Madison Music Scene?

Following visits with friends in Seattle, Austin and Ashville – the three towns most competitive with Madison's laid back, high-tech, highly educated and outdoorsy environment – I often leave lamenting the music scene in our hometown. When strolling the streets of these rival towns, the number of small venues, street performers, old-school promotional fliers and artsy tabloids always surprises me. In my visits, I've observed an extreme focus on the pursuit of a new live music experience and generally gain an appreciation for at least one emerging band. I wondered what it would be like if Madison was home to a comparable culture.

I was recently introduced to a group of local, absolutely passionate music fans, who are helping to invigorate Madison's music culture. The three long-time fans founded Madison Music Review in hopes of continuing to fire up Madison's live music community.

Madison Music Review helps inform the show-going community about upcoming events and shares its recommendations on upcoming shows and further listening. By informing and encouraging attendance at local shows, the organization hopes to excite those of us on the fence about experiencing new music (quite appealing if other options include: organizing the sock drawer, watching atrocious television, talking to mom about dad's colonoscopy or struggling up the Stairmaster). Madison Music Review also serves venues and bands by adding a media outlet, providing more information to potential customers. The company also hopes to influence emerging groups to add Madison to their tour schedule

The team has succeeded in building awareness for its service with between four thousand and five thousand visitors per month, referred primarily by word of mouth. Always consistent to their mission, the group attends concerts in abundance – reviewing and photographing up to twenty shows per month.

I talked to Ankur Malhotra, Madison Music review co-founder, about the upcoming Madison music schedule. Not surprisingly, Ankur was fired up about our upcoming live music opportunities.

"With the Forward Music Festival bringing a ton of local and national bands to seven Madison venues September 19th and 20th¦we'll have a great start to the fall season. We're also excited about bands like Tortoise, Dr. Dog and Broken Social Scene, among others on our pick list."

Ankur and Madison Music Review convinced me that my lamentations about the Madison music scene were unfounded and that we can be as entertained and culturally involved as our friends in Asheville. Now, can we get to work on that mountain thing?

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