It’s sad, but it’s true: another summer has come to an end. Though we’ve now officially entered autumn, it’s not all bad news. For example, Milwaukee and its surrounding suburbs are still hosting a ton of festivals this fall. While those events are already sure to make this autumn an enjoyable one, there are also a bunch of musicians, comedians, and other entertainers coming to traditional venues this fall. And that’s not even counting recurring Milwaukee Record events like our Halftime Show series, Avalon film screenings, and Midweek Music concerts. There’s a wealth of great shows coming to the greater Milwaukee area in the next three months. Here are 29 standouts from the bunch.
Thursday, September 25
An Evening With Phil Rosenthal Of Somebody Feed Phil @ The Pabst Theater
As the host and namesake of the extremely popular Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil, Phil Rosenthal has traveled to all corners of the globe and indulged in innumerable culinary delicacies along the way. The Everybody Loves Raymond creator will stop by Milwaukee—a locale he’s yet to visit in his series—to treat a Pabst Theater audience to tales from his epicurean adventures and engage in other bits of food-focused discussion.
Thursday, September 25
Spanish Love Songs + Bike Routes, World’s Greatest Dad @ Falcon Hall
Last September, Spanish Love Songs came to The Rave to perform as direct support for Alkaline Trio. Almost exactly one year later (nearly to the day!), the Los Angeles rock outfit returns to Milwaukee to headline a show at Falcon Bowl’s historic Falcon Hall.
Saturday, September 27
The Queens @ Fiserv Forum
See four music legends sharing one stage when The Queens come to Fiserv Forum on Saturday, September 27. Said legends include Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills. Need we say more? (That was a rhetorical question.)
Sunday, September 28
Dry Cleaning + Infinity Knives, Brian Ennals @ Cactus Club
It isn’t every day that lauded UK post-punk outfit Dry Cleaning comes to the cozy confines of the Cactus Club, so don’t miss your chance to catch ’em when they come to the intimate Bay View venue on Sunday, September 28.
Thursday, October 2
Colter Wall And Friends @ Miller High Life Theatre
The pride of rural Saskatchewan, 30-year-old Colter Wall has both the voice and the material of a much older man. Following 2017’s Milwaukee debut (a sold-out show at The Back Room @ Colectivo) and a Turner Hall sellout in 2019, this continually rising Canadian country star is returning to town with some respected collaborators in tow for a “Colter Wall And Friends” show at Miller High Life Theatre on Thursday, October 2 (which was rescheduled from Thursday, February 20).
Friday, October 3
Re-Animator 40th Anniversary Screening And Q&A With Jeffrey Combs
There’s no film quite like 1985’s Re-Animator. Is it a horror film? A comedy? A Frankenstein/”mad scientist” spoof? A horror-comedy-Frankenstein/”mad scientist”-spoof? Whatever it is, it’s an absolute hoot. And a 40th anniversary, 4K screening of it is coming to Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater on Friday, October 3—complete with a post-film Q&A session with iconic star Jeffrey Combs! “What would a note say, Dan? ‘Cat dead, details later’?”
Sunday, October 5
Adam Sandler @ Fiserv Forum
You know what’s great? Adam Sandler. You know what else is great? Seeing Adam Sandler when he brings his “You’re My Best Friend Tour” to Milwaukee’s Fiserv Form on Sunday, October 5. If seeing Adam Sandler is cool, consider us Miles Davis. LET’S GO.
Sunday, October 5
The Beaches + Fightmaster @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Just over a month after releasing its latest album, the excellent and single-laden No Hard Feelings, Canadian rock outfit The Beaches will swing through Milwaukee to play songs from that new effort (and possibly its two other records) at The Rave / Eagles Club. Fightmaster opens.
Monday, October 6
Milwaukee Record’s “Roast Of Milwaukee” @ The Cooperage
Milwaukee Record’s long-running Roast Of Milwaukee event is back! Like previous years, the event—which is done in association with the Milwaukee Comedy Festival—will feature a stacked cast of local comedians gently (or, in some cases, viciously) making fun of our fair city. Joining the homegrown humorists is host Kristin Brey of WTMJ and As Goes Wisconsin fame, as well as a handful of surprises. And the laughs won’t just be at the expense of Milwaukee. A portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to Milwaukee Women’s Center.
Tuesday, October 7
Bob Mould + David Barbe @ Shank Hall
Within six months of his latest Milwaukee appearance (April 18 at Turner Hall), Bob Mould—he of Hüsker Dü, Sugar, and solo fame—will return to town sans band for a Shank Hall appearance that’s being billed as “Bob Mould Solo Electric: Here We Go Crazy.” David Barbe opens.
