A lot of the music that goes on in Madison takes place in the bars and clubs, and that’s awesome because you don’t really need to make specific plans or buy tickets. You can just head out on any given weekend (and many weekdays!) and you’ll discover lots of fun stuff going on. But sometimes there are special shows that you really need to put in your calendar, and maybe secure tickets ahead of time, or you might miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
That’s the purpose of this week’s column, to make you aware of some shows and events coming up that you really might want to plan for and maybe invite some friends. These are the shows . that people will be talking about long after the music fades, and you do not want to be saying to yourself, “Dang, I wish I’d known about that one, I’d have really enjoyed that!”
The first is this Saturday, Feb. 20, at Red Bicycle Hall, where the intrepid group The Albumists are taking on Led Zeppelin’s second album, in its entirety, front to back, from Whole Lotta Love through Heartbreaker and Ramble On, and winding up with Bring It On Home. Wow, what an album! The word is, Joel Storm has found a way to perfectly recreate the drum tones of iconic rock drummer John Bonham. Tix at MadTixEvents.com.
The next “can’t miss” event is a special all-day birthday bash and music jam for local bass player and Junior High instructor Jerry Navarro, on Sunday March 1 at Mad Paddle Brewery. The event will be from 2pm to 10pm, and yes, I said 8 hours! Jerry has deep roots in the Nashville music scene, so some of his old friends from Music City are expected to join the fun. Plus Robert Reynolds and his band Last Call will be taking turns on the stage. Jerry told me the music will just keep flowing all day long!
Also on Sunday March 1st is the annual Young Musicians concert sponsored by the Madison Performing Arts Foundation. The show will be at 3:00 at the Presbyterian Church. It’s an opportunity to hear and support our local, talented, young musicians as they present solos and ensembles that were prepared for state competitions. These are the kids who will go off to college and major in music, many of them, and hopefully come back to Madison someday to contribute to our music scene.
OK, March 13 through 15 is a really big weekend event, so much more than just music, but there is a very exciting concert tucked into the middle of it. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, some local folks have organized a full weekend of community events they have dubbed Hoosier Heroines, focusing on the contributions of women in our state. The schedule is extensive, with 10 separate events planned. But the concert I want to highlight is a singer-songwriter named Becki Davis who will be playing at St. Michael Church at 6pm on Saturday, March 14th. Becki is a special talent (look for a full profile in this space coming soon) but you should put this show on your calendar now. Seating at the historic church will be first come-first served.
That same weekend, on Saturday March 14th at 8pm, the Kindred Folk Society is bringing one of their biggest and most ambitious shows to Red Bicycle Hall. The Bibelhauser Brothers, known for their high energy blusegrass-country-soul sound, will be joined by Grammy-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland for a magical night of music that is sure to be talked about for years to come. If you miss this one, your friends who do go will never let you live it down! Tix are at Madtixevents.com.
Finally, on April 26th, the folks at Historic Madison are continuing their philosophy of using our great historic properties the way they were intended, as vibrant community meeting spots, not just as sterile museums you peer at from behind a rope. They will be opening up the Shrewsberry-Windle house for just 25 paying guests to hear harpist Grace Roepke, an international award-winning soloist and the newly appointed Principal Harpist of the Louisville Orchestra. The event features a dessert plate, champagne, and other beverages. Tickets for this 21+ event are also at Madtixevents.com, but you’ll want to hurry, seating is very limited.
From classic Led Zep to classical harp, and everything in between, the next few months are a smorgasbord of great music here in Indiana’s Music City. Make it your mission to attend at least one of these events and support the special thing we have going on in our fair little town.
HOT TIP OF THE WEEK:
We make a big fuss about the busy music weekends here in Madison, but a case can be made for Thursdays too. Matt Moore at Mad Paddle and Zach at Rivertown are two of the most talented and versatile player/singers you’ll find anywhere, serving up delightful mixes of favorites and hits. Whether you are a local just popping out for a fun evening on the town, or a visitor coming in a day early to get a jump on the weekend, keep Thursdays in mind for uncrowded enjoyment. Looking out to the weekend, I’m seeing a bunch of new band names at the bars, so it might be fun to get out and see what they are all about. You never know when you are going to discover your “new favorite band!”
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