Concerts & Live Music
Finding live music in Madison is never difficult. From classical music to karaoke, jazz clubs to fresh-air venues, festivals to symphonies. You won’t want to miss the music scene in Madison. See a calendar of this week's shows ›
MADISON'S MUSIC TIES
Madison’s music scene has made its mark on the world. Drummer Butch Vig of Garbage got his start in Madison — as did the careers of bands that recorded albums at Vig’s Smart Studios: Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Everclear and Fall Out Boy, to name a few.
Unfortunately, one musician’s end was made famous in Madison: Soul legend Otis Redding died when his plane crashed into Lake Monona in 1967, just three days after recording his best-known hit “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay.”
To this day, many notable musicians have made their homes in Madison, including James Brown’s former drummer Clyde Stubblefield. Acclaimed jazz bassist Richard Davis has been a professor at UW-Madison since 1977, though he’s drawn audiences worldwide and has a long list of performance and recording credits with stellar artists including Sarah Vaughan, Eric Dolphy, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, John Lennon and Miles Davis.
CLASSIC CLUBS
If your formula for finding great music is finding the spots where locals go to listen to a live show, you won’t want to miss classic venues that make up Madison’s mix. You’ll find music events happening every week.
Venues include The Orpheum Theater, a live performance and music theater centrally located on State Street; Cafe Coda, beloved jazz club owned by jazz legend Hanah Jon Taylor in the heart of iconic Willy Street; and The Sylvee where up-and comers and beloved favorites put on shows you won't forget.
