Summer is the best. Join Milwaukee Record and Wheel & Sprocket August 3-10 as we search the city and beyond for the Spirit Of Summer.
Doesn’t it seem like summer just started? Believe it or not, there are just 49 days remaining. Since the season is dwindling and there’s a lot of fun that must be had before we blink and we’re hunkering down for winter again, we’ve put together a handy daily guide of 49 things to do in (or around) Milwaukee over the course of these next 49 days. Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 4
Little Mazarn + Anna McClellan, Maximiano, Old Pup @ Cactus Club
Wednesday, August 5
Milwaukee Record Club: Movie Music (Songs From Soundtracks) @ Wiggle Room
We’re once again taking over the Wiggle Room decks for collaborative vinyl spin we call Milwaukee Record Club. From 6-9 p.m., we’ll drop the needle on vinyl releases that adhere to the month’s specific theme. (This month: songs from movie or TV soundtracks!) Though we’ll bring enough music to cover a full set, we’re asking—no, we’re strongly encouraging—people to bring in their own vinyl that fits our chosen theme. If we think it’s a fit, we’ll play it!
Thursday, August 6
ArtBlaze @ South Shore Park
Milwaukee is absolutely loaded with summer festivals, fairs, music series, and more. In the “more” category is ArtBlaze, a FREE beach and beach-adjacent series featuring music, dance, yoga, family-friendly activities, food (including s’mores!) and a giant inflatable art installation from the giant inflatable art installation experts at FuzzPop Workshop. The series returns this week with music from El Sebas, Shadi, and Tlalok; and dance from Debrasha Greye and Your Move MKE.
Friday, August 7
Wisconsin State Fair @ Wisconsin State Fair Park (August 6-16)
From August 6 through August 16, hundreds of thousands of proud Wisconsinites will flock to the State Fair Grounds in West Allis to take in all the sights, sounds, and zany food the fest has to offer. Support the West Allis lawn parking economy! We love you, Wisconsin State Fair!
Saturday, August 8
Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Have you ever been listening to long-tenured multi-platinum NOLA rapper Juvenile (of “Back That Azz Up” fame) and thought, “Man, this would be even better if Juvenile was accompanied by a live band” to yourself? Well, you’re in luck! On Saturday August 8, Juvenile and his “400 Degreez Band” will take the stage at The Rave. Go to the State Fair a different night and check this out instead!
Sunday, August 9
Circle Jerks x ‘Repo Man’ @ The Oriental Theatre
This is pretty rad, so we’re just gonna stick to the facts: On Sunday, August 9, legendary L.A. punk band Circle Jerks will play a show at Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre. Wow! After that, there’ll be a Q&A with Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris and Zander Schloss, as well as film director Alex Cox. Why Cox? Because after the Q&A, the evening will close out with a screening of 1984’s Repo Man, which was directed by Cox and which features music and a cameo from none other than Circle Jerks! Doo-biddy-doo-wop-wop-say-what, etc.
Monday, August 10
Musical Mondays: Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont ParTIs Band @ Lake Park Summer Stage
Tuesday, August 11
Berens Bros. Comedy Hour @ The Laughing Tap
The Berens Bros.—consisting of Wisconsin humorist Charlie Berens and fellow comedian John Berens—are bringing their comedy hour back to The Laughing Tap. They’ll be joined at the newly relocated/reopened downtown Milwaukee comedy club by Chastity Washington and A.J. Grill, making the already compelling local stand up show into a Tuesday night no-brainer.
Wednesday, August 12
Washington Park Wednesdays: Los Mitoteros + The Hot Swing Trio @ Washington Park Bandshell
Thursday, August 13
Concerts On The Green: The People Brothers Band + Ben Mulwana @ Enderis Park
Friday, August 14
The Verve Pipe + Edie Current @ The Argo
Just over a year removed from playing Tosa Tonight, veteran Michigan alt-rocker and frequent Milwaukee visitors The Verve Pipe (of “The Freshman” fame) will scratch another Milwaukee suburb off the list when they headline a show at The Argo in nearby Whitefish Bay. New-ish (and great!) Milwaukee project Edie Current opens.
