Playful, fun, and somewhat irreverent, Anna Wang and the Oh Boys! rock out to good old fashioned pop/rock, with clever lyrics and catchy hooks, drawing influences from sex, emo kids, Phil Spector, 60s pop, 70s pop, soda pop, lollipops, gumdrops, flip flops, sock hops, and many other wonderful things.

Ida Jo began setting herself apart long ago. A violinist since the age of 7, her childhood was filled with countless performances on three continents and awards such as the prestigious Emerson Scholarship to Interlochen Arts Camp. Now, at the young age of 23, Ida Jo has added a music performance degree to her resume along with performances at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, SummerFest, and SXSW.

Ida Jo is pioneering a seldom-heard violin technique called “chopping”. She uses the bow rhythmically to create a percussive sound when playing. Rooted in the folk fiddle tradition, the chopping is “original and unexpected” (Rich Albertoni, Isthmus Daily Page). Influenced by The Band and Van Morrison since she was young, Ida Jo’s solo debut Providence “combines soulful rhythm and blues with a folk sensibility and jazz elements to create something uniquely her own.” (Rick Tvedt, Local Sounds Magazine).

“Perhaps most surprising is not Ida Jo’s violin playing, which is stellar, but her vocals.” (Tvedt). She “shows herself to be a soulful vocalist,” (Albertoni) and with the support of her band, The Show, “it is Ida Jo’s personality that shines through on Providence, and that may be its biggest accomplishment.” (Albertoni).

Click Track, out of La Crosse WI, is comprised of two members whose main focus is on writing new original music that all types of people can enjoy. They have been mistaken for a three piece band because of the large sound they produce. The goal of Click Track is to make people dance, remember the catchy melodies, and steadfast beats. "Give It Four Then Go" -Click Track

Intemperance Collective is the fault of its lead singer and trumpet player Anna Purnell, a 15 year veteran of Madison, Wisconsin's inimitable Balkan band, Reptile Palace Orchestra. Purnell retired from the group in 2010 to focus on her lounge band, Chick Singer, but found she could not live without the addictive thrill of performing for folk dancers.

Thus, Intemperance Collective was born, its mission to house Purnell's smoky, passionate vocals in a more acoustic and traditional setting. Purnell recruited members of Veseliyka and RPO into the band (see Bios). The result is stripped down, kick-you-first-and- kiss-you-next Balkan folk dance magic.

What's With That Band Name, Anyway?
"We're intemperate in our love of the music," Purnell says, "and we hope dancers will demonstrate similar abandon." Band members noted that, collectively, the band might also be considered intemperate were its consumption of Good Old Potosi beer to be considered. Purnell shushed them, but did hand them a bottle opener.

More seriously, the band is also a collective because its musicians represent a great wealth of musical, stylistic, and cultural knowledge to the joy of making music together.

Enough. Let's dance, already.

Chick Singer is a lounge-a-licious band of musical masterminds from Madison, WI who embrace sybaritic 60's classics, but fearlessly lounge-ify a wild mix of other tunes as well. "Mambo Italiano" and "Angel Eyes" sit comfortably in the set with Morphine's "Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer" and Ani DiFranco's "Make Me Stay" given, of course, the rhumba treatment. You'll undulate to Astor Piazzola's "Libertango" and melt to the longing melody of "Les Etoiles". Stevie Wonder's "Supersition" is at home with the Jungle Book's "Trust In Me", and who knew that "What Lola Wants" can be geniusly played as a polka?. This and much more is brought to you via powerhouse, sexy vocals backed by brass, vibes, hot rhythm, and accordion with enticingly strange forays into the land of the singing saw.

The Owls first real gig was Wurst Times One. The energy we encountered, related to these hard but historic times, has inspired us forward. Since then we're working to invent a genre we're calling Northern Bayou music. We're adapting stuff from the likes of; the Meters, Meters, Dr. John, Junior Wells, John Scofield, Naomi Shelton, Jerry Reed, Leon Russell. To mix it up, add some Michael Franti, Greyboy Allstars, Black Keys, Sonic Sound and others. And recently, we've started to put together some originals that reflect those influences with a feel for this place in which we live. We're coming back for more!

Weeen, The Frenetic, are a 5 piece heavy rock band from Madison, Wi. Formed in late 2010, weee've played a handful of shows throughout 2011 around town. Weee're (for the most part) down to earth & love to have a good time while weee explode your brain with a mix of ridiculous riffage & enchanting melodies.

