Category Archives: Just Announced

Announcing the Terrace Interim Schedule and Isthmus Jazz Fest

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We hope you’re surviving finals. Stay strong, you’ve only a few days left. Congrats to those graduating this weekend. We’ve enjoyed putting on shows for all you Badgers this year, and the good news is that the fun doesn’t end when your classes do. In fact, for Terrace-lovers it’s just getting started!

This Friday, the Union is scheduled to announce practically the ENTIRE summer schedule. How exciting is that?! It’s exciting for us, too, as we have some HUGE shows we’re really excited to share with you. It’s hard for me to hold back my fingers from writing in all caps what they are and the million reasons why they’re exciting, but I like my job and don’t want to be fired for blabbing. Call me a chicken if you must.

Now, I know that seems like Friday is a lifetime away, so in the meantime check out what we have in store for you over what we call the “interim period.” Interim is the few weekends between the end of the spring semester and start of summer classes. For all of you sticking around to get knowledge fer yer brains over the summer, interim gives you a second to relax and have some carefree fun – so it’s a perfect time to come out to the Terrace. Some of these dates you may have known, but others are new. On top of the interim schedule, check out the lineup of the Performing Art’s Committee’s Isthmus Jazz Fest, which kicks of the summer schedule.

Here’s what we’ve got for you:

Friday, 5/18, 9 p.m.
Dirty Beaches and Xiu Xiu w/ Father Murphy

We’re kicking off your vacation with a bang  with two indie rock forerunners. Dirty Beaches, the project of Alex Zhang Hungtai, has gained a lot of buzz and acclaim in its short existence. 2011 debut Badlands drew an 8.2 on the ever-critical Pitchfork and was nominated for the prestigious Polaris Prize, attracting numerous fans along the way with its haunting lo-fi sound.

Xiu Xiu know something about creating “haunting” tunes. Featuring Jamie Stewart’s weepy vibrato and prominent synthesizers, the California group has been the epitome of avant garde for over ten years and at least as many full-length releases, including February’s Always. It’s no surprise that openers Father Murphy, then, show considerable influence from Xiu Xiu in their own music. Any true fan of unique, artistic music will want to be at the show this Friday.

Dirty Beaches and Xiu Xiu sound like this:

Saturday, 5/19, 9:30 p.m.
70′s vs. 90′s Graduation Dance Party featuring the VO5 and The Beat Chefs

Here’s a dance party that has something for everybody, and just in time for graduation. Bring your visiting parents and relatives out to the Terrace Saturday night to hear VO5 play covers of 70′s songs that will take them back to their own youth or college years. But first, listen to The Beat Chefs play the songs you grew up with in the 90′s (Feel free to wear Zubaz, slap bracelets, and light-up shoes). It will be a great chance to think about where you’ve been and party in honor of where you’re going. Watch VO5 tear up “We Are Family” on the Terrace last year below.

Friday, 5/25, 9:30 p.m.
The Handphibians w/ Grupo Balanca

If you’ve never seen Madison’s own The Handphibians before, do yourself a favor and come to the Terrace next Friday – but make sure to tie your shoes really tightly or wear sandals because they tend to blow peoples socks off. It is a spectacle to say the least when the samba-flavored giant ensemble (seriously, they often have up to at least twenty people) takes the stage. The beats from the onslaught of drums make not moving an impossibility, so be sure to hydrate regularly and carb-load accordingly. Just watch this insanity:

Madison’s Grupo Balanca will get the Brazilian beats going featuring a smaller (but not small by any means) lineup. Put on something colorful and get ready to dance, Madison.

The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Drum Band
Saturday, 5/26, 9:30 p.m.

The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Drum Band’s story begins before most of us (and many of our parents) were alive. Trinidad’s Hugh Borde spearheaded Trinidad’s steel drum band movement in Post-World War II Trinidad. Borde, his family, and his band made their way to the U.S. in the 70s and took it by storm; The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Drum Band appeared on various variety shows and recorded an album with Liberace in 1972 that would go on to win a Grammy. Forty years later Borde’s band is still going strong and playing sunny steel drum music that will keep a weekend of dancing going. Make sure to catch these legends when they make their stop on the isthmus.

Check Borde and the 1970 version of the band on the David Frost Show (yes, as in Frost v. Nixon) below.

