We all know the MadHatters, or at least what they look like. With their iconic cardinal blazers and khaki pants, they strut around campus as quasi-celebrities. They don’t garner the double takes and whispers that follow on the coattails of the football or basketball players, but it’s not uncommon to see a gaggle of bright-eyed freshmen girls swoon as the Hatters pass by.

The MadHatters will take the stage at Overture Hall for their final performance of the year Friday. Not only will this show be their biggest of the year, but also it represents a growing tradition that ties the MadHatters and the University of Wisconsin ever closer together.

For those of you who don’t know, the MadHatters are an all-male a cappella student group consisting of about 14 members. They are known for singing pop songs and performing ridiculous antics on stage, such as prancing around and often using multimedia for some farcical purpose.

The group brings this climate of fun and entertainment to many different venues for many different crowds.

“We perform annually between 80 and 90 performances a year. These range from high schools, private parties, community events and UW sororities,” said Mike Jurken, member of the MadHatters. But despite the staggering number of shows per year, Friday’s will be the largest.

“This concert will be special because it is our biggest concert of the year. … We have

Marcus Monroe flying in from L.A. for our opening act. He is currently filming

for a CBS show; Marcus is a nationally touring extreme juggler. We will be performing around nine new songs from this school year which is exciting, too,” Jurken said.

But this is more than just a musical performance by some random band. For 11 years, the Hatters have been singing together. Along the way, they have earned many laurels and become representatives of UW.

“I love all the different and unique personalities that come together on stage to create this aura of genuine charisma. The fun that they’re having shows, big time, and it makes the audience feel so good like they truly are a part of the show,” said freshmen Lisa Kibiloski of the MadHatters.

They have won numerous awards from the school including the Outstanding Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Campus from the Student Organization Office. Such a level of recognition is no small accomplishment considering the countless student groups on campus.

And this visibility extends even beyond the scope of Madison. They have been featured on national a cappella compilations, won national recording awards and toured across the East Coast and Midwest. They display to the rest of the country — and certainly Wisconsin — the fun, creative atmosphere that can be found all over this campus.

That air of fun further pushes the MadHatters past the bounds of the college demographic, appealing to both young and old alike.

“They are hilarious, and my mom loves them,” said junior Chris Sover.

So, while beer pong and hangovers may epitomize Madison, so too do the MadHatters. Attending a MadHatters concert may never cultivate the feverish Badgerism that grilling out for a football game does, but every year it plays a larger role in student life.

This Friday, the MadHatters are performing in their most concentrated form. The show, being their main event of the entire year, will surely feature the group’s best efforts vocally and comically, offering the best chance to experience and participate in this aspect of being a Badger.

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The MadHatters spring concert is Friday at Overture Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10-22 and can be purchased from Overturecenter.com.