Four musicians who have "payed their dues" have joined forces to create a fused rockin’ blues and boogie sound that will keep you drinkin', dancing and having a great time all night long! They have spent years around the Madison music scene in Falcon, Blue Like That, Black Rose, and Big Eddy Springs. Now creating a dynamic quartet of rockin’ blues and boogie... bluetrain: we’ll play the blues for you!

We are Halley's Hoop. Our goal is to get the crowd dancing and make the world a better place. Our sound is known as Galactigrass, with all original songs and much needed positive lyrics for these times. Our four Studio Albums are underway.

Brian Goetz on guitar and Kyle Miller on Banjo are The Melon Heads. We write songs from our heart and soul for the love of life and music.

"What you give is what you get" "bullshit is bullshit it just goes by different names" statements Burning Sky believe in passionately..... "We wanted to be a bit different from the other dross out there, we wanted to stand out, mean what we did, not just musical prostitution" said vocalist Beeva.. Taking their inspiration from the classic British bands of yesteryear..... The Jam, Who, Clash ,Specials, Oasis etc. Burning Sky just want to mean something different to the vast majority of music lovers out there that are fed up with the mainstream, lifeless, souless performances of many of the bands you watch each weekend. With a classic Mod look & Punk attitude, Burning Sky gigs rarely fail to inspire. New ivory tinkler Gav recalls his 1st Burning Sky gig " I saw this band playing pure fucking soul music man all they needed was some Hammond to complete.

My name is Max Dvorak, and I’m a singer/songwriter based out of Verona, Wisconsin. I started writing music in the spring of 2010, and began to perform for the audiences of Southern Wisconsin the following Fall. I perform original acoustic music that is deeply influenced by artists such as Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, Tyler Hilton, Bruce Cockburn, Into it Over It, Koji, & many more. You can trace elements of my music back to each and every one of these artists, and if it weren’t for the music they’ve created, I wouldn’t be writing and performing the music I am today.

Many who are involved in our local music scene have acclaimed my live performances, and the support of these people have helped me get to where I am today. I strive to make all of my live shows an experience that audience members will never forget. No one leaves a Max Dvorak show without having something on their mind.

Some of my more notable accomplishments include the opportunity to perform at the famous 12 Bar Club in the Soho District of London, playing on the main stage of the world’s largest brat fest in Madison Wisconsin, and sharing the stage with national acts such as: American Idol contestant Josiah Lemning, One Tree Hill’s Tyler Hilton, The Dangerous Summer, Koji, Into It Over It, Jeff Pianki, Kiernan McMullan, Mark Croft, the world’s only touring double-neck guitarist Mark Kroos, and many more.

Set to be released is my debut full-length record with Inner Voice Music Productions entitled “Home.” This ten-track release features a variety of different musical stylings that were written over the last two years. The songs on this record were all written about important times in my life that were significant in shaping the person I am today. From heartbreak to new beginnings, this record reflects all of the experiences I’ve had as a young adult. Bringing the album to a close is the song “Home,” which inspired the title of the record because it is a song about this chapter of my life coming to a close and the common struggle of finding one’s place in the universe.

Following the release of “Home” I will be performing a series of CD-release shows across the Midwest with my brand new 3-piece band featuring Gabe Burdulis, Joshua Stern, & Cole Dockter.

That’s a bit about me and what my music is all about, now it’s time for you to join the Max Dvorak community. There are a few ways for you to do this. First and foremost, join the Max Dvorak mailing list to find out about upcoming shows, releases, and many other cool things. Also, become a fan of my music on all your favorite social networking sites. Most importantly, if I am ever playing a show near you, try your best to come out and be a part of the fun!

Inconspicuously founded in 2005 by friends and long–time collaborators, Brian Thorpe and Matt Duranceau, A Minute Jack Forum subsisted for nearly two years on a handful of home recordings and wishful thinking. Even after securing the aid of bassist/songwriter David Leemkuil and drummer Ken Hale in the spring of 2007, little was certain about how the assemblage would evolve.

All the same, A Minute Jack Forum forged ahead, triangulating its sound from previous experience—having played such venues as Chicago's Metro and Lounge Axe, along with Madison establishments like O'Cayz Corral and the Memorial Union Terrace with previous ventures. The results run the breadth of alt–rock, touching on common themes of heartbreak and personal regret while offering new contexts for NASA and Bigfoot.

