2023 Schedule
All music is at the Rotary Park gazebo just outside the Opera House and is free throughout the festival.
Looking for a text-only schedule? Click here!
Friday, June 30th
NATE GIBSON & THE STARDAZERS
5:30 pm - Friday
Nate Gibson wrote the book on Starday Records, country music's largest independent record label in the 1950s and ‘60s (The Starday Story: The House That Country Music Built), and has since been keeping that golden era of country music alive as co-host of WORT's Back to the Country program and in his live performances.
The Stardazers feature the electrifying guitar of Andrew Harrison (Joe Pug, Brown Derby, Whitney Mann, Pupy Costello and the New Hiram Kings), “Spider” Mike Hobson (Gin Palace Jesters, Bailey Dee, Deals Gone Bad) on upright bass, and Eric Salisbury (The Ramble, Loving Cup) on percussion.
DEAD HORSES
7:30 pm - Friday
Since the band’s early days, Dead Horses has been something of a fluid project centered around Sarah and Dan but has also welcomed other like minded musicians for recording and touring. The band's seemingly dark name is a loving tribute to a former friend of the band who passed away due to struggles with opioid abuse. To this end, Vos says, “Our music is about hope and joy, all while sharing an important message that you’re never alone in your battles.”
The union of Sarah’s emotive songwriting and Dan’s intrepid bass playing transcends the singer-songwriter-with-backup-musicians paradigm. Dan’s adventurous musicality equally shines alongside Sarah’s songwriting sensibility. To date, Dead Horses has released three albums, two of which have been produced by Ken Coomer of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, an Audiotree Live Session, three singles, and a five-song EP.
Saturday, July 1st
PLAYTIME HAPPY HOUR
NOON - Saturday
Join some of your favorite musicians (members of People Brothers Band and The Grasshoppers) playing some of your favorite hits from The Beatles, Grateful Dead, and more…all while we play fun games with the kiddos…there will even be face painting! Come kick back and enjoy a real good time.
FENDRICK & PECK
1:15 pm - Saturday
Madeline and Brian (Fendrick & Peck) are a Minnesota based indie acoustic duo with well woven and harmonious lyrics, delicate and driving instrumental composition, and quirky and kind personalities. They have been sharing wonderfully unique concert experiences for the past 8 years, blending song, story, poetry, and a love of the natural world and our place in it.
When not performing, their focus is on living an aware and present life. Priorities of theirs include spending quality time with their baby Hugo, getting outside, supporting their local community, writing, recording, and facilitating workshops. In a time where dividing lines are more and more frequently being drawn in the sand, they seek to lift up our commonalities and to help us find the love that others attempt to crush with fear. They hope that all they do fosters connection both to the inner self as well as to those around us.
KENDRA SWANSON
2:30 pm - Saturday
Kendra Swanson is an independent folk music performer and songwriter. With strong, expressive vocals and energetic instrumentation on banjo, guitar, and fiddle, she applies a timeless sound to original compositions written from (and about) the American heartland. It has been described as "soulful," "homey," "sincere," and "heartfelt," delivered with a passionate voice that cuts through the loudest of bars (and the hardest of hearts). Her reputation as a leader of singalongs, enthusiastic storyteller, and humorist have made her performances a sought-after experience for a wide variety of audiences. As a soloist, she has shared bills with the likes of Charlie Parr, Chicago Farmer, The Waydown Wanderers, The Howlin' Brothers, Danny Barnes, the Quebe Sisters, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the incomparable Jerry Douglas.
Kendra currently resides near Madison, WI with her husband Eric, her son, Arlo (born 2019), and their beagle Ralph. While her primary passion is spending time at home singing and playing for Arlo, Kendra continues to perform regionally, as a soloist as well as a part of several musical collaborations. She continues to write, and consult as an environmental educator and professional naturalist.
THE IOWANS
3:45 pm - Saturday
Spirit lifting, soul searching songs from the Driftless, The Iowans are first cousins who have been creating and inspiring each other since early childhood. Transplanted from the fertile soil of rural Northeastern Iowa, now hailing from the musical vortex of Viroqua, Katie and Christina weave together whimsical, nostalgic and moving sounds and original songs with their clawhammer banjo, guitar and organic vocal harmonies.
