Orton Park Festival

August 26-29, 2010

Orton Park, Madison, WI

Although summer is nearing an end and schools will soon be starting a near year, you still have opportunity to fully enjoy your summer right here in Madison!

This weekend is the Orton Park Festival presented by the Marquette Neighborhood Association.  This year will be the annual festival’s 45th year and will feature a diverse lineup of performances.  The Orton Park Festival has purpose of creating and growing community and friendship.  The festival is free of charge, but funds raised throughout the festival will go to implement community projects and organizations.

What is a festival without music?  Well we are in luck because Orton Park Festival will feature a great lineup of music and other performers.  The schedule for the four day event is as follows.

Thursday, August 26th

Family Night (Ice Cream & Soft Drinks for sale):

• 6:30 p.m. – Daithi Wolfe & Company
• 8:00 p.m. – Cycropia Aerial Dance Theater

Friday, August 27th

• 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. – International Dinner with Vendors
• 5:45 p.m. – The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet
• 6:45 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 7:15 p.m. – Razia Said (NYC/Madagascar)
• 8:45 p.m. – Cycropia Aerial Dance Theater

Saturday, August 28th

• Noon – Whitney Mann
• 1:30 p.m. – Robert J and the Rowdy Prairie Dogs
• 3:00 p.m. – Cris Plata and Extra Hot
• 4:15 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 5:15 p.m. – Monika and Christian Nieves (Puerto Rico)
• 7:00 p.m. – The Carolina Chocolate Drops
• 9:00 p.m. – Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble

Sunday, August 29th

• 9:00 a.m. – Jazz Brunch with The Randall Harrison Trio
• 11:30 a.m. – The Rohnalleros
• 1:00 p.m. – The Getaway Drivers
• 2:00 p.m. – Orton Cake Walk
• 2:30 p.m. – Kings Go Forth
• 3:45 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 4:45 p.m. – The Rousers
• 6:45 p.m. – Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women

So if you are in Madison this weekend and looking for a fun way to spend a late August weekend, head to Orton Park!  More info!

Jason Mraz says he has “tons and tons of material” for his next album, including a previously unreleased song by Roy Orbison called “The Way Is Love”. Orbison demoed the song six months before his death and incidentally rocked the very first Farm Aid concert in 1985. Mraz and Willie Nelson got together last year to record the Orbison tune. Look for the two to perform it live on stage at Farm Aid October 2nd at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Looking for a great way to spend your Sunday?  Well grab your bike, helmet and sunglasses and head into downtown Madison and join Lance Armstrong, Triple M and all your fellow Madisonians at Ride The Drive!

Ride the Drive

Sunday August 29

Downtown Madison/John Nolen Drive (Route)

RIDE THE DRIVE is a celebration of Madison’s commitment to healthy, active lifestyles. This community event is an invitation for all citizens to leave their cars behind to experience some of Madison’s most scenic byways a whole new way – by riding, walking, skating, or strolling along some of our city’s most beautiful streets.

Join legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong and cruise designated downtown Madison streets without worry of motor vehicle traffic.

After or during your ride join Triple M at the “Ride The Drive – People Powered Stage” to catch some of your favorite Project M contestants!

The schedule for the “People Powered Stage”

11-11:35 Beth Kille
11:50-12:25 Mark Harrod
12:40-1:15 Keefe Klug
1:30-2:05 Anna Laube
2:20-2:55 Corey Hart

For more information and details, head over to our Triple M information page.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

by Kitty Dunn

It’s about time Farm Aid makes it to the Dairy State!

Having had the chance to attend one previous Farm Aid, I was ecstatic to hear that the 25th anniversary benefit concert is happening at Miller Park in Milwaukee October 2nd.  Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews are all scheduled to perform, and more artists will be announced later.

Farm Aid founders  Nelson and Mellencamp made the announcement via webcast on Monday, and despite some technical glitches managed to get the information out.

Mellencamp says Milwaukee is a perfect place to celebrate Farm Aid’s silver anniversary, noting that “Midwest farmers share the same struggle as family farmers across the country. They are survivors, and they’re on the land creating solutions for America’s most pressing issues.”

