Karaoke
Apr
25
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Special guest Rei DaCosta hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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Ben Mulwana and The Village // Violet Wilder
Apr
26
7:30 PM19:30

Ben Mulwana and The Village // Violet Wilder

Ben Mulwana is a Ugandan-born and raised artist residing in Wisconsin. With songs about love, loss and everything in between, Ben’s band project “Ben Mulwana and the Village” is made of a groovy, rock and soulful sound from a group of amazing musicians.

Ben released his debut album, "Mr Mulwana", on May 1st; and is available on all streaming platforms. The album “Mr. Mulwana” is about growth, in music, mind and soul. I built the studio I recorded in from scratch with the goal of recording all the songs in it. I thought of giving up several times, and several times I got back up and kept going. This album is the musical representation of this process, all the ups and downs, the struggle and the joy of it all.

We’ll start our evening off with Violet Wilder. College best friends Kimberly, Melissa, & Jayna formed Violet Wilder amid a tumultuous timeline filled with friendship, heartbreak, highs & lows. Violet Wilder processes the world around them sonically, expressing themselves through lyric & melody in a fashion of alternative indie, rock & roll, and folk, and mesmerizes audiences with their sumptuous 3-part harmony and cute outfits.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Open Mic
Apr
28
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic

Join us this month for an Open Mic, hosted by special guest Carl Sandback. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions // Violet Palms
May
4
7:30 PM19:30

BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions // Violet Palms

Join us for BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions with special guest: Violet Palms

A revival of 90’s alternative, Wisconsin's lo-fi alt rock outfit BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions enlists a friend/musical influence on every track for their forthcoming LP. From veterans like Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Brian Vander Ark (the Verve Pipe), Ryan Miller (Guster), Miles Nielsen, and Scott Terry (Red Wanting Blue) to overseas acts like H Burns (France), The Secret Beach (Canada) and The Shabs (South Africa), BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions compile an internationally collaborative album from his own tiny house in Wisconsin.

Featuring Steve "Mr Bicep" Vorass on drums, Sean "Tubs" Anderson on 4-string & Brett Newski on guitars and vocals.

NEWSKI has played with Pixies, Violent Femmes, Courtney Barnett, Gin Blossoms, Manchester Orchestra, Better than Ezra, Barenaked Ladies, & Nada Surf and has been featured in Rolling Stone, NPR, American Songwriter, SiriusXM, Boston Globe, NBC, Billboard and SPIN.

And starting off our evening, Violet Palms combines early 2000s nostalgia and modern influences to create tight, direct rock music that is honest, occasionally goofy, and - because they can't help themselves - funky.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door

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Soul Impressions Organ Trio
May
10
7:30 PM19:30

Soul Impressions Organ Trio

The Soul Impressions are an organ trio that performs and honors the vibrant and colorful African American pop/soul music from the 60s & 70s. The group performs original arrangements and reimaginings of recognizable classics by artists like Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. Our mission is to provide a highly interactive artistic experience in the context of accessible, feel-good music that is consistently rooted in the groove. The Soul Impressions are comprised of heavyweights of the local Madison jazz scene. Dave Stohler’s organ playing brings an innate fire and reflects deep reverence for the vast and colorful jazz tradition. Jim Huwe’s insistent groove and mastery of funk styles provides the backbone for the band. The group is led by Austin Cebulske, saxophonist and educator hailing from the culturally vibrant musical scene of St. Louis, MO whose passion lies in the jazz and pop realms of Black American Music from the 60s & 70s. The Soul Impressions offer an eclectic mix of Motown classics, Rhythm & Blues ballads, jazz standards, and up-tempo funk songs that provides the audience with a diverse and engaging musical experience not to be forgotten.

This show will feature Helen Feest on vocals.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Cribshitter // Free Dirt
May
17
7:30 PM19:30

Cribshitter // Free Dirt

Ween-influenced genre hoppers, Cribshitter is Madison, Wisconsin's premier fog machine-forward soft rock act. No one in their right state of mind could’ve possibly seen the first iteration of Madison’s most unapologetically unhinged band and predicted they’d be one of the most enduring acts the city would have throughout the 2000s, 2010s, and into the 2020s.

What started out as a near-parody of pop bands has turned into a seriously ambitious musical effort spiked with loads of obscure cultural references that will make you laugh. Cribshitter could well be Madison’s Flight of the Conchords.

And we’ll start our evening off with Free Dirt.

Free Dirt writes sturdy, dependable, sometimes funny songs that ring familiar while also feeling a bit tough to pin down. On stage they take those songs, pull them apart and use the bricks to fashion a wobbling Tower of Babel. Come see how close they get to heaven before it all tumbles back down to earth.


Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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A Night of Words
May
19
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

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Karaoke
May
23
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Charles Bohéme hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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Rare Element
May
24
7:30 PM19:30

Rare Element

Madison, Wisconsin based funk band, RARE ELEMENT has developed a strong reputation for its high-intensity, live shows.  The band's highly talented 7-piece roster, including 3-piece horn section, bring massive energy to the stage at each performance.  The band is influenced by classic funk artists such as Fred Wesley, The Meters, Clyde Stubblefield, and Herbie Hancock.  See for yourself why Maximum Ink Magazine dubbed Rare Element as "Madison's Newest Super Group"!

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door

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Open Mic with Dylan Harris
May
26
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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Drew Peterson // DellWood
May
31
7:30 PM19:30

Drew Peterson // DellWood

We’re thrilled to welcome back Drew Peterson to Slowpoke with DellWood. Drew has a brand new album coming this spring, and a fresh vinyl pressing of his first album with Forty Watt Bulb, in honor of the 20th Anniversary. This is going to be a special show from one of our favorite performers.

Drew Peterson is an independent Americana singer-songwriter who has captivated fans across the Midwest for over 20 years. Since fronting the Minnesota-based group Forty Watt Bulb, Peterson has spawned two other successful Roots projects; the twangy, upbeat Dead Pigeons and bluegrass-influenced Boxstore Bird.

Opening our evening will be special guest, DellWood.

DellWood is a duo of young musicians with enough skill and talent to entertain for hours and a repertoire that's bound to capture the hearts of music lovers of all ages. 
They have an energetic and diverse stage presence with songs ranging from originals and Americana to their spin on an assortment of your favorite songs.

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

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Gloria Swansong
Jun
9
7:30 PM19:30

Gloria Swansong

Gloria Swansong resurrects the great Dames of Broadway and Old Hollywood! From being NYC's premiere Judy Garland, to recreating your favorite iconic Hollywood costumes, to delivering show-stopping Broadway numbers - she'll always leave you wanting more. Never one to be left in the dust, Gloria Swansong is also a political SLAM poet and gives lectures on the history of queer fashion demolishing the gender binary. She speaks openly about her experience as a trans non-binary individual and happily educates audiences on gender theory and the modern trans rights movement.

Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door

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Open Mic with Dylan Harris
Jun
23
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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Karaoke
Jun
27
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Charles Bohéme hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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The Blue Olives
Jul
11
7:30 PM19:30

The Blue Olives

Regular artists at House of Blues- Chicago, The Blue Olives (based out of Madison, WI) have performed over 3500 shows nationally. Once described as "tight enough to be professional. yet loose enough to be really fun..." we feature a hornline, killer vocal harmonies, searing guitar and funky  rhythm section.  Known as one of the fiercest jam bands around with a huge repertoire, we easily go from playing formal corporate events to large venue rock concert atmospheres.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door

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Barlow
Jul
14
7:30 PM19:30

Barlow

Boasting a lifelong career as an actor (including 3 seasons with APT) with a deep knowledge of funk and soul music under his belt, Barlow aims to be the Renaissance Man of your alt-R&B fantasies. Expressive lyrics, believable angst and a colored past all bubble together for impressive, passionate music. Reminiscent of Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak, and Miguel, Barlow's debut self-titled EP with veteran producer Bionik (Lizzo, Far East Movement, Sophia Eris) is raw, eclectic and carries on the tradition of great R&B from Minneapolis, Minnesota. His live band includes Bionik (guitar, vocals) and Eric Mayson (keyboard, vocals).

Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door

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Zach Pietrini
Jul
19
7:30 PM19:30

Zach Pietrini

Zach Pietrini’s Midwestern, indie americana songwriting aesthetic is the sonic embodiment of a well-worn denim jacket. At the forefront of the Americana resurgence, Pietrini—lead vocalist and guitarist for his namesake band—takes an everyman’s approach to the genre with a knack for honest storytelling and a wistfulness that comes across in both the music and lyrics. The band takes its cues from Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and David Ramirez, reinterpreting and rejuvenating American roots styles through a contemporary lens. Pietrini’s songs “situate him at the confluence of all that an urban Millennial audience finds relatable” (Milwaukee Magazine), performing old-soul themes of ennui, regret, disappointment, and nostalgia with a modern twist.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Karaoke
Jul
25
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Janna Johnson hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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The Moon Gypsies
Jul
26
7:30 PM19:30

