Wisconsin culture
The Spotlight: finding live music worth hearing
A practical approach to discovering local stages, independent performers and the creative work shaping Wisconsin’s music communities.
August 24, 2026Entertainment
Wisconsin culture in context: thoughtful coverage of music, film, books, visual art and performance, with practical ways to find what is happening next.
Wisconsin culture
Arts & ideas
View art listings →
Visual art
How a retrospective reveals an artist’s changing perspective
Looking closely at the choices that connect individual works across a career.
July 29, 2026
Books
Books that add perspective to the questions in the news
Fiction and nonfiction selected for insight, craft and relevance.
July 18, 2026
Screen
Looking beyond the premiere to representation on screen
Film coverage that considers the work, its context and who gets to tell the story.
June 30, 2026Find an event
Open calendar →Music, screen & stage
All entertainment →Music
What goes into completing a long-awaited return
August 4, 2026A creative partnership built across distance and time
July 11, 2026Tracing surf music’s unexpected Wisconsin connections
June 5, 2026Screen
How a familiar fairy-tale structure can feel newly told
May 22, 2026Nature filmmaking through an accessible lens
April 17, 2026Who gets centered in major screen franchises
March 6, 2026Stage & culture
Work, community and change at the center of a drama
February 19, 2026Tradition and contemporary movement meet in performance
January 15, 2026A novel examines memory, community and an epidemic’s legacy
December 4, 2025From the archive
Explore archives →The lasting pull of the blues guitar
A conversation about musical roots, performance and finding a distinctive voice.
November 13, 2025Mapping the details of a Wisconsin landmark
Illustration offers another way to understand architecture, landscape and place.
October 2, 2025How a band describes a sound that resists labels
An exploration of debut recordings and the language musicians use for their work.
September 10, 2025About this section
Wisconsin Gazette covers culture as part of public life. Our entertainment pages connect creative work with the communities, ideas and institutions around it while keeping previews, reviews and reported features clearly identified.
How we cover culture
Start with relevance
We look for work and events with a meaningful connection to Wisconsin readers.
Provide context
Coverage explains the creative background and cultural questions around a work.
Separate preview and review
Readers can tell whether an item offers practical information or critical judgment.
Keep listings useful
Event categories make it easier to browse by art form and interest.
Entertainment FAQ
What does this section cover?
Music, film, theater, dance, books, visual art and other cultural subjects relevant to Wisconsin readers.
Where can I browse upcoming performances?
The calendar organizes upcoming listings, with separate views for music, theater, film, visual art and other categories.
Are reviews different from event previews?
Yes. Reviews offer critical assessment, while previews focus on context and practical information before an event or release.
How can I find visual art listings?
Use the visual art calendar to browse exhibitions and related events.
Where are older entertainment stories?
Previous coverage can be found through the archives.