Christina puts words from the soul to melodies and Katie adds the heartbeat and sparkle. To round out their sound, the Iowans band brings violin mastro John Maduro and Mat Grewe on jazzy, groovy bass...tremendously accomplished artists with kindred Iowan spirits. The Iowans Band is always delighted to be playing together and that pure joy and connection is an experience in itself. They will have you singing along, dancing and feeling like you are part of the family in no time!
CHARLIE PARR
5:30 pm - Saturday
Charlie Parr is an incorruptible outsider who writes novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters thriving in the shadows all around us. Parr has a new record with only his name on it, and it isn’t shiny and perfect and commercial and catchy. It’s him. It’s pure Charlie Parr and that’s enough. He hasn’t moved to LA or Nashville; he’s stayed in the cold grey north of Minnesota, because that’s his home.
ARMCHAIR BOOGIE
7:30 pm - Saturday
Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Armchair Boogie is a nationally touring newgrass act whose unbounded original sound ranges from lightning-fast bluegrass to fiery funk to soulful folk and more. Their unique lineup features drums and electric bass backing acoustic guitar and banjo. Pair that with powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, and you have yourself unforgettable live performances and diverse studio albums. The good word of boogie continues to spread like wildfire; keep an eye out for their third full-length studio album in 2023!
Sunday, July 2nd
DAVID LANDAU: THE KING OF KIDS’ MUSIC
12:00 pm - Sunday
Voted 2019 Children's Performer of the Year by the Madison Area Music Association
Storytelling and performing children's music are two of my passions and talents. I travel to elementary schools, preschools, and libraries to perform musical programs that are educational, entertaining, and motivating. While music is my passion, my love is teaching. For 11 years I taught first grade in Verona, Wisconsin. My programs are an extension of my favorite part of teaching, which is helping children understand themselves and the world around them.
BOO MULLARKY
1:15 pm - Sunday
Boo Mullarky is the amazing one-human jug band medicine show performing ragtime blues, old time, good time and Cajun tunes with foot percussion and guitars!
THREE HOURS
2:30 pm - Sunday
Three Hours is a drums and guitar duo featuring the finger-style guitar of Ced Ba’etch’ and the swinging, lived-in rhythms of Rob Murphy.
Ced Ba'etch' is a Madison based french expatriate guitar player/singer. His guitar picking is an alternating bass melodic fingerstyle and his vast repertoire encompasses Hawaiian slack key, americana "big thumb" guitar, 1920's country blues, movie soundtracks, french pop music of the past and Parisian waltz as well as original material.
MOONHOUSE
3:45 pm - Sunday
Folkadelic Americana - check it out for a real good time!
THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS
5:30 pm - Sunday
“Hey baby, do you wanna take a trip with me? / I’ve got a feeling there might be a silver lining all around.” So begins One Day, the captivating new album from critically acclaimed Minneapolis duo The Cactus Blossoms. Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the record explores the tension between optimism and despair that’s defined much of the past few years of American life, examining the power (or naïveté, depending on your perspective) of positive thinking in the face of chaos and uncertainty. The songs here are tender and timeless, with straightforward arrangements centered around brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum’s airtight harmonies, and the performances are warm and intimate to match, delivered with a soulful, ’70s-inspired palette of playful Wurlitzer, breezy guitars, and muscular percussion.
LANEY LOU & THE BIRD DOGS
7:30 pm - Sunday
Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs are an energetic Americana band from Bozeman, Montana, that infuses four-part harmonies, engaging songwriting, and rock-n-roll drive into a modern approach to traditional folk music. Coming from varied musical backgrounds, the five-person ensemble creates a sound unique to them, but one that appeals to audiences of all ages. The Bird Dogs weave stories through their songs that are reflective, joyous, longing, or meant to share a journey with the listener. Through it all, the band is able to convey heartfelt honesty, getting the audience to immerse themselves in the moment by dancing, singing and laughing along.