According to a news release, the all-day festival will be a celebration of music, family farmers and good food and will again feature HOMEGROWN concessions—family-farm identified, local and organic foods. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village will showcase hands-on activities that give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, get their hands dirty, and learn how family farmers are protecting our land and water and connecting us to our roots.

I got to attend Farm Aid in 1998 in Chicago, and it was a blast. Not only did I get to see the main headliners (minus Dave Matthews who hadn’t joined the team yet), I got to see Wilco, Brian Wilson, Steve Earle with the Del McCoury Band and even Hootie and the Blowfish.  I have to say I was extremely blown away by Phish..who were joined on stage by Neil Young for a marathon guitar duel during “Down By The River.”  Even though I don’t know the complete lineup for the 2010 edition, I’m going to do everything I can to be there.

Tickets for Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America will go on sale Saturday, August 14, at 9 a.m. CDT and are available at the Brewers box office, by phone at (414) 902-4000 or online at www.tickets.com. Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $97.50, including facility fee.

Farm Aid will offer special advance sale tickets to Farm Aid members beginning Friday, August 6. To become a Farm Aid member, click here. (Cost is $40 per membership and the availability of advance tickets is not guaranteed).

This Saturday the 2000 and 2100 blocks of Atwood Avenue (in front of the Barrymore Theatre) will be rockin’ with great live music on two stages…that’s right, it’s Atwood Summerfest time again.

It’s one of the city’s best neighborhood festivals..with yummy ethnic food, icy cold beer..and fun for the kids too with face painting, arts and crafts, and those inflatable jump-around thingies!

The festival raises money for the Goodman Community Center (formerly known as the Atwood Community Center), so you can get a little wild, and feel good about yourself at the same time.

Here’s the line-up: 

Harmony Bar/Capital Brewery Blues Stage

12:00-12:50 pm Kristy Larson Honky Tonk Band: A little country music never hurt you! The Kristy Larson Trio won a couple of Madison Area Music Awards in 2009..and it looks like she’ll bring a few more musicians this time around!

1:10-2:00 pm  Piper Road Spring Band: How about some bluegrass? The Piper Road Spring Band has been playing together for more than 35 years, with bluegrass that’s far from traditional. They’ve been known to weave in some Grateful Dead inspired jams!

2:20-3:10 pm  The Alex Wilson Band: Alex grew up immersed in the Milwaukee/Chicago blues scene and picked up the guitar at the age of 5. He’s a little older now and ready to impress you with everything from Beale Street blues to Chicago swing.

3:30-4:20 pm  The Midwesterners: At the border of classic rock and country–that’s where you’ll find the Midwesterners. Led by veteran Madison musician Richard Weigel, it also features the highly charged guitar of Ernie Connor from the Rousers.

4:40-5:30 pm Altered 5: This Milwaukee based blues band takes pop and rock songs and “bluesifies” them! This is one of Gabby Parsons’ favorite area bands.

5:50-7:00 pm  Jim Schwall/Andy Ewen Band: What a combo! Jim Schwall was half of the famed Siegel-Schwall Band that played places like the Fillmore..sharing the bill with folks like Janis Joplin and the Doors. And Andy is the seemingly ageless guitar player and singer for the band Honor Among Thieves. Sparks have got to fly when these guys get together.

Maximum Ink / Ale Asylum Rock Stage
times not listed, but this is the schedule in order

The Shtetlblasters: Madison’s very own electronic klezmer band.

The Kingtown Rockers : Madison band described as reggae with a touch of metal.

VO5 : They want you to party like it’s 1978! A funk/disco/dance band from Madison.

Soul Shaker: Blues band from Madison. ..self-described as “dirty blues rock for yo dirty minds.” Influences include  Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Humble Pie, and Muddy Waters.

Beatallica:  Beatles meet Metallica. ‘Nuff said.

UPDATE 8/2/10: The concert has been confirmed!