The Moon Gypsies

The Moon Gypsies officially became a band in 1998 when Robert J. Conaway (known by most as Robert J) joined forces with bassist/vocalist, Mary Gaines, and multi-instrumentalist, Chris Wagoner at the end of their almost decade-long run with partner, Asa Miura, in The Common Faces.  Drummer, Mauro Magellan (of Georgia Satellites fame) rounded out the original lineup of the Moon Gypsies. The Moon Gypsies released three recordings from ’98 until 2008.  Their first release, “The Moon Gypsies” featured Mary singing Robert J’s song, “A Million Miles Away” which won 1st place in the Billboard Magazine Songwriting Contest followed by “jumping in the band van” and hitting the road—playing venues all over the country and opening for a long list of top bills including Taj Mahal, The Subdudes, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Delbert McClinton, Keb Mo, Dr. John and others.   

Veteran Midwest musicians, Robert J, Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines are all Music Notes Lifetime Achievement award winners along with multiple WAMI’s (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) and MAMA’s (Madison Area Music Awards).  Reunited after years of other projects (Robert J’s “Rowdy Prairie Dogs” and Chris & Mary’s various groups—Bob Westfall Band, Graminy, The Stellanovas), the original lineup of the The Moon Gypsies is back at it with Mauro Magellan on the drums, bringing a full blown bluesy Americana vibe to all their shows!

Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door

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Open Mic with Dylan Harris
Jul
28
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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V Funk
Aug
2
7:30 PM19:30

V Funk

"Ain’t Nobody"... that can..."Rock Steady" like the R&B funk band V Funk! Valerie B. & the Boyz, aka “V” Funk, is a Milwaukee based R&B funk cover band led by bandleaders and managers Valerie Benton and Vincent Chambers. V Funk is a high powered, high energy funk band that has hit the music scene entertaining and engaging music loving fans from all across Wisconsin and the Midwest, since 2012. Contemporary R&B, soul and funk is evident in the sound of the band. They can take a funky, old school tune and apply their own mix of versatility, originality, and creativity into that song. They have been described as “…one of the best Soul, R&B groups EVER HEARD!! They BLEW US AWAY!!” V Funk adds their own musical flavor to cover Old School, Funk, R&B/Soul, Blues, and popular songs spanning the 60's to today's current hits. That musical flavor is called “V” Funk!

Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door

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Karaoke
Aug
15
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Charles Bohéme n hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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The Stop and Listen // The Firesides
Aug
23
7:30 PM19:30

The Stop and Listen // The Firesides

The Stop and Listen bring old-time music to the modern era with grit, drive, and radiant harmonies. Together they play hot-old time fiddle tunes, jug band blues songs, and the occasional early country song or bluegrass standard. Known for their contemporary take music by classic string bands like the Mississippi Sheiks (where they got their name), the Skillet Lickers, and Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers, The Stop and Listen brings their high energy to the low fidelity. Stop, listen, and let‘er rip! 

We’ll begin our evening with The Firesides.

The Firesides have spent the better part of the last 10 years playing barn dances throughout the beautiful Driftless Area of rural Southwestern Wisconsin! The Firesides, perform a variety of Appalachian & Midwestern instrumentals, cowboy songs, blues, traditional song-gems, and their own originals.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Rianna Marie // Spine Stealers
Sep
6
7:30 PM19:30

Rianna Marie // Spine Stealers

Slowpoke is excited to welcome Rianna Marie and her band. Rianna is based in Madison, WI. Throughout her years of writing she’s been inspired by artists like James Taylor, Lori Mckenna, Norah Jones, Carole King, and Tyler Childers. Fiddle crying & banjo picking accompany her strong sense of lyricism. With folk roots and western branches, she creates a forest of songs and stories.

We'll start our evening off with the Spine Stealers. The Spine Stealers are a two-gal duo making “spooky folk” influenced by the north-wood Wisconsin pines, 24/7 truck stop diners, heartbreak and dark lakes.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Bill Roberts Combo with Roscoe Foster
Sep
13
7:30 PM19:30

Bill Roberts Combo with Roscoe Foster

Founded in 2014, the Bill Roberts Combo brings a tight, nuanced, and rhythmically powerful presentation to blues-jazz unlike anything you've heard before. Bill Roberts has been voted best electric guitarist in the Madison area, and his award-winning album Blues Rides Shotgun has received critical claim as best blues album of the year. Backing Bill is a band of veteran players who have performed nationally and internationally in such places as France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, and elsewhere. BRC delivers grace, subtlety, power and passion in their unique and mesmerizing take on the jazz-blues tradition every time they take the stage.