Saturday, August 15
Tori Amos + Bartees Strange @ Riverside Theater
The iconic and inimitable Tori Amos doesn’t make her way to Milwaukee very often. If our math is correct, her 2022 performance at Bradley Symphony Center broke a 13-year gap between Milwaukee shows. Thankfully, it won’t be another baker’s dozen of annals, as Amos is scheduled to return to town to play Milwaukee’s beautiful Riverside Theater on Friday, August 15. The great Bartees Strange will open things up.
Sunday, August 16
Milwaukee Irish Fest @ Henry Maier Festival Park (August 13-16)
Sláinte!
Monday, August 17
Heart(beats) Of The City: Jenny Thiel Group @ Red Arrow Park
Tuesday, August 18
Chill On The Hill: November Criminals + Obscure Birds @ Humboldt Park
Wednesday, August 19
Milwaukee Record Presents: ‘Adaptation’ @ Avalon Theater
Milwaukee Record is screening ‘Adaptation,’ the fantastic 2002 Spike Jonze film, at the Avalon Atmospheric Theater. It’s a deliriously meta story that follows real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) and his not-so-real-life twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage) as the former struggles to adapt a book from real-life author Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) and the latter blunders his way through his own script about a serial killer or something. This whole movie is great. See you August 19!
Thursday, August 20
Gladys Knight @ Pabst Theater
Just shy of a year removed from coming to Fiserv Forum as 25 percent of “The Queens” tour that also featured Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills, the great and timeless Gladys Knight will return to Milwaukee to perform at Pabst Theater.
Friday, August 21
The 4th Annual Emmitt James Big Band BBQ @ Turner Hall
The ever-active Emmitt James is always up to something, but since the hip-hop/jazz musician moved back to his native Milwaukee from Los Angeles just over four years ago, his annual “Big Band BBQ” has pretty much been his Super Bowl. After three successful installments at Third Space Brewing, the four annual affair will bring a 20-piece band (!!!) to Turner Hall for a can’t-miss performance.
Saturday, August 22
WMSE’s 16th Annual Big Backyard BBQ @ Humboldt Park
On Saturday, August 22, from noon until 8 p.m. in Bay View’s Humboldt Park, WMSE’s 16th annual Backyard BBQ will feature a night-closing DJ set from none other than Sylvan Esso—a.k.a. Amelia Meath and Milwaukee prodigal son Nick Sanborn. Legendary North Carolina indie-rock band Superchunk will play immediately before the Sylvan Esso DJ set. Midwest blues artist Ivy Ford will open the day, followed by Milwaukee’s own Known Moons and Field Report. WMSE DJs will spin throughout the day. That’s a hell of a lineup!
Sunday, August 23
Mexican Fiesta @ Henry Maier Festival Park (August 21-23)
Monday, August 24
Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Lincoln Saltdogs @ Franklin Field
Moo!
Tuesday, August 25
Jay Webb + Caitlynne Curtis @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Wednesday, August 26
Todd Rundgren @ Pabst Theater
Todd Rundgren, the long-tenured and shape-shifting musician responsible for one of Wisconsin’s most beloved circumstantial songs, will return to Milwaukee to perform at Pabst Theater as part of his “Damned If I Do Tour.”
Thursday, August 27
Under The Bridge: The MilBillies @ Third Space Brewing
Friday, August 28
The Copyrights + The Brokedowns, Avenues, M545 @ X-Ray Arcade
The pride of Carbondale, Illinois! The Copyrights manage to ably blend punk rock swagger and intensity with criminally catchy melodies and anthemic hooks. That combination has helped the band endure for almost 25 years. They’ll return to X-Ray Arcade for a can’t-miss Cudahy bill that also features The Brokedowns and local support from Avenues and M545.
Saturday, August 29
Current Sounds: Caley Conway @ Lakefront Brewery
Sunday, August 30
Falcon Flea Block Party @ Falcon Hall
Monday, August 31
Cathedral Becomes Tomb + Todd Umhoefer, Whitty Remarks @ Cactus Club
Get ready for a stacked show consisting of Milwaukee artists with an experimental twist when Cathedral Becomes Tomb (a new aural endeavor from Barry Paul Clark from adoptahighway), Todd Umhoefer (whom you might known as the mastermind of Old Earth), and Whitty Remarks (ex-Golden Coins, Field Report) join forces to take over the Cactus Club stage on Monday, August 31.
