Madcity Nights - August 2019

Show Previews by Max Ink Writers
by Max Ink
August 2019

Madcity's group of rock vets, Mars Hall

Madcity's group of rock vets, Mars Hall

Eilen Jewell Band
Saturday, August 3 @ 5:30 PM
Sugar Maple Fest
Lake Farm Park

American music archaeologist, riverside revivalist and swamp-bound honky-tonk queen Eilen Jewell is just one of many incredible artists performing at this year’s Sugar Maple Fest in Lake Farm County Park.  Don’t miss folk soul-sisters Lula Wiles, banjo and bones player Hubby Jenkins and Milwaukee’s own Buffalo Gospel.
By John Noyd

MAMA Cares Music Fest
Sunday, August 4 @ 1:00 PM
Wisconsin Brewing Company

MAMA Cares is a program that provides grant funds to Madison area musicians and their families in times of need. MAMA Cares helps to support musicians during times of medical emergencies or catastrophic loss. This fundraiser features seven Madison bands including Easy Action, Funky Chunky, London Fog, From Earth, Speed Trap, 7 Seasons Deep, and Mars Hall. Drink Local Music for a great cause! By Rökker

The Sessions at McPike Park
Aug 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 @ 5:00 PM
McPike Park (formerly Central Park)

The Sessions benefit six non-profits including Urban League, WORT, Omega School, Common Wealth Development Corporation, Centro Hispanic, and National Alliance on Mental Illness. These free shows feature a variety of music from local and national artist including The Figgs, Bottle Rockets, Travelin McCourys, Old 97s, Natty Nation, Igquanas, Beth Kille, Bing Bong, Panchromatic Steel, Dobe Gnahore and more! See a full lineup at SessionsAtMcpike.org. By Rökker


Nate Gibson & the Hi-Fly Rangers
Saturday, August 10 @ 9:30 PM
BarleyPop Live

Academic/archivist Nate Gibson has taken a deep obsession with the iconic hillbilly/country/rockabilly Starday label beyond collecting the 45’s…He actually collected more than a dozen of the then-surviving artists (including Sleepy LaBeef, Margie Singleton, and Frankie Miller) for an album of new recordings! At this show, he teams with fellow Starday enthusiasts from Finland for an exciting night of honky-tonkin’. By Dave Leucinger

Big Neck Fest
The Hussy with Sweet Jap, Choke Chains and Dumb Vision
Saturday, August 17 @ 9:30 PM
Crystal Corner

Previewing their September release, “Looming,” for Dirtnap Records, local psycho-thrash shakedown artists The Hussy lead an action-packed night of barking-mad anarchy and rubber-room rock ‘n roll.  Part two of Big Neck Fest 2019, The Hussy are joined by Minneapolis’ Sweet JAP, Detroit’s Choke Chains and Madison’s Dumb Vision. By John Noyd

Jose Ramirez
Saturday, August 17 @ 9:00 PM
Knuckledown Saloon

Costa Rica doesn’t immediately come to mind as a center of blues music, but Ramirez may be the musician to change that. He’s spent the past decade building his chops with a contemporary West Coast jazzy blues style (ala Joe Louis Walker and James Armstrong). His all-on-the-line drive has also served to get him on-stage connections with the likes of Anson Funderburgh, Bryan Lee, and Debbie Davies.
By Dave Leucinger

Eken Park Festival
Saturday, August 17 @ 11:00 AM
Eken Park
700 Mayer Avenue

The third annual Eken Park Festival takes place on the northside of Madison just down the street from the North Street Cabaret. This year’s menu features Madison Music Foundry alums SLAG, Tani Diakite and the AfroFunkstars, Los Meskales, November Criminals, and eastside fav’s BingBong to finish out the night. There’s plenty of stuff for kids to do which makes this community event family friendly. By Rökker

Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruenling
Sunday, August 18 @ 6:00 PM
High Noon Saloon

Moss’ high-energy blues have been a fixture at festivals and clubs for three decades, drawing from the power and passion he witnessed interning in Chicago-rooted acts from Buddy Scott to Jimmy Dawkins, the Legendary Blues Band, and Jimmy Rogers. His labors were rewarded earlier in 2019 as the Blues Music Awards named him Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. New Jersey’s Gruenling has a flamboyance on- and off-stage that is more than justified by his crisp, exquisite technique; he, too, landed Blues Music Awards recognition this year for harmonica instrumentalist. By Dave Leucinger

Flying Lotus in 3D
Wednesday, August 21 @ 8:00 PM
Slyvee Theater

Five years since his last, Flying Lotus dropped the visionary, “Flamagra,” this year blazing in hot sonic goodness. A key line in the album is, “fire is coming,” and this DJ, producer, film-maker, musician and rapper will surely burn The Sylvee down with funk-gospel highs and jazz-soul lows. By John Noyd

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Friday, August 23 @ 8:00 PM
North Street Cabaret

Cebar’s fluid blend of Caribbean rhythms with New Orleans funk and soul have long been a Midwestern favorite. He remains an ardent music fan as well; you can frequently see him in the crowd at festival or club shows in Madison, Chicago, or even the Big Easy.
By Dave Leucinger

Phantogram w/ Bob Moses
Tuesday, August 27 @ 8:00 PM
Sylvee Theater

Three years after their chart-topping, career-defining album, “Three,” Phantogram returned with the single, “Into Happiness,” and a lengthy national tour. Bask in a night of brooding spectacle, divine darkwave grooves and radiant melodrama. Percolating Vancouver-bred Brooklyn-based electronic duo Bob Moses starts the subterranean synth-rock dance party.
By John Noyd


Deadbeat Club, Julian Lynch and Graham Hunt
Friday, August 30 @ 10:00 PM
Mickey’s Tavern

Emerging from Detroit’s underground with members drawing experience with Tyvek, Outrageous Cherry and Stef Chura, jangle-sanctioned beach-bums Deadbeat Beat slip twists into extended indie stomps and shaggy up-tempo rumbles. Sandwiched between Madison talents multi-instrumentalist Julian Lynch and wry song-writer Graham Hunt, for an exceptionally tasty Friday night. By John Noyd

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