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tonemadison.bsky.social
Tone Madison
@tonemadison.bsky.social
19K followers 200 following 500 posts
Fiercely independent coverage of arts, culture, and politics in Madison, Wisconsin. Worker-owned and reader-supported.
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tonemadison.bsky.social
Join us for Office Hours next week at State Line Distillery! We'll be kicking off our year-end fundraiser and raffling off merch, copies of our body cameras zine, and tickets to "The Moth" StorySLAMs in Madison.

tonemadison.com/event/tone-m...
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
TWO DAYS LEFT before our fundraising deadline, and we have only raised $1,336 out of $5,000. We need to reach this goal to pay our staff and freelancers so they can continue the arts, music, film, and politics coverage you only find at Tone Madison.

DONATE TODAY! ✨ tonemadison.com/donate/
Graphic has an abstract illustration in the background. At the top, the Tone Madison logo in black. In a read square, the words, "Fundraising Update / We have only raised $1,336 towards our $5,000 goal." Below shows a thermometer graphic updated September 11 to illustrate where $1,336 is in relation to $5,000. Below in another square is a "Donate" button, tonemadison.com/donate.
September 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We need your help. Tone Madison needs to raise $5,000 by September 12 so we can continue to publish the arts, culture, and politics reporting and commentary you value.

Go to tonemadison.com/donate to support local, independent media.
Graphic has an abstract illustration in the background. At the top, the Tone Madison logo in black. In a read square, the words, "Fundraising Update / We have only raised $985 towards our $5,000 goal." Below shows a thermometer graphic updated September 4 to illustrate where $985 is in relation to $5,000. Below in another square is a "Donate" button, tonemadison.com/donate.
September 4, 2025 at 7:31 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We're currently on a short summer break. Our regular publishing schedule resumes Monday, July 14.
July 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Anamika Singh's short documentary, SHEETLA, bears the weight of familial history as tethered to an event of cultural destruction, writes @nothingunfinished.bsky.social. The film screens twice this June at @chazenartuw.bsky.social alongside Singh's gallery exhibition.

tonemadison.com/articles/she...
An Indian person's hands are shown at a close-up holding open a printed copy of the Jan Morcha newspaper. Sunlight makes parts of the newsprint transparent, blurring the Hindi text on the cover page and second page that are printed on opposite sides. A photo displays a spacious gallery with a white wall that is being used as a projection screen for B-roll footage taken in Faizabad and Ayodhya in the 2020s. To the immediate left of that is a clear glass window that is letting in some sunlight. In front of that, a concrete and glass sculpture sits on a small, square table low to the floor.
June 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
A Wisconsin law creates safety risks for transgender people who want to change their names, even if they're minors, @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social reports in a story republished from @wisconsinwatch.org and @propublica.org

tonemadison.com/articles/wis...
Side-by side illustrations show a person holding a piece of artwork and a girl cuddling a cat.
April 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
In our last extensive piece of 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival coverage (for now), Maxwell Courtright, David Boffa, @nothingunfinished.bsky.social, and Lewis Peterson dig into four new documentaries and essay films.

tonemadison.com/articles/mor...
Illustrated poster design for the film ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT depicts abstract imagery primarily in shades of green. Illustrated poster design for the film SHELF LIFE depicts a gloved hand holding a small wedge of cheese with a large fly sitting on top. Poster design for the film APPLE CIDER VINEGAR shows a close-up of craggy stone in shades of brown. Poster design for the film AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE (title displayed in Spanish) shows a close-up of a male matador in a heated moment, making a feral facial expression.
April 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Milwaukee-based filmmaker Grace Mitchell's experimental short THE YEAR presents a prosaic alleyway as a poetic gateway, @nothingunfinished.bsky.social writes. The 10-minute diary film is making its Wisconsin premiere at the 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival on April 4.

tonemadison.com/articles/the...
A photo of a Milwaukee alleyway during the daytime in the film THE YEAR. Along either side of the alley are vertical rows of garbage and recycling bins against fences and houses. The bins extend into the distance. The road itself is free of cars and pedestrians. A slightly out-of-focus shot of filmmaker Grace Mitchell sitting on a floor with at least a couple dozen typed pages shuffled about around her. Mitchell looks down, her face unseen, holding a writing utensil in her right hand near the pages on the floor.
March 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
In this month's "Small Bites," @jesseraub.bsky.social works through the horrors of modern life one cavatello at a time. That is, making fresh, hand-crafted pasta.