Roscoe Foster is an American blues and blues rock singer from Minneapolis whose deep melodies and thrilling intensity transcend boundaries and enthrall audiences. In the music business, Foster has made a name for himself with his distinctive fusion of modern rock and traditional blues.

$12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Automatic Lover
Sep
20
7:30 PM19:30

Automatic Lover

If Automatic Lover is a concept band, the concept is simple: bring together a lifetime of inspiration to make music that moves.

It’s a sound that can change on a dime. Like pulling from a wall full of vinyl, the band slides from deep groove to backbeat, from driving rock to soca, to find music that revels in surprises.

Page through their influences and you’ll hear strands of the Budos Band and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Khruangbin and Deep Sea Diver. They can be as electric as early Police, as funked out as the Brand New Heavies, and as joyful as Manu Chao.  

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Christo's Novelty Combo
Sep
27
7:30 PM19:30

Christo's Novelty Combo

Christo Ruppenthal is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist whose professional music career started in 2003.  He presents a unique mixture of Jazz / Vaudeville era novelty infused hot steel guitar and ukulele playing from the 1920s and 30s "Hawaiian Craze" as well as the swinging sounds of Django Reinhardt’s 1930s and 40s guitar-driven Hot Club jazz. Think “Hot Hawaiian guitar meets Jazz à la Django!” Christo is an avid recording artist and performer with thousands of gigs both across the U.S. and internationally to his credit.

Much of his Novelty Combo's repertoire comes from Christo's “Antique Aloha” series of solo recordings and his all original "Café Alongé" release. They also showcase a wide variety of exciting guitar and steel guitar centered jazz standards. They present that repertoire in high-energy eclectic shows. 

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Violet Palms Album Release Party
Sep
29
7:30 PM19:30

Violet Palms Album Release Party

Join us as Violet Palms celebrates the release of their newest album!

Violet Palms combines early 2000s nostalgia and modern influences to create tight, direct rock music that is honest, occasionally goofy, and - because they can't help themselves - funky.

Birthed from late night songwriting sessions between two longtime friends, the power of the dimly-lit kitchen table inspired Marcus Truschinski and Ben Feiner to share their music with friends, who were naturally added to complement the sound. Long time local music maker and engineer, Michael Mertens hopped back on the kit after years of playing guitar and Tim Gittings, actor and advocate, brought the funk on bass. Craig Benzine, Driftless Pony Club singer/guitarist, YouTube star and Marcus’s best friend from elementary school completed the band by playing off of Ben’s chugging guitar work to create a synchronized and dueling attack.

Pay what you choose. Suggested $10 at the door.

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Slapdash Bluegrass
Oct
4
7:30 PM19:30

Slapdash Bluegrass

Slapdash Bluegrass is an old time, country, and bluegrass band that weaves melodic picking with tight vocal harmony. The band plays original music, traditional old time and bluegrass tunes, and folk and country covers. From festival stages to dive bars to fellowship halls, Slapdash Bluegrass draws a crowd with foot-stomping, finger-blazing barn burners, and keeps a crowd with nuanced writing and charm.

$12 in advance / $15 at the door

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The Honey Pies
Oct
11
7:30 PM19:30

The Honey Pies

The Honey Pies is an exciting collaboration of Madison-based music veterans. Jodi Jean Amble made a major splash in the Chicago scene fronting her eponymous band—nominally jazz, but equally at home with, pop, country, and more—and as a member of the highly eclectic ensemble Jenny Dragon. Tom Waselchuk leads the MAMA Award-winning Americana band The Dang-Its and has performed for more than twenty years in a free-swinging guitar duo with multi-instrumentalist Doug Brown. Doug has long been among the most in-demand freelance sidemen on the Madison music scene in a variety of genres, as well as being a band-leader, composer, and arranger. Matt Rodgers is among southern Wisconsin’s busiest bass players, equally at home in most any style of music. 

Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door

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Jambidextrous
Oct
18
7:30 PM19:30

Jambidextrous

Jambidextrous is a 5 piece jazz group of recent vintage, but comprised of 5 veteran musicians from the Spring Green area.  A history of jazz is presented from the original masters of Count Basie, Miles, Monk, Coltrane... through the progressive jazz, funk, and rock  era of Herbie Hancock, Traffic and Santana.  The group is led by keyboardist, Ted Frank, a 45 year jazz-rock performer and alumnus of the 1978 UW Madison jazz ensemble led by Richard Davis, with Rob Steffen-drums, Aaron Simays-tenor sax, Dave Saperstein-Bass, and Patrick Michels - percussion.   