Friday, 6/1, 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 6/2, 12 p.m.
Isthmus Jazz Fest

Gear up for a weekend of saxes, horns, scatting, and drum solos. The WUD Performing Arts Committee is bringing some of the best Midwest jazz talent to the Lake Mendota shore in this year’s Isthmus Jazz Fest. Check out the Performing Arts Committee’s fantastic blog, The Green Room, to get the scoop on each of the acts listed in the following lineup. Oh, and like WUD Music, the Performing Arts Committee always welcomes new student members, so consider joining over the summer or when you come back in the fall! The lineup:

Friday, June 1
4:00: Ladies Must Swing
5:00: The Rand Moore Quartet
6:30: Gerri DiMaggio and friends with special guest Donna Bender
8:00: The Rajiv Halim Quintet
10:00: The Modern Sounds
Saturday, June 2
12:30: Student Block (UW-Whitewater Big Band, Edgewood Big Band, UW Jazz Orchestra, High School Jazz All-Stars)
4:00: The Dave Stoler Quartet, featuring John Greiner
5:30: The Alison Margaret Jazz Quartet
6:45: The New Breed
8:00: Mary Stallings (Free, in the Union Theater)
10:00: Madisalsa
Again, this is only a small percentage of the Terrace fun we have planned for you this summer, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled on Saturday for practically every date from June to the beginning of September. The Union plans on launching a whole site devoted to the Terrace schedule, so stay tuned for that link when it goes live on Friday. Finish out those finals, grab that diploma if you’re getting one, and then head down to the Terrace for great summer music.

Just Announced

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This week’s Just Announced is dance party heavy. There are two DTF dates to announce with Nick Nice and Gabe Herrera, but that’s not all. Last fall a few thousand of you packed the Terrace for our first installment of Rave on the Lake. Now, gear up for the sequel, which happens next Thursday. Finally, celebrate your time at the greatest school in the world with the Graduation Dance Party featuring VO5 and The Beat Chefs on the Terrace on May 19th.

We also have a bunch of openers and interim period dates to announce, so check those out below. Make sure to keep an eye out on May 9th, when we’ll have a formal announcement of the summer Terrace schedule. In the meantime, get excited over the dates already announced by checking the calendar.

4/27 Kiazma opening for Blackbird Blackbird and Canopies- The Sett: Union South

4/27 DTF w/ Nick Nice – The Sett: Union South

4/28 The Gazettiers opening for The Dear Hunter – The Sett: Union South

5/3 Rave on the Lake 2.0 – The Terrace: Memorial Union

5/4 Imaginary Friend opening for Kina Grannis – The Sett: Union South

5/4 DTF w/ Gabe Herrera – The Sett: Union South

5/10 WUD Theater and WUD Music present Clyde Stubblefield – The Sett: Union South

5/19 70′s vs. 90′s Graduation Weekend Dance Party ft. V05 & The Beat Chefs- The Terrace: Memorial Union

5/25 The Handphibians w/ Grupo Balanca

5/26 The Trinidad Tripoli Steel Drum Band

Just Announced: BADBADNOTGOOD

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BADBADNOTGOOD are officially listed as a jazz trio, but simply describing them that way doesn’t reflect their hip-hop side, creating music worthy of sample by the most popular rappers. Exhibit A: Tyler, the Creator loved their Odd Future cover sessions so much, he got together with them and created a series of collaborative videos. BBNG released their second album, BBNG2 two weeks ago, currently available at their bandcamp for free download. You can see them live on the Terrace on May 11th. Check out a video of the Tyler the Creator / BBNG sessions below and get excited (but try not to be terrified by the pig mask).

Just Announced

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More details coming in on the Big Freedia and the Divas date, and man, are they exciting.  DJ Diamond, Chicago juke artist, will get us started with the show at 9:30 p.m. You may have caught him in the Sett last semester with Chrissy Murderbot. He’ll likely bring dancers with him as well, who probably don’t need dance lessons but may want to partake in what’s going down at 8:30 anyway – Before the show Big Freedia’s going to show you how to Bounce. Bounce is the booty-centric style of dance Big Freedia’s music is based around. See the video at the bottom of the page to see what (amazingness) you’re in for.

The exciting news doesn’t end with that show. Renowned Madison reggae act Natty Nation will be rocking the the Terrace Ratsa-style on June 23rd. Phonetic ONE, the Madison rapper who is currently a contestant in the Chegg College Battle of the Bands (which has included contestants like Local Natives and Mike Posner in the past) and has played shows with F. Stokes, will get the bleubird and Ceschi show started on April 21st in the Sett.

Check out the new additions below, and head over to the calendar to see the dates that have already been announced. Watch Big Freedia’s “Excuse” below

4/14/2012 DJ Diamond opening for Big Freedia- 9:30. Big Freedia Bounce Dance Class – 8:30. The Sett: Union South.

4/21/2012 Phonetic ONE opening for bleubird and Ceschi – The Sett: Union South

6/23/2012 Natty Nation – The Terrace: Memorial Union

Just Announced

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Royal Headache

Spring Break is just around the corner, but don’t check out just yet. At least pay attention to our newest set of concert announcements. We’ve got Sett announcements; we’ve got Der Rath announcements; we’ve got Terrace announcements. Let’s get right into it.

