The SpongeBob Musical — Oct. 8-13 at the Overture Center for the Arts
The lovable, weird wonderfulness that is SpongeBob SquarePants has made its way to the big stage here on dry land. SpongeBob first premiered on TV way back in July of 1999. He and the rest of the citizens of Bikini Bottom have become known the world over. The musical, based on the show, has been a smash hit everywhere it has gone. The musical production originally began in Chicago, but quickly moved to Broadway for a year-long stay. A North American tour opened on Sept. 22 in Schenectady, New York. And now, Madison residents will have the opportunity to see this live spectacle from Oct. 8-13 at the Overture Center on State Street.
Lizzo - Oct. 10 at The Sylvee
Lizzo comes to Madison for an epic night of music this month after visiting Wisconsin this past summer at Summerfest. She has been on the rise after her debut album in 2013 entitled Lizzobangers. Now, she is one of the most popular acts in the country. Lizzo has been busy recently, releasing another album, Cuz I Love You, and has also transitioned into the world of film, appearing in the movie “Hustlers” alongside Jennifer Lopez. Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You Too” tour is making its stop in Madison on Oct. 10 at The Sylvee.
Fashion Forward - Oct. 12 at The Sylvee
The Sylvee will transform for an evening into a fashion-filled venue, playing host to what is being called the largest fashion show the city has ever seen. Fashion Forward will be held on Oct. 12, featuring some of the city’s most popular retailers such as Jazzman, August and Ciao Bella. DJ Radish will be providing music for the event and Chicago-based DJ Dani Deahl will be soundtracking a late night after-party following the event. All proceeds will benefit the Rape Crisis Center, Clean Lakes Alliance and Doyenne.
COIN - Oct. 20 at the Majestic Theatre
Nashville-based three piece alt-pop band COIN is coming to town on Oct. 20. Forming in 2012, the band has amassed a large following throughout the country with two EPs and two studio albums since then. COIN has played large musical festivals like Lollapalooza, but they also like to play smaller shows in more intimate venues where they can share the experience of their performance with their fans. Performing with Canadian rock band Arkells, COIN will be making their Madison stop at the Majestic Theatre.
Chris Stapleton — Oct. 24 at the Alliant Energy Center
Five-time Grammy Award-winning country artist Chris Stapleton is making a stop in Madtown later this month! Stapleton is a talented musician, capable of integrating several genres into a given song. In 2017, The Seattle Times described his music as a blend of old-school country, Southern rock and bluegrass. Stapleton has been a very busy man in the last few years, with three studio albums released since 2015. But, he has gained a large following and earned a lot of respect in the industry in a short amount of time. He opened for legends like Tom Petty and the Eagles, and now going on tour as the headliner. His stop in Madison will be at the Alliant Energy Center on Oct. 24.
Hamel Music Center opening — Oct. 25-27
UW will be the proud home of a beautiful, brand new music center beginning this month. Featuring state-of-the-art recording technology as well as top-notch acoustics, students of the Mead Witter School of Music will benefit from the high-quality facility, as well as the citizens of the city who can enjoy a host of shows there as well. Opening weekend is set for Oct. 25-27, complete with a ribbon cutting and a statement by UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank. Entertainment will be a plenty, including a performance by the UW-Madison Symphony. The Hamel Music Center is located on University Avenue, across from Vilas Hall.
Wizard Comic-Con — Oct. 25-27 at the Alliant Energy Center
That same weekend, a massive celebration of comic books, fantasy and the like will take place in Madison. The Wizard Comic-Con is making its way back to Madison featuring photo opportunities and Q&A panels with a wide variety of celebrities from the world of sci-fi. This year’s festival is highlighted by several stars of the smash hit and pre-Superman series “Smallville,” which ended its 10-year run on the CW back in 2011. Series stars Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Erica Durance (Lois Lane) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) will all be in attendance to answer questions and tell stories from the set. Wizard Comic-Con will be held at the Alliant Energy Center on Oct. 25-27.
Freakfest 2019 —Oct. 26 on State Street
The legendary Halloween celebration Madison has become known for returns for another round of music and fun! With three stages for music all along State Street, it promises to be an epic night with a wide range of artists to see. Lil Yachty and Gin Blossoms headline a large group for festival goers to dance the night away with. This year’s Freakfest will be held on Oct. 26 in downtown Madison on State Street.
John Everman is an Arts Editor for the Daily Cardinal. To read more of his work, click here.
