is inclement.) Start your weekend off right with some fun blues! Free!

2)Mustard Museum Grand Opening: at the new Mustard Museum on Parmenter Street in Middleton. Starts off Friday night at 6:30 with the ribbon cutting and arrival of the last mustard from Mt. Horeb. Events Saturday and Sunday too. Will the new location cut the mustard? (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)

3)Wisconsin Gourd Festival: Saturday from 9am-4pm at Olbrich Gardens. I’m not making this up–there will be a gourd art competition, vendors selling gourd related items, and music by Moldy Jam & Djam Vivie. Free admission (workshops cost extra). Simply Gourd-tastic!

Freaky Band Name of the Week: Turbo Fruits, at the High Noon Saloon with Mission of Burma and Surfer Blood.  Jungle/surf/rock from Tennessee. Click the link to hear a song called “Mama’s Mad ‘Cos I Fried My Brain.” Like the kids say: awesomeness.