tonemadison.com/articles/sma...
A photo shows several pieces of handmade pasta sitting atop a counter surface covered with coarse flour. A grooved wooden board is visible in the foreground. Basil leaves, lemons, and garlic are visible in the background. The photo is framed with an illustrated tablecloth with food items including pasta, cheese, a hamburger and more frame the photo. In the lower left corner, a small chef, with a comically large mustache, stands on a spoon and says, "Small Bites." Frame illustrated by Shaysa Sidebottom.
February 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Ahead of UW Cinematheque's presentation of SORCERER (1977) this Fri, Feb 7, at 7 p.m., Edwanike Harbour reflects on the transformative theatrical experience she once had with William Friedkin's spellbinding and suspenseful adventure many years ago.

tonemadison.com/articles/the...
A blue-tinted image of an unsteady bridge with a tanker truck in the middle, tilting to one side as if nearly collapsing the ropes and planks due to its weight. A man squats awkwardly in front of the truck with his back to the camera.
February 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Jason Fuhrman returns in "Multisensory Moviegoing, Part Deux: The Gourmet's Digest" to celebrate the art of pairing film and food with even more culturally enriching culinary adventures. (Cuisine from Les Délices De Awa pictured.)

tonemadison.com/articles/mul...
A photo shows a close-up of an entree of West African cuisine served on a wooden platter with three distinct sections. In the foreground, the main course of Chicken Suya with plentiful onions and peppers; in the background, seasoned "fat" rice. On the side to the left is a small white cup of pickled vegetables. A simple image collage that pairs two vertically-oriented photos. On the left, a glass mug of darkly colored tea with a lemon slice on a saucer. On the right, a large, lavish painting of of a woman in a blue dress and gold headscarf playing a West African xylophone that's mounted on the wall below the painting.
February 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
In the first "Small Bites" column of the new year, @jesseraub.bsky.social re-evaluates the concept of treat (pain aux raisins, most inspirationally) to find balance among our city's incredible bakeries.

tonemadison.com/articles/sma...
A winter photo atop a cliffside shows an expansive landscape of trees on the horizon. A flakey pastry and white mug with a hot beverage rest on a rock in the foreground. The photo is framed with an illustrated tablecloth with food items including pasta, cheese, a hamburger and more frame the photo. In the lower left corner, a small chef, with a comically large mustache, stands on a spoon and says, "Small Bites."
January 24, 2025 at 1:57 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Tone Madison's favorite records of 2024:

tonemadison.com/articles/ton...
A graphic shows 20 album covers arranged in four rows against a purple background.
January 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We're at 84% of our year-end fundraising goal. McCoy is here to remind you that if you donate before 11:59 pm CST, your donation will be TRIPLED my matching funds. Reader donations keep our coverage of Madison strong, so please help us get to the finish line!

tonemadison.com/donate
Photo of a handsome tabby cat resting on a desk next to a keyboard
December 31, 2024 at 5:14 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Time's almost up—and we're still about $5k shy of our year-end fundraising goal. Donate today, and your impact will be tripled by matching funds from NewsMatch and a group of generous local donors. Your support makes our work possible, and we want to deliver for you in 2025!

tonemadison.com/donate
December 30, 2024 at 3:44 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We're down to the wire on our year-end fundraising campaign. Your donations through December 31 will be tripled by matching funds, and will power our fiercely independent coverage of culture and politics in Madison in 2025:

tonemadison.com/donate/?utm_...
December 27, 2024 at 4:16 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
There's still time to support fiercely independent, local journalism and have your contribution TRIPLED with matching funds. Here's why one reader believes Tone Madison is worth supporting:

tonemadison.com/donate/
A block quote on an orange background that reads: "Tone Madison is the hyper-local, independent journalism every city deserves, but so few have. It's particularly rare these days to find media that's produced by people who are rooted in the place they're reporting on, while maintaining the necessary objectivity. Tone provides clear-eyed coverage of politics by contributors I respect, and reports on local culture with curiosity and enthusiasm. We are so fortunate to have Tone poking around in places other publications don't or won't, and they need our support to continue this vital work." Attributed to Jessica Gilkison, reader.
December 26, 2024 at 10:32 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
No one covers Madison like we do—and it's all thanks to the support of our readers. Help us meet our year-end fundraising goal by December 31, and matching funds will TRIPLE your impact to power our journalism into 2025

tonemadison.com/donate/?utm_...
A progress bar at 63% is set against an orange background, with the text: “Only on Tone Madison” stories. Only with your help. You power our vital culture and politics coverage.
December 23, 2024 at 4:03 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We asked members of our community to tell us, in their words, why Tone Madison is worth supporting:

tonemadison.com/articles/a-d...

