44 events to see in February

Winter festivals, Disney on Ice and lots of live music, theater and comedy this month

Special Event
The Madison Winter Festival returns to Elver Park this weekend. Snowmaking efforts guarantee groomed trails for cross-country skiiing and the best hill in Madison for sledding. In addition to hosting lots of outdoor activities for kids, the park will be the site for the Wisconsin High School Nordic Ski League Championships on Saturday and Sunday. Snowshoe and fat bike races will take place Sunday. Feb. 1-2

Music
Minnesota singer-songwriteer and violinist Gaelynn Lea has turned winning the 2016 NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest into a full-time career as a touring performer. A little person with Brittle Bones Disease, Lea speaks out for the rights of other people with disabilities. See her perform at High Noon Saloon. Feb. 2

Music
Folk-pop singer-songwriter Mat Kearney, known to dabble in hip-hop and EDM, ism a new dad with a maturing sound you can hear when he plays the Barrymore Theatre. Feb. 3

Special Event
Over seven days, the Wisconsin Union Winter Carnival invites folks to embrace the season in a variety of ways. On Thursday, Feb. 6, the head and torch of Lady Liberty will arise on the surface of Lake Mendota. And Saturday, Feb. 8, broomball and pond hockey tournaments will be held on the ice. Check the event schedule for all the other activities. Feb. 3-9

Dance
Travel back in time to experience classical Chinese dance with Shen Yun 2020. A mix of extravagant costumes, dazzling stage design and traditional music will light up the Overture Center. Feb. 4-5

Music
New York City’s high intensity brass house trio, Too Many Zooz, comes to the Majestic Theater with support from the up and coming beat tape producer BIOCRATIC. Feb. 6

Special Event
Your favorite Disney characters take to the ice for several musical numbers in the show “Dream Big” at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Feb. 6-9

Comedy
You may recognize Paul Virzi as the host of the weekly podcast “The Virzi Effect” or heard bits from his chart topping comedy album “Night at the Stand.” Virzi brings his eclectic comedy background to Comedy on State. Feb. 6-8

Music
Country singer-songwriter Jordan Davis merges creative storytelling and upbeat tempos that have attracted audiences around the world. Coming off a world tour with Old Dominion, he will be serenading the Majestic at the start of the month. Feb. 7

Music
Mike Doughty brings his extensive catalogue to the High Noon Saloon where he will put on a unique, interactive show using online submissions with help from his longtime collaborator Andrew “Scrap” Livingston. Feb. 7

Theater
The “Lavender Scare” — the effort to drum gays out of federal government jobs in the 1950s — is revisited in “Fellow Travelers,” a production staged in Overture’s Capitol Theater by Madison Opera and based on a novel by Thomas Mallon. Feb. 7 & 9

Special Event
The Frozen Assets Festival — now in its sixth year being organized by the Clean Lakes Alliance — is a celebration of winter activities. On the Lake Mendota in front of The Edgewater Hotel there will be pond hockey, snowshoeing, curling demos, sleigh rides, kite flying and more. And the event is free. Feb. 8

Music
Celebrate the Natty Nation’s 12th annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash at the High Noon Saloon with help from Madison’s own Rebulú and DJ Trichrome. Feb. 8

Music
The lineup of Madison black metal band Corridore, experimental free jazz outfit Stray Passage and the pop-punk of Cowboy Amazing promises a wild ride at BarleyPop Live. Feb 8

Special Event
Presented by the Wild Rumpus Circus, “Flippers & Flappers” will feature performers of all ages as clowns, stilt walkers, jugglers, aerialists and acrobats a the Goodman Community Center. Feb. 8-9

Music
The Barrymore hosts an afternoon worth of local roots music for the United Way Bluegrass Benefit.” The bands include Sortin’ the Mail, Soggy Prairie and the Cork & Bottle String Band. Feb. 9

Music
Alternative crooners Set It Off blend Fall Out Boy and Blink 182 to form an eclectic sound that combines electronic melodies and a hip hop saunter. Hear tracks from their new EP “After Midnight (Part 2)” at the Majestic. Feb. 11

Music
Southern rock band Drivin N Cryin celebrates its 35th anniversary with a stop at High Noon Saloon. The road warriors have recorded nine studio albums and were the subject of a documentary film, “Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’,” which was released in 2012. Feb. 12

Music
Several of Madison’s best musicians come together for “Patsy Cline Valentine,” a seated show at High Noon Saloon. The heart-rending songs of Cline, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash will be on the set list for Shawndell Marks, Frank Busch and members of The Big Payback and the Driveway Thriftdwellers. Feb. 13

Music
Coming off the release of his fourth full length album “Tullahoma,” country phenom Dustin Lynch graces The Sylvee with help from genre newcomer Travis Denning. Feb. 13

