Open Wed–Sun 9 am–4 pm • Free Thur nights, 4 pm–8 pm • Get tickets

Open Wed–Sun 9 am–4 pm • Free Thur nights, 4 pm–8 pm • Get tickets

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Tag Archive: LFTW

  1. Live from the Wonderground: Panchromatic Steel

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    Friday, July 3 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Update: in the event of inclement weather, the event will move indoors, with floors 1 and 2 open for play. 

    Enjoy free concerts at MCM the first Friday in July, August and September, featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Tonight we’re welcoming Panchromatic Steel, fusing island styles with pop hits, rock and jazz into a high-energy blend that is hard to categorize but easy to love. A tasty selection of local food, plus beverages of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic persuasion available for purchase in the Wonderground.

    Learn more about the Live from the Wonderground series here. 

    Details

  2. Live from the Wonderground: Honor Among Thieves

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    Friday, August 7 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Enjoy free concerts at MCM the first Friday in July, August and September, featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Tonight we’re welcoming Madison legends Honor Among Thieves, bringing their unique style of pumped up psycho-roots rock. Local youth drummers will open the event with a short set of Brazilian Samba School percussion. A tasty selection of local food, plus beverages of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic persuasion available for purchase in the Wonderground.

    Learn more about the Live from the Wonderground series here. 

    Details

  3. Live from the Wonderground: Black Star Drum Line & Forward! Marching Band

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    Friday, September 4 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Forward! Marching Band plays music inside the giant wooden bucket, in the outdoor Wonderground exhibit space at Madison Children's Museum

    Enjoy free concerts at MCM the first Friday in July, August and September, featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Tonight features a double dose of local street band sounds. We open with Black Star Drum Line, a program that gives children ages 9-18 in the Madison community an opportunity for creative expression through the Percussive Arts, followed by the honktastic brass-forward sounds of Forward! Marching Band. A tasty selection of local food, plus beverages of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic persuasion available for purchase in the Wonderground.

    Learn more about the Live from the Wonderground series here. 

    Details

  4. Live from the Wonderground: Shakey – A Neil Young Tribute Band

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    September 5, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every month this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Tonight we’re welcoming Shakey, a Neil Young tribute band that captures the essence of Neil Young’s music and style. Be sure to grab a tasty street taco or pupusa from Mexsal and a delicious dessert from Stellie’s Ice Cream cart, plus beverages of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic persuasion—all for purchase in the Wonderground.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

  5. Live from the Wonderground: Grupo Balança & Handphibians with Ótimo Dance

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    August 1, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every month this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Tonight we’re welcoming three superb samba groups to the MCM stage: Grupo Balança, The Handphibians, and Ótimo Dance. Be sure to grab a delicious dinner from La Belle and a dreamy dessert from Stellie’s Ice Cream cart—both for-purchase options in the Wonderground.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

  6. UPDATE: Live from the Wonderground indoors, free admission

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    July 11, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every month this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other!

    Updates for Friday, July 11: The event will take place indoors due to inclement weather. Tonight we’re welcoming two groups to the MCM stage! In the first set, 5:30–6:15 pm, enjoy the New/Old Kids Trio featuring Jonas, Micah, and Geoff on cello, sax, drums, vibraphone, and theremin. For the second set, 6:45–7:30 pm, let’s get eclectic and electric with the Theramones, theremin-driven Ramones tribute group. Be sure to grab a delicious dinner from Guimo’s Mexican Restaurant , available for purchase in the Lunchbox cafe.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

  7. Live from the Wonderground: Los Chechos

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    June 6, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every month this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor space like no other! 

    Tonight we’re welcoming Los Chechos, a group of notable local musicians who bring their own spin to Latin American tunes spanning a colorful array of genres. Sway to the sweet sounds of cumbia, ska, reggae, and pop-rock, as band leader Alejandro Punguil gives voice to lyrics in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Be sure to grab Venezuelan eats from La Taguara and a dreamy dessert from Stellie’s Ice Cream cart, both offering for-purchase options in the Wonderground.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

  8. Live from the Wonderground: Christo’s Novelty Combo

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    May 2, 2025 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every month this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor play space like no other! 

    Tonight we’re welcoming Christo’s Novelty Combo, an ensemble led by award-winning instrumentalist Christo Ruppenthal. Christo’s Novelty Combo melds exciting, steel guitar-centered jazz and Django Reinhardt influences with vintage “Hawaiian Craze”-inspired tunes. Be sure to grab supper from Halo Halo food truck and a dreamy dessert from Stellie’s Ice Cream cart, both offering for-purchase options in the Wonderground.

    Sign up in-person for art tours highlighting vibrant works throughout the museum by local fiber artist Renee Roeder Earley, 6:15 pm and 7 pm.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

  9. Live from the Wonderground: The Funkee JBeez

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    September 6, 2024 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every first Friday this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor play space like no other! 

    Tonight we’re welcoming The Funkee JBeez, an ensemble led by award-winning drummer Joey B. Banks. The band is made up of some of the best musicians in the Midwest and performs Jazz, Funk, Soul, Pop, and R&B music from the 70’s to the present. The band is best known for their high-energy Clyde Stubblefield tribute that features “The Funky Drummer” performed with James Brown.

    At intermission, don’t miss tonight’s set from The Bagamins! Discover their delightfully unconventional blend of theremin melodies and plastic bag percussion, performed in the Wonderground’s Giant Bucket.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to downtown Madison’s most creative playground, the Wonderground. This first Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun.

    Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. In between sets, the Bucket Set features a unique mini-set performed in the Wonderground’s Giant Bucket.

    Live from the Wonderground is sponsored by the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.

  10. Live from the Wonderground: Madison Mystery Tour

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    August 2, 2024 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

    Every first Friday this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor play space like no other! 

    Tonight’s featured group is Madison Mystery Tour. Driven by their devotion to the Beatles, Madison Mystery Tour is dedicated to performing every song in the Fab Four’s core catalogue. Formerly “Get Back Wisconsin,” the group was established in 2012 and has performed to sold-out audiences around the state.

    Don’t miss our Drop in the Bucket performer, Geoff Brady, performing smooth vibraphone melodies between sets from Madison Mystery Tour. We’ll also share a bonus toast with our outgoing CEO, Deb Gilpin, to celebrate her wonderful work at MCM and her upcoming adventures in retirement.

    Live from the Wonderground admission is free! You may choose to provide a donation at the door, but no entry fee is required. Proceeds benefit the work of Madison Children’s Museum and allow us to bring accessible programming to our community. All tickets are at the door, no advance registration. Please enter at the Wonderground gate on E. Dayton Street, by the Log Cabin.

    Live from the Wonderground

    Live from the Wonderground brings music, dancing, food, and drinks for all ages to Madison’s most creative play space and part-time concert venue, the Wonderground.

    This free first-Friday concert series features local bands, drinks, light snacks, and fresh air fun. Events take place from 5 to 8 pm, with bands performing two sets from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. In between sets, “A Drop in the Bucket” features a unique mini-set performed in the Wonderground’s Giant Bucket.

    Learn more and view upcoming Live from the Wonderground events.

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