Meet Brandon Clementi, WUD Music member of the week! He has booked some awesome shows, such as Wild Nothing with Abe Vigoda + Secret Cities this past semester in Der Rath.

Year and major? Senior, Geography / Environmental Studies

What’s the best thing about being on wud music? Making concerts happen and meeting great people.

Favorite artist of the moment? Jens Lekman
And/or favorite song of the moment? ‘End of Time’ – Beyonce

What was the coolest show you ever went to? Dan Deacon Ensemble at Lollapalooza ’09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK86MTbR4WI

Summer music plans? To go see as many shows as possible, and to book some great bands to play The Sett this fall!

Dream band name, if you had a band? John Cage and the

Love relaxing at Union South on Fridays, but wishing for some entertainment to add you your evening? Well guess what, we’re adding to our summer music line-up just for you!

We’d like to announce a Jazz series for our brand new venue: The Plaza at Union South. Get your weekend off to a great start with these fantastic local and regional bands. Every Friday from 4:30-6:30pm we bring you jazz at the outdoor Union South Plaza for free, running form July 8 to Aug 26. Check out our updated schedule for a complete listing of the shows.

It all starts today at 4:30 pm with the Luke Polipnick Quartet. Don’t miss out!

*Rain Location: The Sett

Thursday we bring you Cave, a Chicago based quartet known for their krautrock influenced jams and sick live grooves. Their prolific touring has raised awareness of their excellent live shows. The group began the summer of 2005 in Columbia, Missouri playing mostly improvisational music. Since relocating, the group has released many LPs, EPs, 7s and Cassettes on various labels. Their 2010 release, Pure Moods, marked a creative turn in sound and landed them a spot as last year’s Pitchfork fest. Their atmospheric, funky sounds will sound great out on the Terrace! Wet Hair of Iowa City opens.

Friday night FLATFOOT 56 will play you a rollicking barrage of Celtic punk and folk-tinged hardcore. This band has spent 11 years rocking for fans from the South Side of Chicago to garnering an international audience with their intense and positive party-like energy. FLATFOOT 56′s new album, Black Thorn, was released on Old Shoe Records in the United States, Stomp Records in Canada, and Big Mouth Japan in Japan. Make sure you catch a Madison favorite, The Nod, playing their last show. Before them will be Tiny Riots, also from Madison. The night starts at 8:30 pm.

Saturday you must get to the Terrace as well to see The Ladybug Transistor, a Brooklyn-based indie pop group associated with The Elephant Six Collective. Over the course of some sixteen years and six remarkable albums, The Ladybug Transistor have confirmed their standing as the preeminent exponents of lush, formalist pop music. With a superlative new record, Clutching Stems, at the ready, their pursuit of a singular musical vision remains as true as ever. Look for The Ladybug Transistors new album, Clutching Stems, to be released on June 7th. Press: The The Ladybug Transistor will be putting on a psychedelic and highly eccentric show with the help from from opener Tammar.

Don’t miss this show, or the rest of our Terrace weekend!

Meet WUD Music member Dylan Hill, going into his third year on committee!

Year and major?

Entering Junior year in the fall, Biology Education major

What’s the best thing about being a music wuddie?

Booking shows and doing promotions and stuff is fun, but the people in music committee are why I enjoy doing the work so much. They’re just a cool bunch of people to be around.

Favorite artist of the moment? And/or favorite song of the moment?

At the moment? Boards of Canada are undeniably cool. The care they put into every detail of their music, how well they can build atmosphere, its amazing. Song? Matthew and Toby by Rocketnumbernine. It’s kind of paint-by-the-numbers of things I like, but its so good.
What was the coolest show you ever went to?

I saw Godspeed You! Black Emperor in Chicago earlier this year as a birthday treat. That was something else.

Any summer music plans or any summer shows you’ve already gone to?

I haven’t really seen a whole lot of live music this summer. I’m back home in Milwaukee for the summer and live music in Milwaukee feels very different than live music in Madison. Most of the small Milwaukee venues are 21+ so I can’t get in there, which makes big venues like the Pabst Theatre and the Eagles Ballroom my only option, and those shows are a lot bigger, a lot more expensive, and require a bit more planning than what I’m used to in Madison. I’m looking forward to Pitchfork Music Festival, but I a feeling that’s the only live music I’ll see between now and the start of school.

Favorite superhero?

The One Electronic from Rice Boy, because he has a TV screen for a face.

Come enjoy your 4th of July Weekend with WUD Music on the terrace!

Thursday

There’s a scene in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov where the main characters Ivan and Alyosha discuss the existence of God. Ivan, in particular, questions the idea of God. Alyosha, on the other hand, is a monk, a believer, some may say, a holy fool. Talk of faith and exalted things is rare in indie rock today. Enter Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha. Throughout their second release, the five song Fathers Be Kind EP, the band chart their own course between divinity and disbelief. Don’t miss their indie folk rock set!