A Minute Jack Forum finally emerged in 2008, sharing the bill with many talented independent artists while peddling their newest expressions on show–goers about Wisconsin and the Midwest. The band debuted their first full–length recording—Traction Blip—in July 2010.

Combining elements of rock, folk, country and Celtic, The Getaway Drivers were founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Bob Manor, whose 2005 song "The Sweetness" won a Madison Area Music Award for Americana Song of the Year. Manor has since recruited some of the area's finest musicians, including Celtic singer and songwriter Sheila Shigley of the vocal group, Navan, bassist Tom Broeske (formerly of the Spanic Boys), guitarist Dan Kennedy, drummer Gail Campbell, cellist Steve Pingry and keyboard player Barbara Chusid. Shigley covers mandolin and fiddle, and Manor plays acoustic guitar. The Getaway Drivers have developed a solid local following and have been nominated for multiple MAMA awards.

The band's influences include Wilco, Steve Earle, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Fairport Convention

The Getaway Drivers have performed at numerous regional and local venues and festivals, and in 2010 were chosen by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to both open and share the stage with them at Madison's Overture for the Arts Center.

The Getaway Drivers can be heard on Pandora.com and over 40,000 TouchTune jukeboxes countrywide. Their most recent EP, Black Dog Days, is was released in the summer of 2011; a new EP is in production.

The members of the Echelon String Quartet met while pursuing degrees in music at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. As individuals, all of these musicians are outstanding talents, but as an ensemble they are a musical force to be reckoned with. Echelon's desire to perform jazz, improvisatory music, unique arrangements of rock music and contemporary classical music makes them a rarity in the string quartet world. While at the university, the Echelon String Quartet was chosen to receive a National Undergraduate Research Grant to commission a work by a living composer (New York based composer, Eric Schwartz) for string quartet and percussion. The result of this fellowship was Schwartz's seven-movement work "Seven Sultry Gothic Love Songs." Known to undertake any musical challenge, Echelon are frequently used as an educational resource, touring area schools as educators and clinicians. A versatile ensemble, the Echelon String quartet can also be heard as an opening band, as studio musicians, accompanying rock bands or even playing weddings or other events in either a traditional classical (or not so traditional) style.

THREE LEFT Formed in 2006, Joe Czebotar, Ron Hardcastle and Rich Czebotar have taken the path less traveled by going against the grain by playing their own version of aggressive groove rock and taking it to the masses. Over the last few years they have successfully play for audiences across the United States who sought out the uniqueness of the band. With the release of the bands first CD, “Eclectic Minds”, 3LEFT has gained momentum and fans everywhere they played. Always thinking about others, they have organized and played a number of different benefit shows to help those less fortunate, and to great success will continue to do in the future. 2009 will be no different. With a new CD in the works, tour to follow, 3LEFT is ready to take their music to the next level.

Madison's most "must see" indie rock masterpiece! Annabel Lee will blow you away. Her powerful, smokey vocals and honest, vulnerable lyrics are truly moving. She combines with one of the most innovative guitarists in the Midwest, Rockwell Windsor Rice. His harmonic, percussive playing style lends an edgy passion to this high energy duo.

Electric shows feature Sean Peyton on the drums.

From being showcased on WORT to performing with international organization, Chick Singer Night, this unstoppable group can't help but get your attention.

BiPolar Orange have maintained a quiet, but strong existence in Madison, WI since their start back in 1996. While trying to avoid the ‘power-trio’ label, BPO has melded their personal influences into a dynamic mix of rock, folk, & a bit of that stuff the kids are calling the punk rock. Playing occasional bar gigs and a few charity events in the area, the band has

been constantly creating new songs since their beginning. ‘Wrapped Up in Aluminum Foil’ is their first album and they’re finishing new recordings as we speak. Greg sings & drums. Victor plays bass. Jamie sings & plays guitar.

Amorphous Mold got together after two of the members, Croyle and Vitela had done essentially a summer stint as a folk duo. They both had been in the band Patchwork Monkey prior, a blues based band out of the Madison, WI area. They soon realized that though they enjoyed playing a folky acoustic show here and there, their love was still with the band element and Croyle really wanted to get back to playing drums full time. They soon put an ad in the old craigslist and found the bassist of their dreams, Mr. Patrick Lally. Now, we could go on to tell you all of the band members specific acolades of the past, as all the members have had extensive experience as musicians, some touring and recording experience, even on a world wide level at one point.

