Every Wednesday from May 29th through Labor Day weekend, 5pm-7pm, you can listen to some free music behind Willy East. Bring a chair or just stop by for a tune or three! We’ll be adding more artists, so please check back. We may cancel a session without advance notice due to inclement weather, poor air quality, or other reasons.
- June 11th: Jeff Burkhart
Jeff is a songwriter and performer who has been featured on PBS Wisconsin, and has performed at the Waterfront Festival, High Noon Saloon, Willy Street Fair, The Burr Oak, Harmony Bar, and many other venues.Growing up in small town Indiana, he cut class to find adventures on the backroads, bounced around in North Carolina for a couple of years, then landed in Madison WI, where he found many great musical collaborators in various bands playing locally and regionally at coffeeshops, barrooms, taverns and outdoor festivals.The Dirty Shirts’ album Two-Dollar Turpentine is a Madison honky-tonk classic of his original songs and was selected as one of the best albums of the year by Isthmus in 2010.His latest album, Just a Kid was entirely self-recorded in a beautifully open old warehouse on the near eastside of Madison and was released in April of 2022. - June 18th: Canceled Due to inclement weather, stay tuned with a new date.
Eric De Los Santos
Better known as the Madison Marimba Man, Eric De Los Santos is a professional marimba player who is often spotted busking on State St. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Eric has made Madison his home since 2014. It wasn’t until he was 11 years old when Eric began formal music training with the middle school band program. Eric’s journey through learning and mastering marimba went into high gear in the summers of 1997, 1998 and 1999 when he was recruited and competed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Along with several solo performances, Eric is a part of the Beni Daiko Taiko group and Toco Beach Steel Pan – both based out of Madison. - June 25th: The Soundbillies : Canceled Due to inclement weather
The SoundBillies are a Madison area band, together now for five years. While their first love is traditional bluegrass, their sets will show that they also enjoy blues, country, folk and gospel. You may have heard them in a variety of settings, like Make Music Madison, farmers markets, and local festivals. They love to play every chance they get. - July 2nd: Delvis
Delvis picked up the guitar at age 45. Wanting to learn to play he played the same tune continually but didn’t drive Lynn (Mrs. Delvis) crazy. After his first time in front of an audience he was hooked and got the Delvis moniker. Delvis continues to play Hank, Johnny, Tom Waits and a bunch of old country and old pop tunes. Having fun is the best. Come out and we’ll have a good time! - July 9th: Michael GruberMichael Gruber is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in the Midwest with over three decades of professional performance experience. He holds a degree in guitar performance from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.Though he did not initially admire guitarists specifically, he was drawn to music as a whole while in elementary school. His father handed him his guitar with an unexpected declaration. “I distinctly recall the day he brought his guitar to me and told me he wasn’t going to learn how to play it BUT that I should. I took it to heart. I had a calling.”
As a guitarist and bassist, Gruber sang in bands through middle and high school, into college years and after. In his early 20’s he started a family in Madison, WI and took the advice of a friend to seek gigs playing solo for private events—a path he continues to navigate by combining performance, storytelling, songwriting, and business savvy. - July 16th: Eric De Los Santos Canceled Due to inclement weather
Better known as the Madison Marimba Man, Eric De Los Santos is a professional marimba player who is often spotted busking on State St. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Eric has made Madison his home since 2014. It wasn’t until he was 11 years old when Eric began formal music training with the middle school band program. Eric’s journey through learning and mastering marimba went into high gear in the summers of 1997, 1998 and 1999 when he was recruited and competed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Along with several solo performances, Eric is a part of the Beni Daiko Taiko group and Toco Beach Steel Pan – both based out of Madison.
- July 23rd: Eric De Los Santos
Better known as the Madison Marimba Man, Eric De Los Santos is a professional marimba player who is often spotted busking on State St. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Eric has made Madison his home since 2014. It wasn’t until he was 11 years old when Eric began formal music training with the middle school band program. Eric’s journey through learning and mastering marimba went into high gear in the summers of 1997, 1998 and 1999 when he was recruited and competed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Along with several solo performances, Eric is a part of the Beni Daiko Taiko group and Toco Beach Steel Pan – both based out of Madison. - July 30th: Amanda Jane Hoffman: Canceled Due to inclement weather
Amanda Jane Hoffman is a millennial crooner and guitar-slinging balladeer, singing Madison’s heart out since 2015, in darkened bars and sunlit meadows. Her soaring vocals and artful arrangements – of hits and hidden gems – span decade and genre. Vibe out with her sassy and sensitive exuberance (and find her on any streaming service). - August 6th: Mitch Lundquist
Mitch’s solo acoustic performance focuses on rootsy renditions of country classics, old time blues and more recognizable folk/pop songs. Influenced by an array of genres including country, folk, blues and jazz, Mitch seeks to personalize the music of John Prine, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Steve Earle and others with the respect and sincerity these great artists so deserve.
- August 13th: Amanda Jane Hoffman
Amanda Jane Hoffman is a millennial crooner and guitar-slinging balladeer, singing Madison’s heart out since 2015, in darkened bars and sunlit meadows. Her soaring vocals and artful arrangements – of hits and hidden gems – span decade and genre. Vibe out with her sassy and sensitive exuberance (and find her on any streaming service).
- August 20th: Store closure; no artists
- August 27th:David Sewell:This week we have David Sewell: Madison’s legendary country troubadour is at it again. Authentic country to kick off the new season of The Willy East Rain Garden Sessions