No cover, but tips for the performers are welcome and encouraged

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Pretendacle // Wisconsin Space Program
Oct
25
7:30 PM19:30

Pretendacle // Wisconsin Space Program

After living on opposite ends of the country for more than 10 years, brothers Jason (bass) and Adam Braatz (keys) reunited in Milwaukee to bring their dream band to life. Combining their vast experience as professional touring musicians with a love of boundary-pushing progressive rock and an eclectic style that pays homage to the video game-centric sounds of their childhood, the brothers assembled a virtuosic team of performers — featuring Rae Prettyman (vocals) and Ben Piette (drums) — to share their unique, original music with the world. The result: Pretendacle.

We’ll start our evening off with Wisconsin Space Program, a three-piece psych-rock band from Milwaukee, exploring sounds ranging from sun soaked ‘60s psych pop to heavy, fuzzed-out stoner metal. Formed in the winter of 2024, the group consists of members from regional stalwarts like NEWSKI and The Delta Routine. Known for their electrifying live performances, fans can expect lush harmonies, unpredictable grooves, and a relentless energy that evokes rock bands from a bygone era. 

$12 in advance / $15 at the door

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Sugar Mama and the Rent Check
Oct
31
7:00 PM19:00

Sugar Mama and the Rent Check

Join us for a night of Halloween fun with live music, costume contest, and more!

Playing a mix of funk, soul and rock 'n roll, Sugar Mama and the Rent Check are a Spring Green-based band featuring Laura Burbaugh on vocals, Ellie Barta-Moran on vocals, killer tambourine and guitar, Todd Miller on lead guitar, John Christensen on vocals and keyboard, Tim Gittings on bass and harmonica, and Rob Steffen on drums.

Suggested donation $5-10 at the door

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Fareed Haque Group
Nov
8
7:30 PM19:30

Fareed Haque Group

Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation.

Haque has toured and recorded with Joe Zawinul, Billy Cobham, Dave Holland, Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, Zakir Hussain, Bob James, Joe Henderson and many others, in addition to co-leading groups with Tony Monaco, Paul Wertico, Goran Ivanovic, Garaj Mahal, and The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra. Haque has released numerous albums as a leader, in jazz, classical, world music and fusion styles, and is the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including  Best World Guitarist, Guitar Player Magazine 2009, 2004 Acoustic Album of the Year, 2007 Independent Music Award, and Best New World Music Group in Chicago Reader Poll 2020.

Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door

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Laamar
Nov
15
7:30 PM19:30

Laamar

LAAMAR is the latest project led by Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter, saxophonist, and composer Geoffrey Lamar Wilson. Former frontman of Brooklyn-based Jus Post Bellum, Wilson is also known for his multilayered looped saxophone performances and catchy podcast ditties (Terrible, Thanks for Asking). On the band’s debut EP, Flowers, Wilson blends his idiomatic inspirations bridging folk, soul, R&B, and country with a constant ear toward racial and social justice issues and the shared human experience.

Recent acclaim for LAAMAR includes debut single “Home to My Baby” being named KAXE’s “Best Song” of 2023 and a nod as one of First Avenue’s Best New Bands.

“With Flowers,” writes Malachy Koons of KAXE, "LAAMAR has crafted a stunning debut that does not shy away from difficult topics. The new EP features four instantly catchy songs, with each taking a different approach to issues of racial and social justice.”

The band is working with Nat Harvie (Low, Cole Pulice) on their debut full length, tentatively planned for release this Fall.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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The Commerciasts Present: The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas
Nov
28
7:30 PM19:30

The Commerciasts Present: The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Commercialists are a Milwaukee-based jazz trio whose goal in life is to spread holiday cheer through the music of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi, badly timed humor, and epic holiday poetry.

The Commercialists are: 
Anthony Deutsch (piano and voice), Clay Schaub (bass), and Patrick Morrow (drums).

Tickets $25 in advance/$30 at the door

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Harmonious Wail
Dec
6
7:30 PM19:30

Harmonious Wail

Americana flavored Gypsy Jazz on full tilt! Harmonious Wail combines the searing wit, humor and mandolin virtuosity of vintage Jethro Burns performances, the Continental panache of Django and charm of Edith Piath inspired vocals to create a unique musical journey.