To open is David Wax Museum, with a lovely blend of traditional Mexican and American folk music. The band’s fiery and heart-wrenching shows created an undeniable buzz and a devoted following.

Friday

Milwaukee-based band The Wildbirds will be on the Terrace with Brighton and People’s Temple opening.

The Wildbirds’ debut album, Golden Daze, was written in the woods of northern Wisconsin. The quartet’s album is bursting at the seams with energetic, exciting, heartfelt rock n roll. Golden Daze is the sort of timeless record that could have been made in 1972, 1979 or 1991, but the sheer amped-up exuberance of soul, emotion and personality in the album is undeniably refreshing. Look forward to seeing The Wildbirds’ blues pop rock sound.

To open is Brighton, who is from Chicago, formerly known as Brighton, MA. The band gets its name from the town singer/songwriter Matthew Kerstein was born in, and is also general statement about nostalgia and going home again. The indie rock band has played shows with The Arcade Fire, Of Montreal, Feist, and Spoon.

Also to open is People’s Temple, with modern Lo-fi garage punk. The band is composed of two sets of brothers from Lansing, Michigan who share an interest in 60s psychedelic rock and dig the Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Saturday

Prolific Drag City songwriter, Bill Callahan, will headline the night Madison celebrates Independence Day with its annual Rhythm & Booms fireworks display. Bill Callahan is touring in support of his album, Apocolypse, which was released in March of 2011. Fittingly, it features a song entitled “America!” Come to the Terrace to watch the fireworks over Lake Mendota, and stay for what will be a magical evening with Callahan’s engrossing and moving essence.

To open is Hidden Ritual,  from Austin, TX. Come and enjoy their spacey soundscapes of the American West.

See you there and happy Fourth of July!

*In nice weather, the shows will take place on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage on Memorial Union Terrace. In inclement weather, shows will move indoors to Der Rathskeller.

Land of Vandals and Corcovado played brilliant music in Der Rathskeller for A.V. Club Local Music Wednesday this week. Here’s to hoping next Wednesday we can finally get the weekly series out on the Terrace, weather permitting! Missed out Wednesday night? Don’t worry, you’ve still got the whole weekend left to enjoy WUD Music programming.

On Thursday night the winner of the ninth season of American Idol, Leon James “Lee” DeWyze, Jr., is coming to the Terrace! Lee is from Mount Prospect, Illinois. Prior to Idol, DeWyze had a solo career and formed the Lee DeWyze Band. He had also released two independent albums called So I’m Told in 2007 and Slumberland in 2010. His post-Idol album Live It Up was released on November 16, 2010 on Entertainment and RCA Records. His enjoyable folk pop is not to be missed. To open is acoustic singer-songwriter Corey Crowder. His Americana sound recalls roots of rock and soul from the sixties and seventies. Thank WUD Music member Dan Pries for booking this show!

Get ready to enjoy a Friday night of fast-paced electronic and hip-hop music from Star Persons with K.Raydio and Humpasaur Jones. Star Persons is a Madison-based six person, fully electronic, live band from Earth. Star Persons is also from the future. The future of music is blending genres. Star Persons blends electronic dance beats with dizzying raps and pop hooks. Their music will be sure to make you your head nod and your body move. K.Raydio, a hip-hop and jazz fusion artist from Minneapolis will open for Star Persons. Humpasaur Jones of Illinois will also open, with his alternative hip hop sound. Christian Widder booked this show for you guys.

On Saturday, we’ve got Natty Nation for you, also known as 100% independent Hard Roots Rock Reggae & Dub. Their messages of peace, love, community, & spreading positive vibrations has been ringing out since Natty’s inception in 1995. JAH Boogie and his backing band’s tight but fluid, rootsy but funky, beautiful but gritty, righteous but real vibration is clear to anyone listening to their music, either at a show or on their stereo. It’s almost impossible not to dance at a Natty live performance. Every Natty Nation concert is a different experience. Their energy is infections & their dubtastic jams are complex, yet their message is simple–spread the positive vibration. DJ Trichome is to open. A local to Madison, he’ll be spinning real vinyl and getting the show started the right way. Christian Widder also booked this one, so enjoy!

In nice weather, the shows will take place on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage on Memorial Union Terrace. In inclement weather, shows will move indoors to Der Rathskeller. 

WUD Music lovers, we have an amazing weekend to follow Wednesday and Thursday night’s awesome shows!

