7PM
Louka Patenaude is a veteran Madison guitarist, songwriter, composer, producer, recording artist, and educator whose musical journey spans jazz, rock, reggae, country, folk, and Afro-Latin music.
A longtime fixture in the Madison music community, Louka began studying jazz guitar with renowned guitarist Roger Brotherhood while still in high school and went on to study anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he also studied jazz performance with the legendary bassist and educator Richard Davis through the Black Music Ensemble.
Over the course of his career, Louka has performed and recorded with an impressive range of artists, including Ben Sidran, Tony Castañeda, Natty Nation, Richard Davis, Bob Rockwell, Billy Peterson, Richie Cole, and Manty Ellis. He has toured throughout the Midwest as well as internationally in Europe and the Pacific, including Japan, Guam, and the Marshall Islands. He was also a founding member of Madison's New Breed Jazz Jam, a long-running home for musicians and improvisers in the local jazz community.
As a bandleader and songwriter, Louka has released music with The Optimistic and The Fingers, and under his own name has continued exploring the possibilities of acoustic guitar, songwriting, and intimate, organic recording. His 2026 album Testing Your Patience reflects that ongoing evolution, blending his background in jazz with folk, classical guitar, flamenco, rock, and other influences.
Louka is also a dedicated educator, teaching guitar, songwriting, improvisation, jazz theory, and music production. He has served as a faculty member at Madison Music Makers and teaches at UW–Madison. His commitment to both music and community has made him an important part of Madison's creative landscape for decades.
Whether performing jazz, exploring original compositions, or collaborating across genres, Louka Patenaude brings curiosity, versatility, and a deeply personal approach to every musical setting.