Some bands break up. Others hit pause.
But Sexy Ester is back. The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) award-winning band is pressing play again. If only for one night.
LISTEN to the complete interview, including Sexy Ester songs, here:
The group was one of the most decorated acts in MAMA history. They are reuniting for a special hometown performance, which marks the band’s first show together in years. It will bring together the musicians, fans, and local music community that helped make Sexy Ester so popular.
“It feels like putting on your favorite pair of jeans,” lead singer Lyndsay Evans said. “We’ve been rehearsing, and it just feels like home.”
A homecoming for Madison music
The reunion couldn’t feel more fitting. Sexy Ester’s “one night only” show is happening Friday, July 31, 2026, at Gamma Ray Bar in Madison. It occupies the former home of The Frequency, one of the venues where Sexy Ester earned its reputation as an electrifying live act. Joining the celebration are longtime friends Educational Davis, with M. Shays opening the night.
And this particular show hasn’t been planned over the years. It came together after keyboardist Roscoe Evans planned a trip back to Wisconsin for a family reunion — and to celebrate his 40th birthday.
“It just seemed like a good time to come back and think about playing a show, too,” Roscoe explained.
Life happened, but the music remained
The band’s final performance came in 2022, but there was never a dramatic breakup.
Life simply got busy.
Lyndsay and guitarist Adam welcomed their son. Careers evolved. Work and family took center stage. As schedules became harder to coordinate, Sexy Ester quietly stepped away from the spotlight.
Even so, the idea of playing again never disappeared.
“We always talked about getting back together,” Lyndsay said. “But we weren’t going to do it without Roscoe.”
Roscoe joked that he gave the band permission to replace him after he moved out of the area.
“They didn’t want to,” he laughed.
“It’s not the same,” Lyndsay replied.
The secret ingredient? Family
That chemistry has always been at the heart of Sexy Ester.
Growing up in a small Wisconsin town, Lyndsay and Roscoe both studied music before eventually landing in the same band. In fact, Roscoe didn’t even own a keyboard when he was invited to join.
“They told me, ‘Buy a keyboard—we have a show in a month,'” he recalled. “So I had to learn the songs pretty quickly.”
Those signature keyboard hooks became a defining part of the band’s sound, pairing perfectly with Lyndsay’s powerhouse vocals. Together, they created a style that’s equal parts garage pop, disco punk, new wave, and something entirely their own.
“We just write what feels good,” Lyndsay said. “We don’t really stick to one genre.”
Sexy Ester is a community
Sexy Ester’s musical success, including multiple MAMA Awards, is legendary. But the band’s greatest accomplishment may have been building a community around every performance.
Their shows became known as celebrations where costumes were encouraged, dancing was expected, and everyone was welcome.
“We want people to dance,” Lyndsay said. “We dress up, we put on a show, and we want everyone to forget everything else for a while and just have fun.”
That’s what she’s looking forward to most about the reunion.
“I’m excited to see friends and fans we haven’t seen in such a long time,” she said. “We built such a great community through Sexy Ester.”
Not goodbye…see you later?
Since the band’s hiatus, Lyndsay has continued making music with her Americana project Prairie Fire, while Roscoe has stayed connected to music after relocating to South Carolina.
Still, neither sibling is ready to call this the end of Sexy Ester.
“I don’t think Sexy Ester is ever really done,” Lyndsay said. “We’re apart right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together and play another show once in a while.”
So, is this a one-night-only reunion?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
But on this night, Madison gets to celebrate the return of a band that never really left the hearts of the people who danced, sang, and glittered along with every unforgettable show.
Find all the show details, including tickets, here.
