The folks running music venues in Madison have been restless all year—with venues changing hands, live music companies merging, developers breaking ground with guitar shovels, and even small venues going through changes. What does it all mean, and will any of this add up to big long-term changes that will impact Madison audiences and performers? Maybe not, but it’s worth […]
Soglin Fires Back On Sidewalk, Trail Proposal
Lawmakers slipped a measure into the state transportation budget that bans municipalities from condemning land — also known as eminent domain — for sidewalks, bike paths and recreational trails. Mayor Soglin is not happy. “This is nothing short of ridiculous or cruel, for that matter,” Soglin says. He says the city has always been able […]
The transportive lyricism of Derrick Austin
Derrick Austin‘s poetry has an ability to quickly and quietly transport the reader to a serene place. His work pulls from history, religion, and mythology, while at the same time using imagery that reflects contemporary figures and pop culture. What makes his debut collection, 2016’s Trouble The Water, so attractive and enchanting is its scope. […]
Six Arrested Near Pipeline Construction Site
The six were released on bail yesterday in Douglas County, near Superior, as they protested pipeline construction from Canada based energy giant, Enbridge. They’re part of groups camping out near construction of a new pipeline. That line would replace the aging “Line 3” pipeline, which starts in Northwest Wisconsin and runs through Minnesota and into Canada. […]
Olyvia Jaxyn’s songs of becoming
Madison singer/songwriter/guitarist Olyvia Jaxyn’s recently released debut EP, Lyv, tries to convey a pretty big story in just four songs. The EP’s liner notes on Bandcamp sum it up this way: “The narrative takes us from naive crushes to public anxieties, to private pleasures to finally being crushed, naively of course, in public. Lyv is a […]
Racism Healing Institute Facilitator On Combating Inequality
With recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, race has jumped to the forefront of people’s minds. But for some, the battle against racism has been going on for a long time. In this two part series, Helena White takes a closer look at a local organization addressing racism: The Institute for the Healing of Racism. Twice […]