Events

Lynda & The ZEROS return to the Red Rooster for another exciting night of great music on Saturday, March 1st. With powerhouse lead and backing vocals, and an instrumental punch that more than fills a venue, local favorites Lynda & the ZEROs are at the forefront of top area dance bands. Their upbeat repertoire covers… Read More »Lynda & The ZEROS

You may have heard Tall Paul Sabel's warm baritone voice and bluesy harmonica licks with the Ryan McGrath Band. You may have also heard him behind Lorenzo "Cat Daddy" Thompson at Madison and Milwaukee dates. Now he's fronting his own band, bringing his songwriting creativity and Chicago blues training to the Red Rooster stage! Paul… Read More »Tall Paul & The Naughty Cats

Get ready for a night of unfiltered hilarity and magical mayhem at the Red Rooster! Join us for "Monday Night Raw," a no-holds-barred open mic comedy show hosted by the chaotic, unpolished, and utterly unpredictable magician/weirdo Sammy Dice Jr. Whether you love it or hate it, we promise you'll be talking about it! Doors open… Read More »Comedy Open Mic hosted by Sammy Dice Jr.

Turning Point is a good time Rock'N'Roll band playing a mix of original songs as well as an extensive list of covers from classic to alternative favorites. We're excited to have the band return to the Rooster stage on Tuesday, March 4th from 7-9p!

The Dirty Pretty (Jeaniee Dee, guitar; Mike Christenson, drums) is a homocore rock duo. Also described as noise, math, punk rock. A Bear and a Non-Binary on a queer-positive punk rock adventure. On a regional tour in June, their high-energy show is sure to captivate audiences everywhere they go. The Dirty Pretty Wasabi Neon is… Read More »The Dirty Pretty, Wasabi Neon, Primitive Broadcast Service

The Red Rooster hosts a Blues Jam nearly every Thursday! This week’s show will be hosted by The Usual Suspects. Musician sign-ups begin at 6 and continue all night. The house band starts at 7 and jammers are invited up soon afterward. All playing levels are welcome. Stop in early for some great food before… Read More »Blues Jam Hosted By The Usual Suspects

The Red Rooster welcomes back one of Madison's most accomplished musical units, the Bill Roberts Combo, for a Friday happy hour show! Shaped by jazz/blues stylings in the tradition of George Benson, Wes Montgomery, and Kenny Burrell, Roberts is a nuanced master of technique and dynamics. His veteran sidemen - many of whom have played… Read More »FREE Happy Hour Jazz with Bill Roberts Combo

The Dan Walkner Band is steeped in the blues tradition, with an undeniable country rock influence, blending the twang and storytelling of classic country with the electric passion of the blues. Fronted by Dan Walkner, a seasoned songwriter and guitarist with a deep love for storytelling, the band’s sound draws inspiration from legends like The… Read More »Dan Walkner Band

Known for having everyone in the crowd on their feet, The Jimmys are an award winning, high energy, 7-piece funky blues band with touring experience throughout the US, the Caribbean and Europe. The band is led by seasoned keyboard and Hammond B-3 player Jimmy Voegeli. He is joined by Perry Weber on guitar and vocals,… Read More »The Jimmys

Charlie Painter is a self-studied, self-producing, Madison-based guitarist, band leader and teacher since 2008. Painter's multi conceptual approach is informed by decades of weekly/monthly residencies, transcribing records by ear, and a mentorship under NYC Jazz guitarist Jordan Klemons since 2020. We are excited to welcome the Charlie Painter Trio back to the Red Rooster on… Read More »Charlie Painter Trio

So you wanna be a rock and roll star? Head on down to the Red Rooster for Live Band Karaoke and front a live band on stage at one of Madison's premier music venues! It's gonna be a 90's/00's grunge and alt-rock kind of a night, so be ready to give us your best Eddie… Read More »Live Band Karaoke with Fringe Field

Join us for our March edition of the Songwriters Showcase on Wednesday, March 12. This month we are featuring two great artists, Mr. E and Logan Bollant. Eric Wennerstrand (AKA Epic / Mr. E) studied flamenco guitar at age 8 and this accounts for the percussive, pummeling and flashy portions of his guitar style. Throughout… Read More »Songwriter Showcase feat. Mr. E, Logan Bollant

The Red Rooster hosts a Blues Jam nearly every Thursday! Musician sign-ups begin at 6 and continue all night. This week’s host is Madison blues legend James Earl Tate, host of blues jams across five decades! The house band starts at 7 and jammers are invited up soon afterward. Professional and semi-pro players are encouraged!