Friday night, Haley Bonar will perform. Haley is an American alternative folk and country singer-songwriter very active in the Minneapolis music scene. This year she released her new album, Golder, and also played the South by Southwest Music Festival. Haley is visiting the Terrace as part of her summer tour.

To open is Judson Claiborne, a melodramatic pop group from Chicago. The group’s narratives about strange and beautiful travels, encounters, adventures, family, lovers, and dreams will begin the evening perfectly. Thank last year’s WUD Music Director, Brigid Hogan, for booking this show.

On Saturday night Davey von Bohlen returns to the Terrace a couple months after he opened for Ted Leo, this time with his band, Maritime. Based in Milwaukee, Maritime formed in 2003 out of the ashes of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan. After these two bands broke up, Davey von Bohlen,Dan Didier and bassist Eric Axelson started Maritime. The band, with their indie pop rock sound, recently played at South by Southwest. Their latest work, Human Hearts, may be their best yet, but come to the Terrace and decide for yourself.

To open is Madison-based Sexy Ester & The Pretty Mama Sisters. This band will get you hyped up with some power-pop and rock. The mysterious figure who booked this show is Dylan Hill. Don’t miss out on all of the great shows at the Terrace this weekend!

*In nice weather, the shows will take place on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage on Memorial Union Terrace. In inclement weather, shows will move indoors to Der Rathskeller.

For this week’s A.V. Club Madison Local Band Wednesday we present to you Shtetlblasters and Colorphase!

Out of the dust of the Kosher Sound Deli comes the dance-a-licious revolution spearheaded by Shtetlblasters. Fusing klezmer, electro-funk, improv and all things epic, The Shtetlblasters will have you moving! Be sure to catch their appearance on the Terrace.

Also playing Wednesday night is Colorphase, an up and coming rock group straight from the underground college scene. Colorphase has played with nationally touring acts such as The Melismatics, Natty Nation and Venice Gas House Trolley. Don’t miss their rock and reggae-inspired sound. Show starts at 8 pm!

Thursday night we bring you El Clan Destino, going on stage at 7:30 pm. El Clan Destino is dynamic Afro-Cuban quartet from Madison Wisconsin that combines elements of jazz, rock, funk, flamenco, classical, and avant-garde.

Later that Thursday night at 10:30 pm on the Terrace get ready for Detriot-based band, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. The band’s dynamic duo, Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein released their debut EP, Horse Power, last summer, which showcased the band’s smooth, dream-pop sound. This summer they are to release their debut album, It’s A Corporate World, and are also scheduled to play at Chicago music festival Lollapalooza. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., with their beautiful harmonies, melodic rhythms and original lyrics will be sure to dazzle this night on the terrace! The night will begin with Madison’s own folk-rock band, Icarus Himself, opening. Who booked this night? None other than Christian Widder.

*In nice weather, the shows will take place on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage on Memorial Union Terrace. In inclement weather, shows will move indoors to Der Rathskeller.

If it’s your first summer in Madison like it is for me, make our summer Terrace shows part of your weekend tradition. It’s such a unique place to see a show, even if you’ve spent summer upon summer in this beautiful yet quirky city. Why not start this weekend right- out on the shores of Lake Mendota listening to indie folk or some funky blues?

This weekend is just a small sampling of the diverse music programming yet to come! Friday night is Jeremy Messersmith with The Daredevil Christopher Wright, booked by Emily Roehl. Saturday night will be Tani Diakite and The AfroFunk Stars, booked by Christian Widder.

Jeremy Messersmith is not only a musician- he’s also a storyteller, who has carefully crafted a trilogy of songs that narrate life. The Minnesota chamber-pop artist has been compared to the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Beach Boys with his quirky and beautifully crafted melodies. To me, he also bears a resemblance to Joshua Radin with his smooth and gentle sound. If you’re unfamiliar with Jeremy, make sure you watch the excellent live video below! You’ll be happy you did it.

The Eau Claire indie-pop trio The Daredevil Christopher Wright, which you remember from the Terrace last summer, will be opening. With their album “In Deference To A Broken Back” being mixed by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and a new album in the works, this is a terrace show you do not want to miss! See you at 9:30 pm.

Tani Diakite and The AfroFunk Stars is the centerpiece of a popular style of music from Mali called Wasulu Music. When you hear the blues played by this band Saturday on the Terrace, you’ll understand why it is often said that Mali is the birthplace of the blues. The Kamale N’goni is one of several African instruments that preceded the banjo, so you’ll hear similarities to bluegrass too. In addition, the Afrofunk Stars are backed up by one of the hottest percussion sections around. This will be a fantastic night on the Terrace! See you at 9:30 pm.

*In nice weather, the shows will take place on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage on Memorial Union Terrace. In inclement weather, shows will move indoors to Der Rathskeller.