Minocqua Brewing Company 
Madison

After joining us for a couple of great outdoor sets this summer, Brass Knuckles moves inside for an evening of music that ranges from traditional jazz to modern pop covers. A wonderfully eclectic bunch that just loves playing! 

Ken returns to our taproom for a wonderful afternoon of music. 

From his decades-long activity on the Madison singer-songwriter scene to the early days of Kids in the Crossroads at the Madison Civic Center and his continuing involvement with Kids in the Rotunda at Overture Center, Ken Lonnquist has created a career of community, creativity and cherished memories.

Lonnquist began writing songs at the young age of 7, influenced by the sounds of his seven older siblings who filled the house with rock, folk and musical theater classics. “The Beatles were very inspiring to me,” he recalls, reflecting on how those early experiences shaped his passion for songwriting and performing. As he got older, Lonnquist continued his passion, performing at open mics during his college years in the 1970s. By the early 1980s, Lonnquist was well known in the singer songwriter community, from his years singing about nature and environmental issues for Wisconsin's Environmental Decade (now Clean Wisconsin), to musicals written for Children’s Theater of Madison, to weekly appearances as a topical singer on WORT 89.9FM. 

Ahh, Drinksgiving. One of the most Wisconsin "holidays" around! 

\Whether you're in-town just for the weekend, seeing old friends,  or a townie looking to escape your weird uncle, we've got you covered. 

Pinhead McFly brings his punk-infused acoustic show back to our taproom to help kick-off the holiday weekend. High energy and irreverent, it's perfect for a night of drinking! 

We will be open later than usual to let you get your drink on so come join us!

Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad will sing favorite holiday tunes, Christmas sacred arias, and Italian favorites.  Think Michael Bublé meet Pavarotti meets Andrea Bocelli--No cover

Tony G returns for another edition of MBC Karaoke. Let your inner rockstar out with other progressive minded folks! 

*Every 1st and 3rd Monday.

MBC MAD is working with Santas Without Borders for a second holiday season and one of their "Santas" will be joining us to discuss what their organization does and how you can help! 

Every night, more than 1,000 children in the greater Madison, WI area go to sleep without the security of a permanent home. As the days shorten, these children may worry if Santa will visit with no chimney to slide down, no single address to find them at. Santas Without Chimneys raises awareness of homelessness in our communities and delivers personalized gifts directly to those in need. It's also a ton of fun for everyone involved.

Santas Without Chimneys is a secular, entirely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works with schools and other organizations to collect wishlists from each child or teen experiencing homelessness so that everyone can receive a sack of gifts just for them. Families, youth, and volunteers who do not celebrate Christmas and/or do not have a "Santa" tradition are absolutely welcome.

We are taking monetary donations for SWC all season long and you can bring gift donations to the taproom on Dec. 2nd as well. For more info on what gifts they are requesting, please visit https://www.santaswithoutchimneys.org/boxes.html. You can also view individual  "wishlists" on their site.

Some come learn about a great group and help make sure ever child has a happy holiday! 

Love electronic music AND The River Food Pantry? Well then have we got an event for you! 

Pantheon Collective is a local group of DJ's who truly embody the term PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) so when they reached out about hosting a benefit for The River Food Pantry, we quickly jumped at the opportunity! Featuring some of the best DJ's in Madison, Pantheon Collective will fill our taproom with beats and bliss while supporting a great cause. 

Instead of a cover, PC asks that you make a donation of shelf stable foods and/or personal hygiene products to help support those in need in the Madison area. 

So join us for a little bass and a lot of great vibes! 

The Sharp Keys, also known as Heidi Coles and Ken Stewart, are an acoustic guitar and vocal duo playing classic rock, and more recent acoustic rock hits, as well as original tunes. With Heidi's lovely, expressive voice, Ken's solid guitar playing, and a harmony blend that is truly special, The Sharp Keys offer an enjoyable mix of the memorable and the original.

Thomas Heiber-Cobb is currently playing solo engagements where he offers up acoustic guitar and vocals over many different styles and varieties of songs, but where the basic elements of the singer/songwriter are in focus. He is just as likely to tackle songs that are familiar as well as songs that cause an audience to wonder, 'Wait, I know that song. Who is that one by?'. Additionally he will offer up a 'deep cut' that may not be well known but remains a formative song that has stuck with him over the years and one which he believes an audience deserves the chance to find an appreciation for, as well. Thomas is a lifelong resident of Dane County and has been playing in bands since the 1970s.

So swing by our taproom for an afternoon of great tunes! 

Tom Kastle returns to host a "Beer Church" with ballads, sea shanties, and political songs to raise your spirits.