Tuesday, September 1
Chill On The Hill: Los Mitoteros @ Humboldt Park
Wednesday, September 2
Milwaukee Record Club: I Love The ’90s (All-Nineties Songs) @ Wiggle Room
We’re once again taking over the Wiggle Room decks for collaborative vinyl spin we call Milwaukee Record Club. From 6-9 p.m., we’ll drop the needle on vinyl releases that adhere to the month’s specific theme. (This month: songs from the ’90s!) Though we’ll bring enough music to cover a full set, we’re asking—no, we’re strongly encouraging—people to bring in their own vinyl that matches our chosen theme. If we think it’s a fit, we’ll play it!
Thursday, September 3
Jazz At The Vine: Donna Woodall Group @ Humboldt Park
Friday, September 4
Wisconsin Highland Games @ Waukesha County Expo (September 4-6)
Saturday, September 5
Third Ward Art Festival @ Broadway, between St. Paul and Menomonee (September 5-6)
Sunday, September 6
Summer Night Movies: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie @ Veterans Park
Let’s-a go to the movies!
Monday, September 7
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs @ American Family Field (September 7-9)
Lately, it’s been a September tradition for the Brewers and Cubs to both be playing meaningful baseball. Barring an unexpected August collapse by one of those teams, that will once again be the case when Milwaukee hosts Chicago for a three-game set that begins with a Monday afternoon contest that coincides with Labor Day.
Tuesday, September 8
Riverwalk Commons Concert Series: Crook & Company @ Milwaukee Public Market
Wednesday, September 9
Nick Murphy @ Milwaukee Improv
Thursday, September 10
Jazz In The Park: Goth Barge @ Cathedral Square Park
Friday, September 11
Kacey Musgraves + Midland @ Fiserv Forum
Hot off the heels of releasing her sixth studio album, Middle Of Nowhere, Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Kacey Musgraves is embarking on an arena tour. That aptly-named “Middle Of Nowhere Tour” will bring her to Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum on Friday, September 11. Midland will open.
Saturday, September 12
Sam Tallent @ Milwaukee Improv (2 shows!)
Colorado comedian Sam Tallent has toured relentlessly across North America and Europe, amassed TV credits on Comedy Central and Viceland, and his debut novel (Running The Light) has garnered favorable reviews from literary critics and inspired kind words from fellow comics like Marc Maron and Ron White. Tallent—who has become something of a Milwaukee regular the past five years—will return to the region for five shows at the Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield September 11-13.
Sunday, September 13
Peaches @ The Rave / Eagles Club
The irreverent, influential, and all-around iconic Peaches will come to Milwaukee on Sunday, September 13 to treat The Rave to cuts from her new album, No Lube So Rude, along with other material from her raunchy, raucous, and undeniably dance-y catalog.
Monday, September 14
Poets Monday @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Tuesday, September 15
Powerplant + Genau, BLOOD @ X-Ray Arcade
Wednesday, September 16
Jim E. Brown + Holy Pinto, Andy @ Falcon Hall
Thursday, September 17
An Evening With Kevin Smith @ Pabst Theater
No snoogins! The famed writer, director, and the less talkative half of Jay & Silent Bob will be treating Pabst Theater to an evening of anecdotes from his extensive, impressive, and super funny career.
Friday, September 18
Mondo Lucha! @ Turner Hall
Since starting in 2008, Mondo Lucha has brought high-flying wrestling action, burlesque dancers, and live music to its annual Turner Hall showcase. Along the way, the variety show has managed to work with renowned pro wrestlers, sell out numerous shows, and become a must-attend Milwaukee event. The beloved local variety show returns to its familiar ballroom haunt Friday, September 18!
Saturday, September 19
Bay View Bash @ Bay View (Kinnickinnic Ave. between Potter and Clement)
Bay View Bash will return to Kinnickinnic Avenue on Saturday, September 19 and will fill the eponymous neighborhood with 11 hours worth of live entertainment, family fun, retail vendors, food, drinks, and more.
Sunday, September 20
The Bouncing Souls + The Suicide Machines @ The Argo
Punk legends The Bouncing Souls are still at it after all these years. Not only is the seminal band—which has been active since 1989—still touring, they’re continuing to write and release new music. On Sunday, September 20, they’ll help Milwaukee (and nearby Whitefish Bay) say farewell to summer in memorable fashion when they come to The Argo in support of their months-old Born To Be album. Michigan ska-punk vets The Suicide Machines will open.
Monday, September 21
Sugar Bush @ Ope! Brewing Co.