As hot summer nights turn into cozy fall days, Madison’s music scene continues to be vibrant, with several iconic performances, events and festivals happening throughout the fall. Not one, but two music festivals will take place the same weekend mid-September, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” singer Diana Ross will perform at The Orpheum Theater, Gimme Gimme Disco will return to Majestic Theatre, rapper Lil Yachty will perform in November and several live music venues will host shows weekly with both local and non-local bands.
Starting strong at The Orpheum, the iconic Diana Ross will be hitting the stage Sept. 12. Exactly a month later, The Temptations, often referred to as American music royalty, will be joined by the Four Tops. If you’ve watched the heartbreaking movie “My Girl,” then you’ve probably sung along to the Temptations signature song of the same name. Revisit Pink Floyd’s biggest hits Oct. 14 with “Eclipse: Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary.”
The Majestic has an exciting lineup with a mix of concerts and DJ-style sets. If you’re hoping to catch an outdoor show before the weather cools down, Majestic Madison will wrap up their “Live on King” outdoor concert series with country singer Margo Price with singer/songwriter S.G. Goodman and rock band Seasaw on Sept. 15.
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Celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 with Latin Pride Orquesta and DJ Fogon, plus salsa lessons with Copa Cabana Madison. For Mamma Mia or Abba fans who also love to dress up, Gimme Gimme Disco will be returning to the Majestic stage Sept. 22. The day after the Disco, “Respect: A Celebration of Women in Music” will pay tribute to iconic women in music like Whitney Houston, Gwen Stefani and Amy Winehouse. For those interested in the emo scene, the Majestic will host an “Emo Karaoke” backed with a live band Oct. 7 and Emo Night Brooklyn, an emo and pop-punk dance party Nov. 3. Del Water Gap will also visit the Majestic on his I Miss you Already Tour Nov. 1.
The Sylvee has a packed lineup with music throughout the week and the weekends. Coheed and Cambria will hit the stage Sept. 16, Jungle on Sept. 18, Bryce Vine on Sept. 21 and Bishop Briggs and Misterwives on Sept. 23. Violent Femmes, a 1980s punk rock originally from Milwaukee, will kick off October with a show on Oct. 4 and rock band Black Veil Brides & VV will appear on Oct. 7.
Country singer Carly Pearce will be at the Sylvee on Oct. 12 for her Country Music Made Me Do It Tour and American rock band The Band Camino, will perform Oct. 14. To wrap up October, rock band from Michigan Pop Evil, will play on Halloween night. November starts off strong with “The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night,” a Taylor Swift-inspired dance party for those who missed The Eras Tour or want to relive it Nov. 3. Following the dance party, Lil Yachty will be at the Sylvee on Nov. 4.
For those interested in attending a music festival, Willy Street Fair will take place Sept. 16 and 17, with four stages of entertainment and 150 vendors. With the unpredictable weather in Wisconsin, this may be your last chance to attend an outdoor music festival.
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Lastly, if you love music and don’t have a preference on what artist you would like to see, Madison also has several live music venues throughout the city with live music every week. On campus are both Union South and Memorial Union. WUD Music hosts weekly shows at The Sett, Der Rathskeller and, when weather permits, the Memorial Union Terrace.
State Street Brats continues their live music Fridays in the upstairs portion of the bar. Red Rock Saloon will host several country musicians. Among other DJs at Liquid, DJ Pauly D, who frequents the Liquid stage, will return to Madison on Sept. 16. In addition to hosting an assortment of music performances throughout the month, Leopold’s Books Bar Caffé hosts jazz every Wednesday. Other popular live music venues with a diverse sound include High Noon Saloon, The Bur Oak, Harmony Bar and Grill, Crystal Corner Bar, Cafe Coda and Ivory Room Piano Bar.
If you are a lover of music of any kind, Madison offers diverse venues with several artists to ensure your fall is full of sound. Whether you like small venues or larger spaces, casual live music or full on concerts, there’s something for everyone.