Down 2 Hearse Annual Show 2025 March 13thDoors 7:30pm // 21+ $10 Admission Hosted By Kid Vibe LINEUP:Kid Vibe (Down 2 Hearse)TheRealTaco (Down 2 Hearse)Reces Aura (Down 2 Hearse)Reverse PlaybackObscureSuviMista Swisha & 608 Micah& More! Special Guests:Lil CripDonnie Kaptcha VT Experience Guests:Datlankyman42blacktop Vendors:Down 2 HearseBaiBai Creates

Six-Thirty Sharp represents the best of local community spirit and talent. They're McFarland's musical team - including teachers, administrators, and residents - sharing joy playing danceable soul, R&B, and funk hits of yesterday and today, powered by a healthy blast of horns. There won't be many wallflowers left at the end of the night! We're… Read More »Six-Thirty Sharp ~ Women’s History Month Celerbration

A dynamic performer, playing 100-150 shows per year, Kevin Daniel’s music has been described as “radio ready with enough darkness creeping in around the edges to appeal to fans of Jason Isbell & Tyler Childers.” On his two early EPs, his 2019 debut album Things I Don’t See, and his 2021 follow-up, Been Here Before,… Read More »Kevin Daniel, The Whiskey Farm

Get ready for a night of unfiltered hilarity and magical mayhem at the Red Rooster! Join us for "Monday Night Raw," a no-holds-barred open mic comedy show hosted by the chaotic, unpolished, and utterly unpredictable magician/weirdo Sammy Dice Jr. Whether you love it or hate it, we promise you'll be talking about it! Doors open… Read More »Comedy Open Mic Hosted by Sammy Dice Jr.

The music of John C. Van Orman & Adam Helwin blends textures and texts of antique and modern soundscapes, familiar enough to be warm and welcoming, adequately exotic to be fresh and surprising. Two singers accompanying themselves on guitars, harmonium, gourd banjo, concertina, hurdy-gurdy, and other instruments, they share traditional and contemporary songs of a world populated by cowboys,… Read More »Van Orman & Helwin

The Buttermilk 3 is a musical duo (don’t let the name fool you) that love performing contemporary, acoustic interpretations of classic songs from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Audiences love hearing classic songs set within an acoustic setting of guitar, bass and two vocals. We're not overwhelmingly loud so the audience can still enjoy conversation… Read More »The Buttermilk 3

The Red Rooster hosts a Blues Jam nearly every Thursday! This week’s show will be hosted by The Usual Suspects. Musician sign-ups begin at 6 and continue all night. The house band starts at 7 and jammers are invited up soon afterward. All playing levels are welcome. Stop in early for some great food before… Read More »Blues Jam w/ The Usual Suspects

Mike Zito is one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today and rightfully so, but for him, the thing that counts the most is maintaining his honesty, authenticity and integrity. Those are the qualities that have steered Zito’s career since the beginning and continue to define every effort he’s offered since.… Read More »Mike Zito

Automatic Lover is what happens when a singer from Sonora, Mexico gets in a room with a drummer from the banks of Lake Superior. When keyboards steeped in jazz and salsa meet guitars raised on 80s hardcore and afrobeat. When the bass slaps back at its early metal roots with a whole horn section of… Read More »Automatic Lover, DJ Francis Medrano

Get ready for a night of unfiltered hilarity and magical mayhem at the Red Rooster! Join us for “Monday Night Raw,” a no-holds-barred open mic comedy show hosted by the chaotic, unpolished, and utterly unpredictable magician/weirdo Sammy Dice Jr. Whether you love it or hate it, we promise you’ll be talking about it! Doors open… Read More »Comedy Open Mic hosted by Sammy Dice Jr.

Robert Allen Jr. delivers a good time blues show played with tons of soul. The members of his band are true professionals. Without stopping between tunes, they seamlessly lay down one groove after another, and you can’t help but appreciate the passion they pump into every note. Robert's presence takes over the stage and he… Read More »Tuesday-Bluesday with Robert Allen Jr.

The Red Rooster Open Mic returns on Wednesday, March 26th at 7:00p with host Jack Tomlinson. Bring your talent to the stage and meet other like-minded artists! This can be music, comedy, poetry, you name it, as long as it makes sense on a club stage. Slots will be in 10 to 15-minute increments and… Read More »Open Mic Hosted By Jack Tomlinson

The Red Rooster hosts a Blues Jam nearly every Thursday! Musician sign-ups begin at 6 and continue all night. This week’s host is Madison blues legend James Earl Tate, host of blues jams across five decades! The house band starts at 7 and jammers are invited up soon afterward. Professional and semi-pro players are encouraged!

Maestranza returns to the Red Rooster and we're bringing some crazy friends to help us out. The Simsons Band from Illinois and Madison favorites The Flavor that Kills are gonna help us get crazy! $10 at the door, 8pm showtime.   The Flavor That Kills plays driving, frenetic soul-punk style of music from Madison, WI.… Read More »The Flavor That Kills, The Simsons Band, Maestranza

Wise Jennings established themselves as a powerful duo in the original music scene in Wisconsin for eight years. In 2024 they decided to make a creative pivot to explore new musical ideas and added two members to the band. If a band had a mission statement theirs would be: Keep It Interesting. They incorporate rock… Read More »Wise Jennings, Between Howls

Pretend Friend is a nationally touring progressive bluegrass and folk-rock band based in Wichita, Kansas. Known for combining musical elements, Pretend Friend melds raw energy and soulful expression into timeless original songs "that seem to have always been." Pretend Friend grew from the combined inspiration of rock and roll, Kansas bluegrass culture, and the campground… Read More »Pretend Friend