An all-star collection of rock and pop stars will come together for the second Freezing Man benefit concert at the Sylvee in Madison, Wis. on Jan. 9-10 to raise funds for Joey’s Song, the non-profit dedicated to supporting epilepsy research and education.
The intimate show at the 2,500-capacity venue will feature more than 35 acts taking the stage, including Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and alt rock icons including Butch Vig and Duke Erikson of Garbage, The Bangles’ Vicki and Debbi Peterson, Belly’s Tanya Donelly and Gail Greenwood, Big Star’s Jon Auer and Jody Stephens, Toto’s Steve Porcaro and Kay Hanley and Stacy Jones of Letters to Cleo.
Joey’s Song was founded 15 years ago in honor of Joey Gomoll, who died before his fifth birthday after a lifelong battle with Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Thanks to a series of benefit concerts aimed at funding epilepsy research, education and family support services, Joey’s Song has raised more than $1.75 million to date.
Other acts slated to take the stage for January’s show include: Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups), John Gourley and Eric Howk (Portugal. The Man), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Freedy Johnston, Rick Nielsen and Daxx Nielsen (Cheap Trick, The Nielsen Trust), Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Gos), Max Collins (Eve 6), Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four) and Marshall Crenshaw. The show will also feature Emmy-winning comedian Charlie Berens (“Manitowoc Minute”), along with other special guest performers to be announced soon.
Madison native Vig will serve as musical director for the show, with his popular cover band, The Know-It-All Boyfriends, serving as the house band. The shows will once again kick off with a Joey’s Song fundraiser tradition: a battle of the bands between the Know-It-All-Boyfriends and their all-female arch nemeses, the Know-It-All-Girlfriends, each performing randomly chosen songs. The show will end with a jam session featuring a rotating group of musicians playing everything from chart hits to deep cuts and their favorite catalog songs, with Joey’s Song founder Michael Gomoll soliciting donations between sets via auctions for autographed musical instruments, posers and VIP packages for upcoming concerts.
“Since our first fundraiser in 2010, Joey’s Song has hosted very memorable annual events to support epilepsy research and education, and Freezing Man is the latest — and most exciting—incarnation of that tradition,” said Michael Gomoll in a statement. “Now in its second year, Freezing Man will bring together an extraordinary mix of musicians for what promises to be our most ambitious concerts yet. It’s always been about more than music — it’s about connection, hope, and honoring Joey’s memory. We’re humbled by the artists who give their time and talent, and grateful to the fans whose support truly changes lives for families impacted by epilepsy.”
Tickets for the shows that have sold out since 2014 will go on sale on Friday (Sept. 12) at 9 a.m. ET here, with GA tickets going for $45 for the Jan. 9 show — which will be an intimate, seated evening with acoustic sets and behind-the-scenes stories from the artists — and $55 for the Jan. 12 gig, a plugged-in showcase featuring the Battle of the Bands, collaborations and an all-star jam. Proceeds from the 2026 Freezing Man concerts will benefit a number of charities, including CURE Epilepsy, select Epilepsy Foundation affiliates and the Wisconsin Badger Camp.
Check out a video of the Know-It-All-Girlfriends’ (members of the Bangles, Letters to Cleo and Belly) cover of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” from the 2025 benefit below.