We're at about 60% of our year-end fundraising goal. Help us get there by the December 31 deadline, and matching funds will triple your impact! tonemadison.com/donate
a bad attitude towards the status quo · unflinchingly honest about our shortcomings and opportunities for growth and change · sharp news analysis and tough commentary on local politics · owned by the people doing the journalism · a crucial source for understanding Madison · deeply thoughtful about the city's softest and weirdest parts · the hyper-local, independent journalism every city deserves, but so few have · fearless, honest, and at times hilarious · sets the tone for documenting the arts in Madison · publishes stories no other publications have the guts to run · fearless writers and editors who are not afraid to push the envelope · any city in the country would be lucky to have a Tone Madison covering its culture
December 20, 2024 at 9:21 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
This month in "Small Bites," @jesseraub.bsky.social has one request: Pay more for your meat.

Or, "buy your meat from a local meat store that has a direct relationship with the farms where the animals are raised."

https://tonemadison.com/articles/small-bites-pay-more-for-your-meat/
December 20, 2024 at 12:16 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
It's time for Tone Madison's annual Venmo Bingo. Help us fill up this card—Venmo a donation to @tonemsn, and we'll mark off the spaces as we go! All of your contributions will be TRIPLED with funds from the national NewsMatch initiative and a group of generous local donors.
December 19, 2024 at 3:31 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
If we get 50 new donors (at any amount!) we'll receive a $1,000 bonus from NewsMatch. That will go toward paying our writers, artists, and editors. We are halfway there, but have until December 31!

Here's why one of our contributors, @millbot.bsky.social thinks Tone Madison is worth supporting.
Quote that reads: Tone Madison is the local media outlet that Madison both needs and deserves: unflinchingly honest about our shortcomings and opportunities for growth and change, lovingly engaged in and supportive of what makes our community special, and always willing to dig in and do the hard work that few others are doing." Quote that reads: "In a time when quality local journalism is more threatened than ever, it's imperative that we put our money where our hearts are. I'm grateful that Tone exists and would that to continue to be the case—and that takes love AND money!" Attributed to Emily Mills, writer and musician.
December 15, 2024 at 12:16 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
We have reached 40% of our fundraising goal for 2025! During this month's NewsMatch campaign, new donations are being matched up to $1,000 per individual and up to $36,000 in total. Here's why journalist-turned-City-spokesperson Dylan Brogan thinks Tone Madison is worth supporting.
A quote that reads: Tone Madison combines a bad attitude towards the status quo with an obsessive adherence to thoroughness and journalistic ethics. That's produced a local news outlet that meaningfully contributes to the ongoing public tussle that defines Madison politics and culture. We are lucky our community has a media organization so committed to dogged reporting and sharp analysis, and they do it with flair. A quote that reads: That's worthy of your financial support. Not to mention, they give it all to their writers and are terrible at business stuff, folks. Give Tone Madison a couple of bucks for their trouble. A city with less independent media, what's that going to cost ya?" The quote is attributed to Dylan Brogan, former Madison journalist who turned to the dark side. An editor's note at the bottom responding to the statement that Tone is bad at business says "No we're not! That's not true!"
December 12, 2024 at 12:16 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
Our film section editor @nothingunfinished.bsky.social takes stock of the successes of Tone's 2024 year in film-related coverage. Core staff and contributors across the greater Madison area came through time and again to create meaningful dialogue.

tonemadison.com/articles/cen...
An arts gallery space is packed with people for a digital screening on a projection screen at the front of the room. The crowd all faces forward at the animated blue and white images on the screen. The far side of the galleries behind the attendees is mood-lit in a neon green. An empty movie theater lobby is illuminated by fluorescent lights above TV screens that list the eight movies currently playing at the venue. Against the left wall is a promotional banner for "Joker: Folie À Deux" that is illuminated around the edges by blue lights.
December 11, 2024 at 4:25 PM
tonemadison.bsky.social
In this week's Microtones, @jesseraub.bsky.social hikes through the fading white of winter at Devil's Lake, and reflects on what's changed over time (including the climate). 🏞️🥾

tonemadison.com/articles/wha...
A landscape photograph shows a lake with greenish water from atop a cliffside. A large cropping of trees appears on the opposite part of the lake. The sky is nearly a clear off-white color, and the general color palette of the image is muted on a late fall day. A close-up photograph of an Eastern Red Cedar tree branch that holds some blue-gray berries.
December 6, 2024 at 1:01 PM