As Mr. Willie Nelson’s website explains, there has been a “Willie-leak.”  Earlier today Willie Nelson had a slip of the tongue while on The Bill Mack Show on XM radio (Willie’s Place is Willie’s XM channel) when he revealed that the location for Farm Aid 25 will be Milwaukee, WI.  The date of Farm Aid is reportedly October 2, 2010, but few details beside a date have been revealed.  More details will be officially released Monday August 2, 2010.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the original Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the decline of family farms.  Farm Aid was established to prevent family farms from losing their land while providing financial aid to local farmers.  Last year Farm Aid was held in St. Louis, Missouri and featured a great lineup of artists including Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews Band, Wilco and many more.  For more information about Farm Aid musicians and other general inquiries, head over to the Farm Aid site and check it out.

As more details about this amazing event are released, Triple M will make sure you are informed.  Until then, check out Willie and Neil rocking Farm Aid 2009!

There was a brief heavy downpour during La Fete de Marquette yesterday– but that didn’t ruin any of the fun.

If you haven’t caught this fun community event…mark it on your calendar for next year. It’s a French themed festival..with Cajun and Louisiana music mixed in with more traditional French and Acadian tunes.

I was really looking forward to seeing Sonny Landreth again..even though I just saw him two weeks ago at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago. Of course he did not disappoint. He even got a little wild to get the crowd fired up.. “I wanna hear ya yell! I wanna hear you holler!” He’s usually so mild-manner that seemed a little odd to me. I saw a lot of Madison musicians in the crowd..so maybe they were picking up some pointers from Sonny. And Trombone Shorty was amazing as well.

Sonny plays slide!

Earlier Sunday morning, Jonathan and I hosted the Acoustic Cafe breakfast at La Fete. We enjoyed music from two groups–Vishten, from Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the Red Stick Ramblers from LaFayette, Louisiana.

Backstage with Red Stick Ramblers

That's low–stealing the band's food

Not only was La Fete a blast..it also raised money for a good cause–the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center.

Bummed the Fourth of July is already behind us?  Don’t fret friends, there are plenty of things to keep you smiling this weekend in Madison!  Be sure to take advantage of the great events happening this weekend downtown.

Art Fair on the Square

Capitol Square, Saturday July 10 (9am-6pm) and Sunday July 11 (10am-5pm)

Art Fair on the Square is an event organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art that brings artists from across the country to downtown Madison to present and  share their works.  Of the over 1600 applicants from across the nation, 450 artists were selected to join Art Fair on the Square and 30 percent of this years artists are first time participants.

Art Fair on the Square will contain a vast array of arts including ceramics, drawing, graphics, prints, glass, sculpture, mixed media and much much more.

Be sure to check out the Triple M Music Stage while at Art Fair on the Square.  There will be great music all weekend long pumping from our stage on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  The schedule for the Triple M Music Stage includes…

Saturday, July 10
9:30–10:30                         Steve Doiel
11:00–12:00                       Ryan Mauer Band
12:30–1:30                         Mark Croft
2:00–3:00                           Tim Hort and the Radio Hour
3:30–4:30                           The Locals
5:00–6:00                           Silent Agency

Sunday, July 11
10:00–11:00                       The Bower City Lights
11:30–12:30                       Patchouli
1:00–2:00                           Natty Nation
2:30–3:30                           The Selfish Gene
4:00–5:00                           Whish

If you are still interested in picking up some fresh produce this Saturday, the usual Saturday morning Dane County Farmers Market will be moved to Wilson Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

More information regarding Art Fair on the Square can be found here.

La Fete de Marquette

Intersection of South Dickinson and East Washington, Madison, WI

Beginning on Thursday July 8 at 6pm and continuing all weekend until late Sunday evening.

French culture will be taking over downtown Madison this weekend.   La Fete de Marquette is a music festival that celebrates all things French.  Artists from Paris to Haiti will arrive in Madison for this great event celebrating French music.  This years music lineup is rich and diverse and includes Ivory Coast native Dobet Gnahore, smooth singing blues singer Marcia Ball, along with the “brassy” horn-filled sound of Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and many more!

La Fete de Marquette will also include the giant La Fete Flea Market, a silent auction, children’s games and face-painting, a vintage 1930’s era ferris wheel and the largest dance floor of any free Madison music festival all summer.

