Group Candela, Monday, August 19, McKee Farms Park, Fitchburg, 6 p.m.: Grupo Candela has been a leading member of Madison’s active Latino music scene for nearly two decades. Founded by percussionists Manuel Vellón and Roberto Rengel (both formerly of Que Flavor), the group has grown from an octet to a 13-person powerhouse with changing lineups over the years. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes as the season of concerts in McKee approaches, as a youth band from the Madison Music Foundry will be the opening act.

Elizabeth Holden, Tuesday, August 20, A Room of One’s Own, 5.30 p.m.: Madison author Elizabeth Holden reads from her first young adult novel, The mighty Millie Novak. Holden, who skates at Madison Roller Derby, has brought this experience Millieabout a queer teenager on a junior roller derby team who experiences typical teenage angst and seeks the courage to overcome it. In addition to the reading and a Q&A with Holden and local author Laura Bird, there will be a roller derby demo and food from Just Veggiez.

Madison sings! Tuesdays through August 20, First Unitarian Society, 7 p.m.: Madison Symphony Chorus and First Unitarian Society are collaborating again on a choral singing series open to all singers. Each week includes some vocal training, rehearsals and a “performance” without an audience; the final week focuses on excerpts from the Messiah from Handel on August 20. Sheet music available, or bring your own. For more information: fusmadison.org/madisonsings.

Dancing in Lughnasa, through September 27, American Players Theater, Spring Green: The American Players Theatre opened the second half of its repertory season with Brian Friels Dancing in Lughnasawhat director Brenda DeVita calls a “beautiful, poetic, airy play.” A young Irish boy is raised by his mother and four unmarried aunts in the 1930s; into their impoverished home life come an uncle and, occasionally, the boy’s wandering father. Threats to the delicate balance of their daily lives are the local economy and the Catholic Church. Read Janet Clear’s review here. Performances this week at 7:30 p.m. on August 20 and 8 p.m. on August 24. Tickets at americanplayers.org.

Jazz at Five, Wednesdays through September 4, Capitol Square, 4 p.m.: As it turns out, Jazz at Five’s return to its traditional home at the top of State Street was short-lived. This time, however, the summer concert series is moving just a few blocks counterclockwise on the square, to the corner of South Hamilton Street. Concerts begin at 4 p.m. with a youth band, followed by Jazz Flux and the Kal Bergendahl Project on August 21; UW Faculty Jazz Band and Jazz All Stars on August 28; and the DB Orchestra and All That Jazz Big Band on September 4. For more information, visit jazzatfive.org.

Historic taverns, Wednesday, August 21, Argus BarGrille, 5 p.m.: Historic preservation isn’t just about renovating old houses with period wallpaper. This social event from Historic Madison Inc. will be held at the historic Argus Bar, 123 East Main St. Doug Griffin, formerly of the Wisconsin Historical Society, will discuss the history of the building, which is one of the oldest still standing in Madison. There will be a guided tour of the building, including a “secret” (or maybe not so secret if we’re telling you about it here?) tunnel. Attendees are welcome to order food and drinks.

Springworms: The impact of a new soil invader, Wednesday, August 21, UW Arboretum Visitor Center, 6:30 p.m.: First the Asian ash beetle, now this? Jumping worms may not be killer hornets, but they are bad news. They increase soil compaction, deplete soil nutrients, and encourage the spread of non-native plants. But there are ways to fight back. Bradley Herrick of the Madison Chapter of Wild Ones will present useful information on fighting this new invader species, with hands-on activities including looking for jumping worms in the dirt and outdoors.

Medium cool, Wednesday, August 21, Central Library, 6.30 p.m.: Filmmaker Haskell Wexler won two Oscars for his work as a cinematographer and has been acclaimed as a screenwriter and director for many documentaries. But if you have to choose one film from his many excellent works to watch first, then Medium Cool is the way to go. The story follows a television cameraman (Robert Forster) who loses his job after protesting the network’s policy of giving footage to the FBI. He takes a job as a freelancer at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. A Chicago native, Wexler filmed on location during the chaotic convention, and what led to Medium Cool is a mixture of fiction and reality that still causes headaches decades later… and is as relevant as ever in today’s media landscape. A warning: Be prepared for something disturbing.

King Dunn, Wednesday, August 21, High Noon Saloon, 8 p.m.: King Buzzo, the legendary founder and singer/guitarist of the Melvins, and Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn have teamed up for a two-month late summer tour as “King Dunn.” Dunn plays an upright bass while King Buzzo sings and plays acoustic guitar. But don’t expect a relaxed evening. As King Buzzo said before the tour began, Dunn has “the ability to make his bass sound like an oil tanker crashing into a coral reef.” Yes, we’re definitely intrigued by this pairing. JD Pinkus, best known as a member of Butthole Surfers and (of course) the Melvins, opens. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.

In addition to Normal, through August 24, UW Memorial Union-Play Circle: The Music Theatre of Madison fulfills its mission of selecting new or different works with its 2008 production of the rock musical Besides Normal. The main character is a mother whose bipolar disorder has taken a toll on her family. Mental health and family issues are at the forefront of this multi-Tony Award-winning play and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Although the themes are serious, the music is lively. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; tickets at artsticketing.wisc.edu.

Nativity scene + empty church, Thursday, August 22, Bur Oak, 8pm: Consider for a moment the idea of ​​Madison-based stalwarts Cribshitter playing in an empty church. They may not be rocking a sanctuary that night, but they are playing with Vacant Church, a trippy folk-rock band from Madison. Vacant Church’s latest single is the atmospheric mid-tempo rocker “Glue.” Cribshitter’s sets lately have been based on their 2022 album. Goes smoothlywith a strong Cali country/yacht rock vibe (and the occasional beach ball and kid party onstage, like when they opened for the Pursuit of Happiness fest in June). Tickets at theburoakmadison.com.

Hello Dankness, Thursday, August 22, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 8 p.m.: This film sounds like the perfect film for our current situation, where artificial intelligence has us worried about whether media is real and which is not. Hello Dankness is a feature film created entirely from sampled, grafted and altered footage that examines American politics from 2016 to 2021. Yes, it’s a horror film and also a musical, because why not. It’s a creation of Australian artistic duo Soda Jerk and will premiere at this Rooftop Cinema screening in Madison.

To the individual picks collected hereand as part of the complete Event calendar.