THURSDAY, MAY 16
Rattle and Humbird
Humbird is the name of a very small town in Clark County, Wisconsin. It’s also the name of a three-piece Americana band from the Twin Cities that has drawn comparisons to Aimee Mann and Suzanne Vega. Humbird plays the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave. at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $15 ($20 at the door), and Creekbed Carter Hogan (which is not a town in Wisconsin) opens the show.
THURSDAY, MAY 16
Paint provided
Just sitting down to paint can feel daunting: Do you have brushes? Paint? A place to work? Spend the evening painting this Thursday at community art space Communication, 2645 Milwaukee St. At the free BYOC (Bring Your Own Canvas) event, hosted by Madison artist Jayce Thoyre, all acrylic painting supplies are provided except a surface to paint on. This is a sober event. A limited supply of canvases is available by donation.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 16-18
Don’t chicken out
This weekend Forward Theater’s Wisconsin Wrights offers a trio of readings. On Thursday, “The Flying Corpse” is a dark comedy about the death of an estranged patriarch and his outlandish burial demands. Friday brings Quan Barry’s latest, “The Other Side,” about using videos of a headless chicken named Frank to make money on YouTube. On Saturday, Lila Hovey’s “Anatomical Hearts” is “a queer historical dramedy” set in 1850, centered on a dream deferred at Harvard Medical School. Tickets for 7:30 p.m. shows at The Stream, 1000 Edgewood College Drive, cost $15 at the door only.
FRIDAY, MAY 17
Level up recycling
Local sustainability organization Sustain Dane aims to create recycling champions. The in-person version of their popular Recycle Better class, which runs 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday at Starting Block, 821 E. Washington Ave., is designed to help attendees teach friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to reduce waste and recycle better. The $15 class is free for Sustain Dane members. Register online.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 17-19
Uff da!
It’s bunads and krumakake all over town this weekend in Stoughton, as Syttende Mai takes over the town’s Main Street. A citywide tradition since the 1950s, Syttende Mai kicks off Wednesday at the Capitol with Norwegian dancing, with the festival starting Friday. There are Viking Games and a “fun” run on Saturday (from 20 miles to a 2-mile “lil” community run) and a Norwegian parade Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m., with food vendors and music all weekend. Some events require a $5 blue Booster Button, good for all three days.
SUNDAY, MAY 19
Don’t touch that dial
Madison community radio station WORT/FM annual fundraiser, WORTstock, brings music and good vibes to Warner Park, 2830 N. Sherman Ave. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy food, beverage, local vendors, and great local music, including Son del Atlantico (pictured) and Boiled in Lead. It’s all free.