Also, Triple M’s own Jonathan and Kitty will be hosting Acoustic Cafe on Sunday (July 11) morning from 9am until 11:45 which will feature Vishten and Red Stick Ramblers.

Thursday–July 8th
6:00 — Willy St. Coop Annual Membership Meeting (open to all)
7:30- 8:45 — Les Sans Culottes* (Brooklyn)
8:45-915 — Tent– Laura Llorens (Paris)
9:15 -10:45 — Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys* (Lafayette, Louisiana)

Friday – July 9th
5:00- 11:00- Le Nuit des Etoiles
5:30- 6:45– Les Saltimbanks* (Calais, France)
7:30- 8:45 – The Occidental Brothers Dance Band International featuring Samba Mapangala* (Congo/ USA)
9:30- 11:00 – Dobet Gnahore* (Ivory Coast/ Paris)

Saturday – July 10th
Noon-11:00- Le Jour du Monde
9:00 – Great Festival Flea Market
12:30- 1:30 Tent -Robin Pluer with Mrs. Fun* (Milwaukee)
2:15-3:15 Tent – Robin Pluer with Mrs. Fun*
3:15- 4:30– Vishten* (Prince Edward & Magdalene Islands)
5:15- 6:30 – Les Saltimbanks (Calais, France)
7:15 – 8:45 – Boukman Eksperyans ( Port-au-Prince, Haiti)
8:45- 9:30 Tent– Vishten Dance with caller
9:30- 11:00 – Marcia Ball* (Austin, TX)

Sunday – July 11th
9am – 9:00 pm- Le Jour de Louisiane
9:00 – Great Festival Flea Market
9:00 -Noon — Tent– Acoustic Café — – Vishten*, Red Stick Ramblers *
Noon -1pm —John Chimes* (Madison)
1:30 -2:45– Joe Hall and the Louisiana Cane Cutters *(Arnaudville, Louisiana)
3:15 – - Red Stick Ramblers *
5:15- 6:45 – Sonny Landreth* (Lafayette, LA)
6:45-7:30 — Tent – Cajun Dance- Joe Hall and the Louisiana Cane Cutters *
7:30- 9:00pm — Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue*(New Orleans)

More information  for La Fete de Marquette can be found here.

Don’t allow your beautiful summer weekends to slip by and be sure to check out these great events in downtown Madison this weekend!

-Sam Ryan

Independence Day is right around the corner and the celebration is happening at Warner Park right here in Madison, WI on Saturday July 3rd. Rhythm & Booms 2010 has returned for the 18th year, and this year will surely be as great as past years. Rhythm & Booms is an annual Fourth of July celebration that draws over 250,000 people a year to Madison to enjoy the festivities.

This year there will be some great music on the Leinie’s/WOLX stage including Road Trip from 2-4pm, followed by Super Tuesday from 5-7:40pm, and finally Creedence Again from 8-9:30 and then 10-11:30.

Remember to bring your radio and don’t miss the fireworks at dusk choreographed to music broadcast on 94.9 WOLX!

So, if you are in or around Madison this weekend and are looking for a good way to celebrate America with your fellow country men and women, head to Warner Park on July 3rd.

For more information and complete details regarding Rhythm & Booms, check here.

Guitar wizard Jeff Beck turns 66 today. I wonder what I should bring him for a gift when I go see him Saturday at the CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL in Chicago?

To say that I’m a little excited about the concert at Toyota Park, would be an understatement. It’s Eric Clapton’s deal…a fundraiser for his Crossroads Antigua drug rehab clinic. He’s invited a lot of his best friends and guitar playing buddies to join him..including Jeff Beck, BB King, Steve Winwood, Robert Cray…and the list goes on.

One band that was scheduled to appear, the Allman Brothers Band won’t be there, because Greg Allman just had a liver transplant yesterday. In his place will be the Derek Trucks-Susan Tedeschi Band, with Warren Haynes on guitar, and other “special surprise guests.”  I guess I can live with that.

If you’re reading this on Thursday and are interested in going to the concert, some tickets are expected to be released at 5pm today (both general admission and reserved).  Click here for more info about the concert and the tickets going on sale later today.

Meanwhile, here’s Jeff from the last Crossroads concert in 2007.