Meet our performers for the 2025 Harvest Festival on October 4.
(Listed in order of appearance)
Beni Daiko
We are excited to welcome Madison’s Japanese Taiko group Beni Daiko to kick off the Harvest Festival’s live performances this year, starting at 12:45pm on October 4. Founded in November 2012, our group now includes members from a variety of backgrounds. Beni means “deep red” in Japanese, representing Madison, and taiko (or daiko) means “drum.”
Wayne Valliere (Mino-Giizhig)
What does it take to make a canoe from birchbark? Expert Ojibwe canoe maker, Wayne Valliere (Mino-Giizhig) will join us at 1:30pm to tell us about his work and traditions. Afterwards, his canoe will portage over to the English Garden, where Wayne will stick around to participate in student presentations. Wayne was awarded a 2020 NEA National Heritage Fellowship and was the indigenous elder in residence at UW-Madison in Spring 2025. Thanks to the German, Nordic, and Slavic+ Department and American Indian and Indigenous Studies for enabling Wayne to join us!
Jewop
We are excited to have Jewop A Cappella return to the Harvest Festival Stage at 2:30pm. Jewop is Madison’s premiere Jewish a cappella group. Members come from a variety of backgrounds (Jewish or not), looking to share a fun, Jewish-inspired experience focused on community service and sharing of Jewish culture. As a University of Wisconsin Hillel – Center for Jewish Student Life student organization, Jewop performs a wide spectrum of repertoire, from more traditional, religious Jewish songs and prayers to fun, secular Jewish songs that include parodies and songs by Jewish pop artists.
Cait Vitale-Sullivan
After a 2pm performance for the Maypole raising in the English Garden, Cait will join us on the main stage at 3pm. Cait Vitale-Sullivan was steeped in the high desert wilderness of Idaho as a child. She is intrigued by the human connection to nature, art, and music, and in how all of these things interact. In 2018 she traveled to Sweden with a Fulbright grant studying the connection between Kulning (Swedish cow calling music) and landscape. She leads the local folk singing group “Sjungarfolket” (Singing People). She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies and holds a master’s degree in Agroecology as well as a master’s degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Thank you to the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures for supporting her performance.
Atimevu Drum and Dance Group
Atimevu will be returning to the Harvest Festival main stage this year at 3:30pm. The local drum and dance group plays traditional music from Ghana. Find out more about them at https://www.reverbnation.com/atimevudrumanddancegroup
Paul Tseng – Local Chef
At 4pm, Paul Tseng will be sharing recipes featuring traditional Chinese plants. Paul is a cooking instructor at Willy Street Co-Op and a native of Taiwan. This year, he curated our Chinese kitchen garden. Paul shares, “Cooking and sharing what I have learned is my passion. I want to show people how to be respectful, creative and economical about food. To feel delighted when they learn an easy cooking technique using just a couple of simple fresh ingredients. The food is the real star, we are just the facilitators.”
Son Fiorella
Rounding out the show will be Son Fiorella at 5pm. The group performs music from Veracruz, Mexico, featuring traditional lyrics, instruments, and dance. Son Fiorella are Nave Visiting Scholars and their performance is supported by funding from the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program at UW-Madison.