It’s not a true Madison summer without a weekend or three at a local festival. From jazz at the Memorial Union to cover bands atop Monona Terrace and bluegrass on Lake Waubesa, opportunities to see live, often free, music can be found nearly every weekend around the city.
The east side has historically been a hub for many of these fests thanks to the efforts of the late Bob Queen, who died last fall at age 76. Queen founded the Marquette Waterfront Festival, built up the Orton Park Festival (now more than 60 years old) and created La Fête de Marquette 20 years ago. He ran Sessions at McPike Park — later Sessions at Garver Feed Mill, in 2025 — for more than a decade.
Queen’s celebration of life on Saturday, June 27 (“The Last Session”) will have three bands and be open to the public. Bethany Jurewicz with Garver Events said she intends to talk to the Sessions board about the future of that event…