“Tom Kastle is sounding sweeter than ever these days, especially in his ‘natural habitat’ as he leads the whole crowd in Joe Hill songs.” Marilyn Rea Beyer/Midnight Special WFMT

"What do you say about a guy who can command a tall ship and all her crew, whose songs can make an Irishman cry tears of pure Tullamore Dew?" — Bryan Bowers

Attention all musicians, comics, poets, creatives, etc: We've got a stage, top notch sound equipment, and a host who loves sharing the stage with people who just need to get their creativity out. That's why we are hosting an open mic! 

Ken has a wealth of experience singing and playing guitar, and in organizing musical performances such as leading church bands and hosting open mics. His core genre is the great acoustic rock music of the 60s, 70s and 80s (think Beatles, Paul Simon, CSN, James Taylor, Winwood, Clapton). He also plays contemporary (think Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas) and original songs.

Fun fact: Ken met his wife Heidi at the open mic at The Minocqua Brewery’s original location back in 2016. 

So come ready to share a song, story, etc. or just to support other budding artists in Madison. 

Madison musicians from the folk and Celtic traditions play traditional music from the French regions of Canada. Known for a great set at this year's String Gathering in Baraboo, Quebec! plays the dance music of the Maritime provinces that reflects the French, Irish and Scottish roots of the early European settlers. Come to listen or come to jam and have a beer with us!

This event will be hosted monthly on the last Thursday of each month!

A newer band, Lost Soul Jazz Band has played the Jazz Jam at The North St. Cabaret as well as Harmony Bar with Gaines and Wagoner.

A soulful blend of jazz, roots, and fiddle, Old Soul brings a modern take to pre-war to jazz and Americana. 

Tony G returns for another edition of MBC Karaoke. Let your inner rockstar out with other progressive minded folks! 

*Every 1st and 3rd Monday.

John Duggleby, an award-winning author of 11 books and hundreds of magazine articles, made his professional performing debut at age five at the Sunset Supper Club in Muscatine, Iowa, singing, “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” after the piano man bribed him with a nickel.  After a hootenanny fling in a “baby Kingston Trio,” he grew up as a percussionist playing everything from orchestra tympani to garage band rock and roll.  As an adult he learned guitar as a more benign living room alternative. 

Over the years John has labored in several under-appreciated folk, 60s rock, Cajun, bluegrass and world music ensembles, but his main gig these days is playing over 100 one-man and duo shows a year for listeners of all ages, at venues ranging from coffeehouses, to senior centers, to libraries, to festivals. 

His songbook ranges from Stephen Foster and George M. Cohan to Beatles and Bruce Springsteen-- as well as his own material-- accompanied on guitar and who knows what else. John also leads drum circles and kitchen bands for groups including seniors and disabled people.

John’s first 2014 album Better Late Than Never and new 2019 double album Castaway can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/duggleby. His songs have been finalists in the Great American and Great River Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, and Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAS); as well as runner-up in the international www.SongoftheYear.com competition. 

Willie Jones from Madison-based grass band, Sortin' The Mail, will be hosting a monthly bluegrass jam at our taproom! 

This jam will be a little different than your standard. While we will never tell a musician how to do their job, our only request was "fun, uptempo, and different". While we love standards and traditional old-timey, we want our jam sessions to be a little more of a broad array of styles. 

Each jam will start with a set of tunes from Willie (and possibly some special guests!) followed by an open jam for anyone who has a tune they wanna share or is just looking to rock out. So come join us for a great afternoon of pickin' and grinnin'! 

Lochanside, a taproom favorite, is a Scottish folk band consisting of a shuttle bagpipe, guitar, fiddle, Irish flute, and a bodhran. This Madison based quintet plays everything from centuries old traditional songs and upbeat dance tunes to new celtic music coming out of Scotland today.

Before you get lost in the void that is the week between Xmas & New Years (and before Uncle Rick pisses you off with his incessant support for "That F*cking Guy"), join us for a fun night of music and holiday spirits!

As a thank you to all of our friends, new and old, we'd like to welcome you to our taproom for a festive little evening of camaraderie! 

The wonderful Ann Christoffer returns from 7-9pm with a catalogue full of holiday and contemporary tunes. We will also have light noshes and sweets for you to enjoy while you mingle with like-minded progressives. And if you would like to bring something to share, we definitely won't say no. 

In lieu of a cover, we ask that you bring a donation of shelf stable foods and/or personal care items for The River Food Pantry. Many food assistance programs see their donations dwindle greatly after the holidays despite there still being a massive need for support. 

Our neighbor, singer/songwriter Astor, reached out to us about playing in our taproom. After checking out his music, it was an easy choice to book him.

With a style steeped in traditional blues and folk, Astor has been playing music for years all over the country. We are excited for him to make his MBC MAD debut! 

So instead of eating more leftovers and arguing abut which game to watch, come by our taproom for a great afternoon of music!