You may remember Giant People‘s raucous show in Der Rath last semester, where we were treated to punk excellence. When an act that headlined Der Rath a few months ago is opening a three-band bill at the same place, you know it’s going to be a great show. They’ll join Caveman and Screaming Females on April 13th, so don’t leave your party shoes in Panama City Beach over Spring Break.

On April 28th The Dear Hunter will rock the Sett, but you knew that already. What you didn’t know is that The Envy Corps will precede them in the lineup. They may be from our farming-state rival of Iowa, but their atmospheric pop-rock sound that’s drawn comparisons to Radiohead and Modest Mouse can make even us look past that.

Who loves bands whose name sounds like a challenge? We do. That’s why we’re excited that You Won’t will open for Alcoholic Faith Mission on the Terrace on May 5th. The Bostonians released their debut on Valentine’s Day, and you’ll fall in love with their chill indie folk rock sound that will hopefully be accompanied by a summer breeze.

Many of us may never make it to Australia, but in June Australia will come to us when Royal Headache plays the Terrace. The lo-fi rockers’ debut drops in the U.S. on May 8th.. Pitchfork is really excited for it. So be there so you can say you “saw them when.”

Finally, “Madison’s Funk and R&B Kings” Phat Phunktion will play the Terrace the next day. They formed at this university more than 15 years ago and have been a local favorite and beyond since then. They released their fourth album,Real Life… High Fidelity, last year and don’t show any signs of slowing down soon. May 9th will be a night for dancing.

Check out a list of the dates below, and head over to the calendar for dates already announced. Have a great Spring Break, and come back eager to hear some live tunes.

4/13/12 Giant People opening for Caveman and Screaming Females – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

4/28/12 The Envy Corps opening for The Dear Hunter – The Sett: Union South

5/5/12 You Won’t opening for Alcoholic Faith Mission – The Terrace: Memorial Union

6/8/12 Royal Headache w/ TBA – The Terrace: Memorial Union

6/9/12 Phat Phunktion w/ TBA – The Terrace: Memorial Union

Just Announced: Big Freedia and the Divas

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Often with these announcements I use terms like “get your toes tapping” or “make your feet move.” When Big Freedia and the Divas hit the stage, you’ll feel the rhythm a little higher up on the posterior side of your body. Those who are familiar with Freedia know that the purpose of the music – coined “bounce music” – is almost primarily to get your rump shaking, and those who don’t know Freedia need only to watch one of the videos from the 2010 release Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1 to find out:

Yes, that’s the kind of excellence you can expect on Saturday, April 14th and more. That “more” may include a lesson on how to make your rear fly around like the dancers in the video, a skill which Big Freedia has been known to teach and pass on to crowds between delivering clever and inviting rhymes. It’s one you’re definitely not going to miss, and as usual, the show is free. So bring your dancing shoes and… dancing shorts?… to The Sett on April 14th when Big Freedia comes to town.

Just Announced: An Evening with Parks & Recreation’s Nick Offerman

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It’s official: The man behind one of the most notorious mustaches of our generation will be visiting Madison. Nick Offerman, most famous for portraying Ron Swanson – the blunt, hyper-masculine Director of the Pawnee Department of Parks & Recreation on NBC’s Parks & Recreation – will take the stage at Memorial Union’s Union Theatre for “An Evening with Nick Offerman” on April 18th. The show includes what you might expect of the genius behind a character such as Ron Swanson: a Q & A, humorous anecdotes, acoustic songs (Will Duke Silver be making an appearance?!?!), tips for living a prosperous life (See the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness), and much more.

Let’s talk about a few of the reasons Nick Offerman is every bit as cool in real life as the character he plays on Parks & Recreation: 1) Offerman is an expert woodworker and owner of Offerman Woodshop. He honed his skills as a theater set designer and now puts them to use creating such awesome things as canoes, some of which have been featured on Parks & Recreation. 2) Offerman is married to Megan Mullally, best known as Karen on Will & Grace. She has appeared as Tammy 2, the manipulative second wife (and second to be named Tammy) of Ron Swanson. 3) Offerman appears in the movie re-hash of 21 Jump Street, which opens this Friday and currently has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 27 reviews from top critics. That’s pretty impressive.

A pre-sale for students of the university will occur on March 20th (a week from today) in which 250 tickets will be available for $10. Tickets for the pre-sale must be purchased at the Union box office or by telephone. The next day, March 21st, tickets will be on sale to the public for the price of $15 for students and $25 for non-students. After you buy your ticket, feel free to watch full episodes from this season of Parks & Recreation with it, streaming online until the season returns April 19th. Then show up ready to laugh on Wednesday, April 18th!