“In the gypsy jazz field, no one does it any better than the Madison, Wisconsin based group Harmonious Wail.” -Jazz Review

”Intense playing & sense of purpose that never wavers… a mind altering experience.” -The Washington Examiner

Harmonious Wail is Sims and Maggie Delany-Potthoff joined by Aden Stier on Bass and Scott Hlavenka on Guitar.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door

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A Night of Words
Apr
21
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

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DC and the Love
Apr
19
7:30 PM19:30

DC and the Love

A Chicago-based band rooted in the city’s native Jazz and Blues Tradition and formed in response to the challenges posed for live performers in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. Led by legendary bass player and songwriter Dennis Carroll, DC & The Love brings together a group of premier musicians who began playing spontaneously on porches and public venues around the city, immediately embraced by audiences for their musicianship and originality. Since those early days, DC & The Love has evolved into one of the most exciting and cutting-edge bands in the country, playing some of Chicago’s best clubs and recording their first highly acclaimed EP titled “Go Up.” The leader, Dennis Carroll, a sideman for decades to many of the great jazz players is now leading his own group. Lee Rothenberg plays guitar, Joey Skoch plays keys, and Neil Hemphill plays drums.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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River Valley Film Club Presents...
Apr
13
7:00 PM19:00

River Valley Film Club Presents...

Join us once a month on Sundays (and occasional Mondays) as we screen a movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Movie titles remain under wraps until showtime, so follow RVFC on Facebook for details.

For more information, come down to Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, and we might just let you in on our secret.

Come 30 minutes before showtime to grab a drink and meet fellow movie-lovers. Bring your own popcorn (or dinner).    

The River Valley Film Club was founded in 2023 by Spring Green residents David Eisenberg and Sam Van Hallgren to promote and program film screenings in the River Valley Area of Southwest WI and to create a network of River Valley film lovers.

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Bassel and the Supernaturals
Apr
11
7:30 PM19:30

Bassel and the Supernaturals

Syrian Heart. Midwest Soul.

Echoing Stevie Wonder’s rhythm and blues, Jamiroquai’s social justice centered lyricism over jazz-infused funk, and Steely Dan’s seamless amalgam of American music, Bassel & The Supernaturals evoke joy and thoughtfulness in diverse audiences throughout hundreds of cities across North America.

In the band's national television debut, PBS selected Bassel & The Supernaturals to represent Chicago in the season finale of The Express Way with Dulé Hill (May 2024).

Bassel & The Supernaturals has performed on stages including SXSW, John F. Kennedy Center, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Summerfest, and Millennium Park, and supported internationally touring artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, Brother Ali, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane, and many others.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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The Iowans
Apr
5
7:30 PM19:30

The Iowans

Spirit lifting, soul searching songs from the Driftless, The Iowans are a pair of first cousins who have been creating and inspiring each other since childhood. Transplanted from the fertile soil of rural Northeastern Iowa, now hailing from the musical vortex of Viroqua, Katie and Christina weave together whimsical, nostalgic and moving sounds with their clawhammer banjo, guitar and organic vocal harmonies.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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The Driftless Revelers
Mar
29
7:30 PM19:30

The Driftless Revelers

The Driftless Revelers formed in the second spring of the first global pandemic of the 21st century, with one ear turned toward the shellac platters and Victrola virtuosos of the early to mid 20th century, and the other ear glued to the soundscapes of the 1960's & 1970's American freak-folk scene.

Featuring the original songwriting of Ben Nelson, Matthew R. Sayles, and Jerod Kaszynski, the Driftless Revelers will pleasure a crowd with plectral banjo tones, the mournful wailing of resophonic steel guitars, and the up-right bass bellows of an era that can't quite be defined, but revels in the timeless ephemera of weird old-time American music.

​With influences as varied and eccentric as a proper musty smelling thrift store record collection, the band grooves merrily through early roots blues and jazz music, to hillbilly and string band howlers, all the way into the not-quite folk but not-quite psychedelic realms of their own creation.

A Driftless Revelers show will lure you in with their joy--keep you dancing with their search for the cosmic groove in the confines of stringed instruments--and will send you on your way with flashbacks of the Driftless Revelry found only in the essence of the intangible reaches of notes once played-- that then fall silent.

Tickets $12 in advance/$15 at the door

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Karaoke
Mar
28
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Janna Johnson hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

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Open Mic with Dylan Harris
Mar
24
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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River Valley Film Club Presents...
Mar
23
7:00 PM19:00

River Valley Film Club Presents...

Join us once a month on Sundays (and occasional Mondays) as we screen a movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Movie titles remain under wraps until showtime, so follow RVFC on Facebook for details.

For more information, come down to Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, and we might just let you in on our secret.

Come 30 minutes before showtime to grab a drink and meet fellow movie-lovers. Bring your own popcorn (or dinner).    

The River Valley Film Club was founded in 2023 by Spring Green residents David Eisenberg and Sam Van Hallgren to promote and program film screenings in the River Valley Area of Southwest WI and to create a network of River Valley film lovers.

