Oregon Summer Festival, June 23-26, Kiser Firemen’s Park, Oregon: Join the Oregon Region Chamber of Commerce for a festival suitable for all ages. The Oregon Summer Fest kicks off with a bang, with fireworks at dusk on Thursday. The beer tent will open on Friday weekend, with music from Cherry Pie on Friday and SuperTuesday on Saturday. Saturday also includes a craft fair and the festival ends on Sunday with a parade, car show and barbecue dinner. Find more information and updates at facebook.com/oregonwichamber.

summer festival, June 23-25, June 30-July 2, July 7-9, Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, noon-midnight: The Big Gig is entering its second year of weekend-only operations. COVID-19 concerns moved the Summerfest dates to fall last year, but the 2022 festivities will take place during the traditional midsummer period. Despite the diversity of American Family Insurance Amphitheater headliners – Halsey, Backstreet Boys, Thomas Rhett, Lil Wayne, Jason Aldean, Disturbed, Machine Gun Kelly, Rod Stewart – don’t overlook the other stages, where some worthy performers big titles will be played in the late afternoon and early evening. Choice artists include Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (June 23), Jimmie Vaughan (June 24), The Record Company (June 25), The New Pornographers (July 1), BoDeans (July 2), Lilith Czar (July 7 ), The Black Crowes (July 8) and Bob Mold (July 9). All Amphitheater shows require a separate ticket; visit summerfest.com for more information.

Emily Wells, Thursday June 23, Arts + Literature Laboratory, 7 p.m.: Multi-talented composer, producer and instrumentalist Emily Wells is on tour for her February release, Regarding the end. The 10-song album examines climate change, the AIDS crisis and more. The experimental work draws from many genres, including classical and electronic, and incorporates unique sounds and instruments. Advance tickets here.

Paul Cauthen, Thursday 23 June, Majestic Théâtre, 8 p.m.: Two of the 10 songs from Texan singer-songwriter Paul Cauthen’s new album, country going down, drop F-bombs in their titles – but in a charming way. Cauthen’s honky-tonk Elvis delivery straddles country and rock, and his lyrics are steeped in cynicism and wit (except when he gets dark and thoughtful on soul songs like “Till the Day Die” and ” Roll On Over”. It’s often hard to discern how seriously Cauthen wants us to take him, but this is clear: the man sounds good. Expect a healthy dose of songs from country going downplus a handful of cuts from previous albums Room 41 and My Gospel. With Texas-based blues guitarist (and Richland Center, Wisconsin native) Eric Tessmer.

Sense and sensitivity, June 23-Oct. 9, American Players Theatre, Spring Green: Jane Austen’s Novel Sense and sensitivity is in the mold of the classic APT summer kitchen, in that two young women of good family but not very wealthy are looking for suitable companions. But it’s not just a comedy game. Austen asks real questions about what makes more sense in matchmaking – cool reason or passion? Check out Gwendolyn Rice’s full season preview hereand find the schedule and tickets on americanplayers.org.

honor among thieves, Thursday, June 23, Bur Oak, 8 p.m.: Lead guitarist and songwriter Andy Ewen has been rocking blues with bassist Doug DeRosa in Honor Among Thieves since the 1980s. Ewen is perhaps the shyest musician in town — offstage, of course. When he performs, he collapses his whole being into searing, creepy blues riffs. The band only plays a few times a year now, so take the opportunity to see a true Madison legend.

Heartland Marimba Ensemble, Friday, June 24, First Unitarian Society, 7 p.m.: You might think the marimba is all tropical, but there is marimba in the heartland, as evidenced by the Heartland Marimba Ensemble. They’ll be at the First Unitarian Society playing music ranging from classical to jazz, tango, ragtime, Americana, pop, circus – basically, you name it. They will premiere nine works composed for Heartland Marimba’s Composer LabFest and a new marimba quartet composed by their co-artistic director, Jenni Brandon. Get ready to completely transform your conception of the marimba.

Live on Queen Street, Friday, June 24, 100 block Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 7 p.m.: FPC Live’s popular, free Live on King Street concert series is moving a few blocks from its usual home in front of the Majestic to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for summer 2022. And on June 24, LOKS transforms in Live on Queen Street for a drag and dance party. Hosted by Bianca Lynn Breeze, the event features a full roster of regional performers (Kendra Banx$, PonyBoy, Lucy Von Cucci and more) as well as special guest Joey Jay (RuPaul’s Drag Race). The party has to have music, of course, and it will be provided by Kat and the Hurricane, Falling Flat and DJs Femme Noir, Sarah Akawa and Cover Gurrrl. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a “Dogs in Drag” pre-show hosted by Underdog Pet Rescue and featuring adoptable pets.