Friday, October 10
Lorde @ UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Tuesday, October 14
Saxsquatch + DJ Teach @ Shank Hall
When it comes to projects that consist of a Bigfoot costume-wearing musician playing saxophone-based covers of songs you know and love, Saxsquatch might be the best in the biz. Between the sheer spectacle and the legitimate display of musical prowess (which many raved about after witnessing it at this year’s Summerfest), you won’t want to miss your opportunity to see this viral sensation at Shank Hall.
Friday, October 17
Brandy & Monica: The Boy Is Mine Tour @ Fiserv Forum
Individually, Brandy and Monica have each been responsible for a steady stream of chart-climbing hits and have enjoyed careers that have endured for decades. Together the stars combined for one of the biggest songs of the late 1900s, which won both of them a Grammy. For the first time ever, this pair of R&B powerhouses will join forces on a co-headlining tour. The second stop on their “The Boy Is Mine Tour” will take place right here in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum. Brandy and Monica will be joined by Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child fame), Muni Long, and 2025 American Idol winner Jamal Roberts.
Friday, October 17
Talib Kweli @ Miramar Theatre
Last year, hip-hop icon, activist, and Blackstar member Talib Kweli performed a concert outside Marcus Performing Arts Center. This year, he’ll take things indoors to the intimate setting of Miramar Theatre. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this rap legend in the company of, like, 400 other people.
Saturday, October 18
Neko Case + Des Demonas @ Pabst Theater
When Neko Case sings, you listen. Also, when Neko Case graces one of Milwaukee’s finest venues, you show up. Whether alone or with The New Pornographers, Case is a monumental talent with a monumental voice. Her latest solo album, Neon Grey Midnight Green, comes out September 26. About three weeks later, she’ll return to Pabst Theater to play in support of that brand new record. Des Demonas opens.
Sunday, October 19
Peter Mulvey + Katie Dahl, Kat Wodtke @ Anodyne Coffee’s Walker’s Point Roastery
Over the course of his 35-year music career, Peter Mulvey has released more than 20 albums, written hundreds of songs, played thousands of shows all over the world, shared bills with a wealth of notable performers, and helped to enact change though his efforts as an activist and environmentalist. Before the Massachusetts-based singer and songwriter was gathering experiences and sharing his perspective with audiences spread far and wide, he was growing up in Milwaukee. He’ll return to his hometown to perform at Anodyne’s Walker’s Point Roastery with Katie Dahl and Kat Wodtke on Sunday, October 19.
Saturday, October 25
JOEY BADA$$ + Ab-Soul, Rapsody @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Fresh off the release of his outstanding and shapeshifting album Lonely At The Top, hip-hop mainstay and Mr. Robot series regular JOEY BADA$$ will swing by The Rave as part of his ongoing Dark Aura Tour. Mr. BADA$$ will be joined on the bill bu Ab-Soul and Rapsody.
Monday, October 27
The Dollop @ Turner Hall Ballroom
In case you’re not among the show’s millions of listeners: The Dollop is a popular podcast wherein comedian Dave Anthony reads a story from American history to his friend, Gareth Reynolds, who doesn’t know what the topic is about. Only time will tell what locally focused topic they discuss during their Turner Hall return, but it’s sure to be informative, entertaining, and likely to draw parallels between how bad things were throughout history and how absolutely terrible the world continues to be today. The show is also a homecoming of sorts for Reynolds, a devout Packer Backer who originally hails from Brown Deer and got his start at ComedySportz.
Friday, October 31
Gold Steps (split set) @ Ope! Brewing
Milwaukee pop-punk outfit Gold Steps contains multitudes. They’re not only one of the city’s most entertaining and all-around best original acts going right now. They also occasionally moonlight as Crush Crush Crush, one of the best Paramore tribute acts out there. You can get the best of both worlds at Ope! Brewing on Halloween when the band treats the West Allis taproom to a full set of Gold Steps tunes and a full set of Paramore hits on the same night.
Friday, October 31 through Sunday, November
Brooks Wheelan @ Milwaukee Improv (four shows!)
Less than a year removed from the release of his hilarious and acclaimed special, Alive In Alaska, Brooks Wheelan—a former SNL cast member, tireless comedian, and frequent opener for John Oliver and Seth Meyers—will return to his native Midwest for a three-night, four-show stop at Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield.