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Psycherelic
Mar
22
7:30 PM19:30

Psycherelic

Join us for a night of your Classic Rock favorites with Psycherelic, a band of with a playful stage energy and tremendous intensity, performing everything.

Suggested donation of $5 - $10 at the door for the band.

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Rural Musicians' Forum presents: Pro Arte Quartet
Mar
19
7:00 PM19:00

Rural Musicians' Forum presents: Pro Arte Quartet

Rural Musicians’s Forum is presenting this special free-will donation event with Pro Arte Quartet.

The classical music Quatuor Pro Arte was once the court quartet to the Queen of Belgium.

But thanks to the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea and a moment of triumph over a dark time in world history, the world-renowned ensemble of violin, viola, and violoncello now known as the Pro Arte Quartet has made its home at the University of Wisconsin for more than 75 years.

In its history, the quartet’s members have changed just 19 times, with the current ensemble together since 1995: violinists David Perry and Suzanne Beia; violist Sally Chisholm; and cellist Parry Karp MM 1977, the longest-serving member in Pro Arte’s history.

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A Night of Words
Mar
17
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

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The Shitty Barn Presents: The Claudettes
Mar
15
7:00 PM19:00

The Shitty Barn Presents: The Claudettes

Join us for this special Shitty Barn show to Kickoff their season.

Six albums into their lauded career, the Claudettes (of Chicago) continue to put a fascinating new spin on American roots music. Blues and R&B are laced with punk spirit and film-noir moods to create the band’s singular “garage cabaret” sound. The Claudettes have earned worldwide acclaim with their recordings and concerts that are equal parts heart, musicianship and theatrical flair. Force-of-nature vocalist Rachel Williams (who dominates the stage like a glam-rock rebirth of Annie Lennox and renowned pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana join the positively heroic rhythm section of Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar, vocals) and Michael Caskey (drums). Outside the Claudettes, Iguana has toured with Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played on many Grammy-nominated albums and recorded with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Derek Trucks, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Winter and more. Johnny is also composer of the score for the Emmy-winning smash FX/Hulu series “The Bear.”

Tickets $20

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Driftless Jazz - RVHS Jazz Band and Vocal/Jazz Chamber Ensemble
Mar
14
7:30 PM19:30

Driftless Jazz - RVHS Jazz Band and Vocal/Jazz Chamber Ensemble

What a treat to welcome our very own young jazz artists for a night at the club. River Valley High School Jazz Band and Vocal/Jazz Chamber Ensemble perform a night of jazz at the coolest jazz club in town. No question, they’re ready for the big stage. Are you ready for them? These cats may be just getting started, but they’ve got the goods. Come on down to see for yourself.

All ticket proceeds benefit River Valley High School Music Department.

Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door

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River Valley Arts Trivia Fundraiser
Mar
9
6:00 PM18:00

River Valley Arts Trivia Fundraiser

Have fun and raise money for one of River Valley's most impactful organizations, River Valley ARTS. Over the years River Valley ARTS has granted well over $200,000 to local organizations, schools, and artists, providing funding for countless concerts, art exhibitions, classes, and other performances throughout our community.

On March 9th, the Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret in Spring Green will host a trivia fundraiser for River Valley ARTS. The event, featuring Trivia Mistress Kyle Adams, will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an evening with your friends and neighbors while raising money for arts and culture programs in the River Valley area. 

Details: Teams can be up to 4 people and  the entry fee is $15 per person. Registration/check-in starts at 5:30pm with the first question at 6:00pm. Grand prize is $50 and there will be a raffle with prizes generously donated by local artists and businesses.

For more information email contact@rivervalleyarts.org

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Tobias Meinhart
Mar
8
7:30 PM19:30

Tobias Meinhart

Tobias Meinhart is an award-winning saxophonist and composer based in Brooklyn, New York. Born in a small town in rural Bavaria, Germany, Tobias Meinhart has spent the last 15 years carving out a career in the international jazz scene.

Tobias has composed 10 new songs for Sonic River”. The music is influenced by traditional rhythms such as the Haitian Yanvalou or Son Claves used in odd metres. The album will be recorded in NYC in the spring 2023 and is expected to be released in the fall of the same year.

Tobias performs regularly at New York’s most prestigious jazz clubs (Blue Note, Birdland, 55 Bar ao.), and tours internationally with his own band. He is an ECHO (German Grammy) nominee, winner of the Getxo Jazz Competition, and his album “Berlin People” made it to first round of the Grammys. JazzThing Magazine calls Tobias: “Germany’s biggest talent on the saxophone”. Downbeat Magazine listed his latest album “The Painter” as one of the BEST ALBUMS of 2021. Tobias has toured in Ecuador, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Germany. He has been featured at many international Jazz festivals, such as the Jarasum Jazz Festival, Elbjazz and the Blue Note Jazz Festival.

Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door

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Open Mic with Dylan Harris
Feb
24
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

In January and February, our dance hall will be under construction, so we’ll be hosting a more intimate Open Mic in our main bar.

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

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A Night of Words
Feb
17
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

View Event →
Open Mic with Dylan Harris
Jan
27
7:30 PM19:30

Open Mic with Dylan Harris

Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together!

In January and February, our dance hall will be under construction, so we’ll be hosting a more intimate Open Mic in our main bar.

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

View Event →
A Night of Words
Jan
20
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

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Two Crows Theatre Company Presents: Harry Clarke
Jan
16
to Jan 26

Two Crows Theatre Company Presents: Harry Clarke

Two Crows Theatre Company Presents: Harry Clarke, by David Cale, directed by Marcus Truschinski and starring Nate Burger.

Harry Clarke is the story of a shy Midwestern man who feels more himself when adopting the persona of a cocky Londoner, Harry Clarke. Moving to New York and presenting himself as an Englishman, he charms his way into a wealthy family’s life, romancing two family members as the seductive and sexually precocious Harry, with more on his mind than love. With his spellbinding and emotionally nuanced storytelling, Cale has created a riveting story of a man leading an outrageous double life.

Thursday, January 16 at 7:30

Friday, January 17 at 7:30

Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 and 7:30

Sunday, January 19 at 2:00

Thursday, January 23 at 7:30

Friday, January 24 at 7:30

Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 and 7:30

Sunday, January 26 at 2:00

General admission. Curtain opens 30 minutes before show time. Slowpoke will open at 1:00 for matinee performances.

Tickets $35

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Jazz Flux
Jan
11
7:30 PM19:30

Jazz Flux

Jazz Flux is a group comprising several of Milwaukee's most active performing jazz musicians. The love of jazz has brought this group together to create and maintain one of America's great musical traditions. The group derives it's unique sound from elements of hip hop, R&B, and pop while incorporating elements of those genres into it's performances of traditional jazz. Along with multiple musical influences the band's performances are distinguished by the high energy the band brings; a biproduct of the groups passion for the music and friendship with one another.

Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door

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River Valley Film Club Presents...
Jan
5
7:00 PM19:00

River Valley Film Club Presents...

Join us once a month on Sundays (and occasional Mondays) as we screen a movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Movie titles remain under wraps until showtime, so follow RVFC on Facebook for details.

For more information, come down to Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, and we might just let you in on our secret.

Come 30 minutes before showtime to grab a drink and meet fellow movie-lovers. Bring your own popcorn (or dinner).    

The River Valley Film Club was founded in 2023 by Spring Green residents David Eisenberg and Sam Van Hallgren to promote and program film screenings in the River Valley Area of Southwest WI and to create a network of River Valley film lovers.

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New Year's Eve Extravaganza
Dec
31
to Jan 1

New Year's Eve Extravaganza

2024 is almost over but a new year is just around the corner. Let’s celebrate in style with Violet Palms and Sugar Mama and the Rent Check. We’ll rock the house and dance the night away.

No cover, but donations for the band are encouraged.

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River Valley Film Club Presents...
Dec
29
7:00 PM19:00

River Valley Film Club Presents...

Join us once a month on Sundays (and occasional Mondays) as we screen a movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Movie titles remain under wraps until showtime, so follow RVFC on Facebook for details.

For more information, come down to Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, and we might just let you in on our secret.

Come 30 minutes before showtime to grab a drink and meet fellow movie-lovers. Bring your own popcorn (or dinner).    

The River Valley Film Club was founded in 2023 by Spring Green residents David Eisenberg and Sam Van Hallgren to promote and program film screenings in the River Valley Area of Southwest WI and to create a network of River Valley film lovers.

View Event →
Karaoke
Dec
27
8:00 PM20:00

Karaoke

Join us the fourth Friday of every month for a night of Karaoke at Slowpoke. Janna Johnson hosts this night for the community to come together in song. Take a chance and come up on stage, or just cheer on your friends.

We’ll get started around 8:00, and go until last call. That could be as early as 10:00 or as late as 2:00am. It all depends on you!

No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome.

View Event →
A Night of Words
Dec
16
7:30 PM19:30

A Night of Words

An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share.

Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Poetry. Stories. Original work and old favorites. This and that.

A Night of Words.

View Event →