But A.M. is about the future...what they are going to bring to the table - mostly you are going to hear them in and around Madison Wisconsin, maybe as far as Chicago from time to time and when you do your going to hear some great classic rock driven originals and some great new versions of classic songs such as Rushs "Working Man", BSandTs "Spinnin Wheel" and one of the bands favorite tunes by the Beatles "Come Together"... we hope all of you come to the shows and see the band - more importantly, we hope you cheer,

Madison's newest and most formidable reggae/rocker outfit, is a talent rich quintet led by four time Grammy nominated lead singer and guitarist Michael Stone.

Michael (Guitar Dread) Stone, who has toured extensively with some of the world's greatest reggae artists, such as Justin Hinds, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Third World's Cat Coore and famed Studio One drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace has put together Madison's hardest reggae rocker outfit.

Peter (Ras Kikit) Johnston, from the original Natty Nation reggae group, drives the Kingtown Rockers train, with his hammer like one drop beat. Johnston, who has earned his chops touring nationally with Natty Nation, also has provided the beat behind local musical groups, such as Supa Ranks & His Rockstone High Power, Tony Brown and Roots Collective, now brings his workmanlike approach to laying the foundation to this new hardworking outfit.

Stefan Truesdell displays his varied array of lead/rythmn guitar stylings with the multi-talented Kingtown Rockers. Truesdell studied at the punk rock guitar altar during his stint as lead ax for the hot Racine, WI based Dead Flyboy. Stefen then carried on his work in lead guitar steering the reggae group Natty Nation from 1998-2006. He also lends his guitar duties to the funk, jazz and neo soul ensemble Weapons of Mass DeFunction. Stefan will be displaying his guitar wizardry as the Kingtown Rockers bring their driving reggae sound to the music lovers.

Jack Whitney is the newest member of Kingtown Rockers. Jack brings his “Rock Steady” style of bass to the Kingtown Rockers after spending over 10 years playing live

Fire and Love are a driving rock band with lilting female vocals and hints of punk, pop, and grunge.
Has anybody ever called themselves the craigslist band yet? Because yeah, we all met through craigslist. First Anne and Carell met and briefly formed an all woman band called The Good Girl Discount, that never made it out of the rehearsal room. But the two became friends and vowed to start another project, in the fall because in summer, in Wisconsin, who wants to spend time indoors rehearsing? No, you have to enjoy the outdoors while you can... So come fall craigslist helped them find Evan and Scott. Evan started throwing some hot riffs around and Carell wrote a bunch of lyrics - mostly about fire and love - hence the name, and they've been rocking out with original tunes ever since. fireandlove.bandcamp.com

Born in the Tundra North and raised under the pretense that Rock & Roll will save the world.

Wisconsin can be a desolate place in winter without a creative outlet and we've used that as our inspiration to compose and perform music that we hope represents our unique slant on the American Midwest style.

Look for new music from the upcoming "SMART" CD to be posted on this site very soon.

Our first recording, "Main Street", was recorded, engineered and co-produced by Butch Vig (Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Garbage) back when Butch still worked daily at Smart Studio in Madison Wisconsin. The release garnered some attention from the press and is still selling copies worldwide.

Our second recording, "Northern Distortion", was recorded, engineered and co-produced by Jeff Murphy (Shoes, Material Issue) at Short Order Recorder in Zion, IL. Jeff is a well respected independent studio engineer and has always been at the forefront of the production and promotion of the Midwest Pop Music scene.

Our next recording, due for release in May of 2010, is being mixed and mastered, once again, at Smart Studio in Madison, WI. Unfortunately for the Midwest (and the American music scene in general), Smart Studio will be closing soon and ours may be one of the last projects to pass through this nationally respected facility.

As somewhat of a tribute and at the very least an acknowledgment of what the presence of a studio of this caliber in this part of the world means to us, we've titled our next release to be named, simply, "SMART".

Thanks you for listening and supporting the independent music scene where ever you are. Come to Wisconsin for a winter and join us in our misery - it's inspirational.