Theater
The Barrymore stage becomes a familiar Scranton paper supply company for “The Office! A Musical Parody.” This unauthorized take on the hit TV show includes several musical numbers, including “That’s What She Said” and “Marry Me, Beesly.” Feb. 13

Comedy
See actor and comedian Barry Rothbart’s standup act before the airing of “Kidding” on Showtime with fellow cast members Jim Carrey, Catherine Keener and Judy Greer. Feb. 14-15

Music
Pip the Pansey‘s music brings the listener into an intergalactic disco. Her spacey, dream-pop comes to the Winnebago in the middle of the month. Feb. 14

Music

A powerful night of female fronted groups come to the Majestic featuring the intimate, provocative storytelling of Joseph with opener Deep Sea Diver. Feb. 14

Music & Dance
Swing your valentine around the floor of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Great Hall as the Neophonic Jazz Orchestra plays waltzes, swing and Latin music. Feb. 14

Special Event
Midwestern storyteller extraordinaire Garrison Keillor heads to the Barrymore Theatre for a night of stories, songs, poetry and humor. Feb. 14

Music
Madison’s own Gypsy swing jazz band Harmonious Wail once again emcee the two-day Midwinter Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest at The Brink Lounge. Expect performances by Harmonious Wail as well as Debi Botos from Toronto, Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan from Chicago and the Gonzalo Bergara Trio from Argentina/Los Angeles.

Dance
Kanopy Dance Company is ensuring an inclusive Valentine’s Day celebration with their production “Love is Love.” Don’t miss the regional premiere at the Overture Center. Feb. 14-23

Music
Indie music giants Calexico and Iron & Wine join forces at The Sylvee. Don’t forget a box of tissues as their heartfelt storytelling and smooth guitar riffs blend seamlessly together. Feb. 15

Music
Rising out of Chicago’s thriving Indie DIY scene, Beach Bunny has made a mark with catchy tracks and contagious spunk. See Beach Bunny and two other rising Chicago indie groups, Lettering and Dearly Somber, at the High Noon Saloon this month. Feb. 16

Theater
The musical rendition of the Pulitzer-Prize winning masterpiece “A Color Purple” comes to the Orpheum Theater. Feb. 18-23

Comedy
Coming off of roles in the Comedy Central series “South Side” and HBO’s “Insecure,” LA based comedian Langston Kerman is putting his stand up to the test at Comedy on State. Feb. 20-22

Music
The chamber music of Russian Renaissance includes a mix of folk, tango, jazz and classical music played on traditional Russian folk instruments. See this world-renown quartet in the Play Circle of the Wisconsin Union Theater. Feb. 21

Music
Come with your dancing shoes on and prepared to vibe out with fellow Midwesterner John “JmaC” McCarten, aka Manic Focus, who fuses jazz and funk with boom bap break beats at the Majestic. Feb. 22

Music
Christopher Paul Sterling’s music emanates his Asheville, North Carolina roots transporting the listener to the southern countryside. Check him out at the Winnebago. Feb. 22

Theater
The Children’s Theater of Madison brings the heartfelt, family-driven work “Mockingbird” to the Orpheum Theater. Stay after the performance for a talk with the actors and special guests. Feb. 22-Mar. 1

Comedy
Adult Swim legends Tim and Eric are back on the road with new material that spans the comedy spectrum. Don’t miss their return at the Orpheum Theater. Feb. 23

Music
Midwest super group Motel Breakfast bring their high energy live show to the High Noon Saloon. Feb. 27

Music
All the way from the land down under, RÜFÜS DU SOL’s world renowned electronic show will be on full display at The Sylvee. Feb. 27

Dance
See the interaction between humans and built structures in the critically acclaimed DIAVOLO that fuses complex stage design with intricate dance at the Overture Center. Feb. 27-28

Music
The duo 100 Gecs bring their spastic pop-punk to the The Sett at Union South for a free show. Feb. 28

Music
Irish folk musicians Eileen Ivers and Karan Casey team up for performance in Shannon Hall at the Wisconsin Union Theater. Feb. 28

Comedy
Daniel Simonsen is one of the hottest up-and-coming comedians in the game. He recently taped his second late-night set for the “Late Show with Steven Colbert” and is coming off winning Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for “Best Newcomer.” Catch him at Comedy on State. Feb. 27-29

Music
Electro-pop giants Fitz and the Tantrums come to The Sylvee at the end of the month. Feb. 29

Music

The Grammy-nominated female a capella vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock celebrates its 45 anniversary at the Overture Center showcasing the unique sounds of the African diaspora. Feb. 29

Henry Michaels is an editorial intern and Joel Patenaude is associate editor at Madison Magazine.

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