Live music in Portage, WI

Country music icon Martina McBride takes the stage at Crystal Grand Music Theatre in Wisconsin Dells. Celebrated for hits such as Independence Day, A Broken Wing, and This One’s for the Girls, she brings soaring vocals and heartfelt storytelling to an evening centered on the songs that made her a favorite with fans.

With school back in session, the saloon turns Friday evenings into a high-energy scene. The pace picks up and the vibe gets wilder as the night unfolds. It is all about leaning into the excitement and keeping the good times rolling.

Karen Carpenter’s voice remains one of pop’s most recognizable and cherished, and The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration brings the brother sister duo’s beloved catalog back to the stage in a fresh production from the creative team behind The Simon & Garfunkel Story. Backed by a full band and woven with heartfelt storytelling, the concert reflects the duo’s warmth, emotion, and musical craftsmanship. It welcomes singing along, stirs memories, and helps audiences reconnect with timeless hits such as “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Close to You,” and “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Presented at Overture Center for the Arts. A VIP option includes a private 20 minute acoustic performance with the lead performers featuring Carpenters songs not included in the main show, plus a meet and greet, a photo opportunity, and a limited edition collectible VIP laminate.

Boomtown Saloon has been a country-centered spot in Wisconsin Dells since 2015, pairing Nashville-inspired food with a steady country soundtrack and regular live performances. Travis John appears with roots shaped by his mother’s love of the genre and a namesake nod to Randy Travis and Travis Tritt. The Stevens Point native turned a hometown “Point Idol” karaoke win into guitar-driven gigs, making his first acoustic appearance just six months later and building experience at local venues. Years of persistence led to recording an original single in Nashville and reaching the Wisconsin finals of NashNext 2017. A singer-songwriter, fitness enthusiast, and father, he also gathered fellow musicians to form Soul Whiskey, known for country hits from the 90s, 2000s, and today. Whether solo, in a duo or trio, or with the full band, he brings the same high-energy approach that suits the Boomtown setting.

Miss Tamara leads a lively session filled with singing, rhymes, counting, and playful movement. The activities encourage teamwork and social interaction, build language and communication, and spark musical awareness and a steady sense of rhythm. They also support phonics and early literacy, reinforce counting and simple patterns, and help participants feel confident while playing together in a group. Expect plenty of energetic fun as learning happens through play. Participation is included with admission.

FPC Live presents Our Lady Peace at The Sylvee as part of the 30th Anniversary Tour, with The Verve Pipe. This all ages show highlights three decades of music from Our Lady Peace. Presale is available through All Access with no code needed and free membership. Tickets are available through The Sylvee or at the box office during business hours.

The Tony Award winner for Best Musical returns with an all-new tour across America, arriving straight from Broadway. This groundbreaking reimagining of The Wizard of Oz helped reshape Broadway, uniting an iconic score of soul, gospel, rock, and 1970s funk with Dorothy’s search for her place in a contemporary world. Directed by Schele Williams (The Notebook, the revival of Disney’s Aida) with choreography by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s Single Ladies, Black Is King) and additional material by Tony- and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers), the production weaves ballet, jazz, and modern pop into its movement and music for a vibrant new groove. Coverage from The Baltimore Sun and the Chicago Sun-Times has highlighted the commanding performances, striking choreography, and imaginative design that power this high-energy revival.

A weekly singalong gathers voices in Madison at Muso Madison for an open, acoustic-friendly session. Songs are chosen from the Rise Up Singing and Rise Again songbooks, which together span 100 years of folk and traditional music. All experience levels are welcome, whether playing a little or a lot. Participants may bring guitars, mandolins, banjos, fiddles, accordions, and other acoustic instruments, and there is a stand up bass along with some guitars and ukuleles on site to play. The songbooks provide chords for accompaniment, while melodies are learned by ear.

Copeland appears at The Bur Oak in Madison, WI with special guest Jenny Dee for a seated show. The Lakeland, Florida trio continues to broaden its palette, weaving symphonic colors and electronic textures into its rock foundation. Their album Blushing, produced by Aaron at his Vanguard Room studio with Bryan and Stephen contributing their production and mixing experience, brings together 11 tracks that push each facet of their sound. Songs like On Your Worst Day, Skywriter featuring Young Summer, Night Figures, Lay Here, and Pope move from string-led elegance to moody electronics and back to guitar-driven power. The lyrics lean toward a hazy, open-ended style that encourages personal interpretation. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

Amélie Farren, Lilith Max, and Rabbitology share the stage with vivid storytelling and genre-blending sounds. Amélie Farren crafts intimate alt-folk and alt-pop she began writing at twelve and continues at eighteen, drawing listeners into sharply observed moments that feel familiar yet previously unspoken. Her early track suffering has surpassed 24 million streams, and Unsweetened Lemonade (2024) has exceeded 70 million while connecting with audiences across the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and South America. Her debut album Airheaded, produced in LA by Michael Keenan, explores obsession, complicated attachment, and the mirrored roles of those who cause harm and those who receive it. Lilith Max brings fantasy-tinged folk that weaves knights, myth, and magic into richly told songs with room for imagination. Rabbitology, the creation of Nat Timmerman, opens a burrowing, offbeat realm of eclectic soundscapes and memoir-shaped, fantastical sonic short stories, traced by the footprints of a three-legged rabbit. General admission is $30 in advance and $35 on the day of show. Balcony seating is $45 in advance and $50 on the day of show.

A happy hour performance featuring The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Band highlights a Wisconsin mainstay for over two decades, devoted to the classic era of Latin jazz. The group has earned 14 Isthmus Madison Favorite Jazz Band awards and has shared stages with Poncho Sanchez, John Santos, Giovanni Hidalgo, and John Benitez. This event is free.

From Stevens Point, Bomber & Red share harmony-driven songs inspired by nature, love, and deep feeling. Their warm, intimate approach comes through in a stripped-down, cabaret-style set at Harmony Bar & Grill, a fitting soundtrack for good food and good company in Madison.