As always, stay well and howl when the mood strikes you. The Guys @ Fun w/ Atoms

Sexy Ester is high energy, New Wave Rock band from Madison, WI. Fronted by honey voiced Lyndsay Evans, who controls the stage like the Divas of old and ably backed by Adam Edar on guitar, Paul Kennedy on drums, Brad Schubert on bass, and Roscoe Evans on keyboards, Sexy Ester is no flash in the pan. They've already payed a lot of dues slugging it out in the smaller clubs and dives all over the Midwest and the clubs are getting bigger and bigger. Their newest CD, "Sequins, Sin, & Appetite" is fast becoming a staple of college radio stations. The band swept the Alternative category at last year's Madison Area Music Awards taking home Performer, Song, and Album of the Year. Lead Singer, Lyndsay Evans, was honored with the Female Vocalist of the Year award.

Romero's Jeffrey Mundt spent most of the 90's behind the drum kit for a variety of bands including THUG & punk legends, NAKED AGGRESSION. A long-time guitar player & songwriter, he often dabbled with fronting a band, but never pursued it seriously. Enter: a move to northern WI, a random Craigslist ad from bass player Josh Stanchik, a casual 8 month writing and recording session (with Mundt handling vocals, guitar & drums!) & Romero was born! Intent on creating a demo to locate & convince a drummer to work with them, Mundt & Stanchik were about a month from completion when... a drummer found them! Rumors of the project peaked the interest of PONEY drummer & vocalist Ben Brooks and he gleefully volunteered before even hearing a single note. Good thing he eventually liked what he heard!

ROMERO started playing live immediately. Very often. First, locally...then regionally...now, nation-wide! They have already shared the stage with the likes of The Sword, Jucifer, Weedeater, Clutch, Dead Meadow, Black Label Society and other dyed-in-the-wool heavyweights.

ROMERO spreads like a weed.

HEAVY - LOUD - VERY, VERY HIGH...

"Riding in on a majestic steed with a psychedelic sound scape-coat, Electric Spanking takes the genre of "jam" to a new realm. Blurring lines between funk, rock, pop, and hippy-hulu-hooping riffs and taking lessons from powerhouses such as Phish, Def Leppard, Tower of Power, and Michael McDonald, this 6-piece group has it all. What began as a funky side-project of the local Madison band Baghdad Scuba Review, quickly morphed into a "saxy" good time. Electric Spanking has graced stages all over Wisconsin (dabbling a bit at festivals in Minnesota), playing a variety of tunes, from funktastic covers to tasty-licked originals. True innovation is born of Electric Spanking's provocation."

Nate Onsrud (The Bin Men, Underculture) comes out from behind the drums to take on the roll of front man and guitar slinger in this raucous rock outfit. Joined by accomplished musicians and former members of "Eccentrifuge", Jeramaya Wunderlin (bass) and Joel Croyle (drums) create a furious rhythm section rounding out this no-holds-barred trio.

Formed in 2007 and based in the traditional folk styles of the Balkans, Veseliyka seeks to combine tradtional instrumentation and melodies with a contemporary repertoire. Seeking to break out of the mold of familiar recorded dance tunes, the ensemble works to make longer dance medleys. Supported by the enthusiastic international folk dance community, Veseliyka hopes to expand it’s audience with each appearance.

Formed in 2007 and based in the traditional folk styles of the Balkans, Veseliyka seeks to combine tradtional instrumentation and melodies with a contemporary repertoire. Seeking to break out of the mold of familiar recorded dance tunes, the ensemble works to make longer dance medleys. Supported by the enthusiastic international folk dance community, Veseliyka hopes to expand it’s audience with each appearance.

Art Paul Schlosser was born born in Chicago, January 4, 1960. He grew up listening to novelty music like Allen Sherman and Tiny Tim as well as funny songs by The Beatles and The Monkees. When Art was 11, he, his mother, and his sisters moved to Madison, Wisconsin after his parents got a divorce. As a child in Madison, his mother continued to play weird and funny songs for him, sometimes playing strange sound effects on one recorded player to go with the songs. As a teenager, Art Paul joined a work experience play group that encouraged Art to be creative. In this group, there were a couple of fans of The Beatles, one of whom encouraged Art Paul to write lyrics. It was from that time on that Art started to write. Art would listen to the Dr Demento radio show as well as other strange records that he discovered at the local library, and then try to write some lyrics he was inspired to write after listening to the songs.On Art's 19 Birthday Art recieved a guitar and started to write music to go with lyrics.Upon discovering that it is legal to busk on State Street, Art Paul tried it out on a warm day late in February 1986 and received a couple of dollars for his effort. Since then Art Paul has been a street musician and busker as well as an outsider artist on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.