CapitalQ Theater Festival, June 24-26, Bartell Theater: Queer Shorts, a longtime summer rite in Madison, is turning into the new CapitalQ Theater Festival this year, which will feature a dozen new and original short plays from a baker of local and national playwrights celebrating queer voices. Performances of short plays or staged readings take place on both stages of the Bartell (with alternating programs to allow everyone to see them) at 7:30 p.m., June 24; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., June 25; and 2 p.m., June 26; free masterclasses are held at noon, June 25 and 26. Find a schedule and updates on stageq.org.

Harriet Tubman, Friday, June 24, Café Coda, 8 p.m.: Harriet Tubman’s trio of musicians use the basic elements of bass, drums and guitar on their latest album, The Terror End of Beauty, but the results are anything but basic. It’s a stew of driving beats colliding with futuristic guitar slumps that will appeal to fans of jazz and heavy psych rock alike. Harriet Tubman only plays a handful of shows on this summer tour, and BlueStem Jazz brings them back to Madison; find ticket information at cafecoda.club.

SJC Jubilee, Saturday, June 25, Social Justice Center, 5-9 p.m.: The Social Justice Center was founded to serve as a collaborative home for local nonprofits, an incubator for new organizations, and a community center with meeting spaces, an art gallery, and more. The SJC Jubilee is its biggest fundraiser of the year and this year returns to an in-person party after two years in the virtual world. There will be food (free), drinks ($), a raffle and music by great local programming: catchy rock fables from Able Baker, country fuzz from The Scratch-Offs, musical mash-ups from the mysterious William Z. Villain, and the eclectic electronics of DJ Hanna. Donations can be made at any time here.

Boxcar Summer Block Party, Saturday June 25, Pooley’s, 6-10 p.m.: Performances by three groups will benefit the Dane County Humane Society, a nonprofit animal shelter with an adoption guarantee. Piano Man, a Billy Joel tribute directed by Daniel Anderson, takes the stage at Pooley’s. Anderson also manages the keys for new band Cold Fusion, a jazz and funk band that performs original music as well as unique covers. To complete the poster, The Rascal Theory mixes funk, rock and blues with one goal in mind: to make people dance. Donations will be taken at the door.

Bach Dance and Dynamite Society, June 25-26, Stoughton Opera House + UW Hamel Music Center: The Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Madison’s premier chamber music group, has invited nearly 30 guest artists from near and far to perform in their summer 2022 season, “Riches to Rags.” Artists will take on the Herculean task of performing an unusually wide repertoire, from Mozart to ragtime. A new feature, Incendiary Artist Spotlight, will give us an intimate and personal glimpse into the musical lives of guest artists who have played with BDDS over the years. Final performances will take place June 25 at the Stoughton Opera House and June 26 at the Hamel Music Center. For more concert information, visit bachdancing.organd read Sandy Tabachnick preview of the season here.

Tenney-Lapham Art Walk, Sunday, June 26, 1-5 p.m.: It’s time for determined walkers to take advantage of the annual Tenney-Lapham Art Walk. Art includes watercolors, acrylic paintings, screen prints, woodcuts, photographs, glass flowers, knitted items, digital art and puppets. Find more information about the artists on facebook.com/events/299154838951820; cards can be picked up on Sundays at 408 Washburn Place near Gorham Street. Parking is available in the Christ Presbyterian Church car park, 1000 block of East Gorham.

BABEAPALOOZA, Sunday, June 26, Bur Oak, 2 p.m.: BABEAPALOOZA returns for a second year of laughs with a stacked roster of stand-ups: Marilee, Kristin Lytie, Olivia Witt, Samara Suomi and Megan Diaz-Ricks, plus host Shauna Jungdahl. Added to this year’s event will be burlesque performances by Lili Luxe and Vanessa Tortolano. Find Advance Tickets for the Madison Indie Comedy Event here.

Mad City Ski Team, Sunday, June 26, Law Park, 5:15 p.m.: Heading to Law Park to see the Mad-City Ski Team perform their incredible handstand tricks is a must at least once a summer. All volunteers, skiers ski for free most Sundays through Labor Day weekend. The team has won 11 national championships, including one as recently as 2019. Bring a chair and your best voice of encouragement. And if you sit by the lake, prepare to get splashed. And everything is free.

Thelma and the Sleaze, Sunday June 26, High Noon Saloon, 8 p.m.: Nashville, Tennessee, rockers Thelma & the Sleaze are on the way to wrap up a fast-paced long weekend run through the Midwest. The longtime band lives up to its Thelma and Louise-name inspired with harsh and appropriately guitar riffs scuzz rock gear. With Madison Howler’s rock band.

We hope it is convenient for you to find selections grouped together in one article. Individual picks can still be found in the usual places online: collected hereand sprinkled everywhere all events.

Note: Many locations and businesses may continue to maintain individual mask-wearing requirements, along with proof of COVID-19 vaccination and/or a negative entry test. Before attending an event in person, confirm that it’s still happening and check attendance guidelines on relevant company websites or social media accounts.