Saturday, November 1
Ladybird + Long Line Riders (album release, early show) and Ladybird + Bitch Creek, Chapped Lips (album release, late show) @ Cactus Club
Thus far in 2025, Milwaukee alt-country outfit Ladybird played pretty much every notable local festival and block party, embarked on some short tours, earned a few impressive opening slots, and found its popularity continue to swell as more listeners stumbled upon the band’s exceptional 2024 effort Amy Come On Home and saw them perform live. It’s been a watershed year for Ladybird, but things are looking to get even better. The band will release Clementine on October 10. A few weeks later, they’ll commemorate that new record with a pair of release shows at Cactus Club, which will feature matinee accompaniment by Long Line Riders and late show support by Bitch Creek and Chapped Lips.
Wednesday, November 5
Weakened Friends + Lunar Moth @ X-Ray Arcade
After delivering a memorable Bay View Bash set on the X-Ray Arcade Stage in 2023, the Maine-based indie rock trio will head to the actual X-Ray Arcade this time around to headline a can’t-miss midweek outing that also features opening support from Lunar Moth.
Friday, November 7
Thot Squad + Zed Kenzo @ Cactus Club
Cactus Club will play host to “2 THOTS 2 PRAYERS” in the form of Thot Squad and Zed Kenzo on Friday, November 7. The former is a genre-blending rapper, singer, and songwriter from Michigan. The latter is a Milwaukee expat (now living in Los Angeles after spending a few years honing her craft in Boston) who is returning to her old stomping grounds to treat Milwaukee to her best material to date.
Friday, November 7
The Sloppy Boys @ X-Ray Arcade
What iiiiiiiiiiiiiiis up?! Party rock trio The Sloppy Boys—which features accomplished television actors/writers and former members of The Birthday Boys sketch comedy troupe in its ranks—will return to the region for the third time in approximately a year and a half to play a show at X-Ray Arcade (the very same venue where the band recorded a live episode of their cocktail podcast this past winter) on Friday, November 7.
Friday, November 21
Diet Lite (album release) @ Vivarium
After bursting onto the scene post-pandemic, Diet Lite became one of the city’s most active and popular projects. In 2023, that rapid ascent to Milwaukee music prominence culminated with the release of Into The Pudding. Since then, the local rock trio has been quiet compared to its early years. It turns out the self-imposed slowdown—at least relatively speaking—was for a reason. Diet Lite spent the winter writing and workshopping new material in northern Wisconsin, then going to Jamdek in Chicago to record that output on analog tape. The final product is Double Wide Yukon, Diet Lite’s follow-up album that will be released on Friday, November 14. A week later, the band will celebrate the occasion with a release show at Vivarium.
Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22
Bob The Drag Queen @ Milwaukee Improv (four shows!)
In addition to being a drag icon who won Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, was one of the hosts of HBO’s We’re Here, and was a standout contestant on the latest season of The Traitors, Bob The Drag Queen is also a legitimate comedian. Watch her do her thing at Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield November 21-22 over the course of four performances split evenly between two nights.
Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30
Pete Lee @ Milwaukee Improv (five shows!)
After growing up in Janesville, Wisconsin, Pete Lee has gone on to perform on Letterman, guest on The Tonight Show (NINE TIMES and counting!), and rack up a wide variety of credits that include notable TV shows like Last Comic Standing, As The World Turns, Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, and much more. He’s released comedy albums, put out a Comedy Central half-hour special, and has performed more than 500 shows at colleges around the country. Lee will return to the region November 28-30 for a total of five Thanksgiving weekend shows at Milwaukee Improv.
Thursday, December 4
Cursive + AJJ @ X-Ray Arcade
Roughly a year removed from the release of its latest album, Devourer, iconic Omaha emo outfit Cursive is returning to Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade to play songs off that record and (hopefully) material from various other points of their influential and outstanding 30-year tenure. Folk punk stalwarts AJJ will also drop by to perform cuts from its dozens of releases.
Saturday, December 6
Ryan Necci & The Buffalo Gospel @ Vivarium
Even though Ryan Necci—the founding member, bandleader, and namesake of Ryan Necci And The Buffalo Gospel—now calls Tennessee home, the Milwaukee expat and professional songwriter returns to his home region every fall and brings the band out for a local concert. For the second straight year, Necci and company will perform at Vivarium. Even without knowing who the local support is yet, it’s safe to say this is a certified can’t-miss show for any Americana aficionados out there.