Watch to witness some of Offerman’s best work as Swanson:

Just Announced

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You might want to reserve a rehearsal space now, because you’re going to want to blow the crowd’s socks off when your band takes the stage for Emmie’s Battle of the Bands on April 20th on the Terrace. UW-Madison’s best acts will rumble, all vying for a favorable review in Emmie Magazine and the title of Emmie’s Student Band of the Year. Emmie Magazine is in print that you can touch with your own hands, so you know they have the skills to paint an appropriate picture of how epic your band is.

At this point I hear you saying, “Sign me up!” Hey, buddy, I’m busy writing articles for the blog, but you can e-mail emmieregister@gmail.com with your band name and the name of a band member who attends the fine institution known as UW-Madison to reserve your spot in the auditions on April 9th at the Great Hall, which take place from 3:30 to 6 p.m. You’ll have to bring your own equipment, but that’s okay because you’ve been wanting to show off your neon green drum-set to people like the Emmie Magazine staff who will appreciate it for all its majesty. If you get the seal of approval, you’ll get to show the Terrace what you’ve got at the 9 p.m. show on Friday, April 20th.

Of course, if spectating is more your thing, it’s a show you won’t want to miss, either. In fact, we’ve got a few more announcements great for people who like to witness concerts, so check them out below. Head over to the calendar to see all the shows that have already been announced.

3/10/2012 Tom Teslik w/ Pushmi-Pullyu – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

3/10/2012 WUD Music, WSUM, and the Multicultural Student Coalition present Born in Flames Tour ft. Invincible and Tamar-Kali – The Sett: Union South

3/23/2012 Sidewalk Chalk opening for Blitz the Ambassador – The Sett: Union South

4/20/2012 WUD Music and Emmie Magazine present Emmie Battle of the Bands – The Terrace: Memorial Union (Auditions on 4/9/2012)

5/4/2012 Kina Grannis – The Sett: Union South

Just Announced

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Yesterday we had our first announcement for the Terrace season: Dirty Beaches and Xiu Xiu on May 18th. We have more Terrace fun for you today, and it’s a special event. April 28th will see the Surgeons in Heat record release party, where the Madison/Milwaukee band will be joined their friends The Midwest Beat, The Fatty Acids, and Pioneer to celebrate with a night of some of Wisconsin’s best indie rock.

Surgeons in Heat made waves with their groove-rock sound on last year’s self-titled EP, eventually finding themselves featured on NPR’s World Cafe and recording a Daytrotter session. This local band is on the cusp of becoming a national band, and their new Midnight at Bellevue EP will only speed up the process. This party celebrates the release of both EP’s as a single 12″ vinyl with an EP on each side.

Joining them to celebrate will be other heatseekers, all of whom are also at the forefront of their local scenes. The Midwest Beat had one of A.V. Club Madison’s favorite albums of 2011 with Gone Not Lost, and 2009 with At The Gates. Quirk-rockers The Fatty Acids recorded their own Daytrotter session and have been on A.V. Club Milwaukee’s Top Albums of 2011 and 2010 with their only two releases, Leftover Monsterface and Stop Berries, Berries and Berries, Berries (With album names like that you know they’ve got to put on a fun show). Folk-pop band Pioneer recently played a date with Cate Le Bon, will play with Breathe Owl Breathe this weekend, and appeared on an A.V. Club-sponsored compilation of Madison bands playing songs in their favorite Madison spots.

But you don’t have to wait until Terrace season to see great WUD Music concerts. New announcements include the Screaming Females joining Caveman on April 13th. They’re loud, their last album Castle Talk received a 7.9 on Pitchfork, and their new album Ugly comes out April 3rd – which all adds up to the promise of a good time when they play Der Rathskeller.

We have a bunch more concerts to announce (including four this weekend) – too many to each highlight – so check them out below. For all announced dates check out our calendar.

3/2/2012 Trapper Schoepp & The Shades – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

3/2/2012 Few and Far Between + Royal Station – The Sett: Union South

3/3/2012 Dirty Jive – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

3/3/2012 Mod Sun + Pat Brown – The Sett: Union South

3/9/2012 Milo opening for Doomtree – The Sett: Union South

3/17/2012 Cash Box Kings – The Sett: Union South

3/23/2012 The Winter Sounds – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

4/13/2012 Screaming Females playing with Caveman – Der Rathskeller: Memorial Union

4/13/2012 Aer – The Sett: Union South

4/28/2012 Surgeons in Heat Album Release Party w/ The Midwest Beat, The Fatty Acids, Pioneer – The Terrace: Memorial Union (8 p.m.)