Paoli
A suburb in the Madison area
Paoli is a small river town on the Sugar River, about 15 miles southwest of Madison, and its live-music identity is closely tied to two venues that keep music low-key, free, and frequent. The Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro sits on the banks of the Sugar River in a building from 1864, converted to a restaurant in 2008. It regularly features live music from 6:00–8:00 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, with Sunday afternoon sets as well. Regulars include longtime Madison-area musicians who move across jazz standards, country, swing, folk, rock, Irish, and blues. Acts like the Hot Club of Madison, dedicated to Django Reinhardt-style jazz and swing, appear alongside solo acoustic players covering indie-folk and classic rock. The Mill Paoli offers live music, outdoor markets, and events in a park setting, and is privately owned. The businesses here collaborate to provide no-cover-charge music. From May through October, a Sunday farmers' market runs weekly, with live music starting at 10 am. The calendar runs multiple slots per week, making The Mill the area's most active warm-season music spot.
Venues2
- Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro6857 Paoli Rd, Paoli
- The Mill Paoli6890 Paoli Rd, Paoli
Upcoming shows19
Today · Thursday, July 30 · 2 shows
Steve Weber
Classic rock, country, oldies and one hit wonders; solo acoustic
Saturday, August 1 · 2 shows
Christo's Novelty Combo
Vaudeville, Hawaiian guitar and ukulele, French jazz
Thursday, August 6 · 2 shows
Vince Sweeney
Acoustic guitarist and singer; covers spanning decades
Saturday, August 8 · 3 shows
Thursday, August 13 · 2 shows
Adrift Trio
Acoustic trio; blues, R&B, pop, rock, Americana, and country
Saturday, August 15 · 2 shows
Sunday, August 16 · 2 shows
Thursday, August 20 · 1 show
Mark Malin
Jazz guitarist with smooth style; solos and combos
Saturday, August 22 · 1 show
The Hot Club of Madison
Django Reinhardt and Jazz Manouche; guitar-driven jazz and swing
Thursday, August 27 · 1 show
JIM WHITE
Acoustic guitar; indie-folk and indie-pop
Saturday, August 29 · 1 show
Mike McCloskey
Singer/guitarist; jazz standards to country, swing, folk, rock, Irish and blues