Between the gradual increase of daylight, the return of baseball, rising temps (between sporadic blizzards and sub-zero days), and a steady stream of festival announcements, it’s starting to feel like spring in Milwaukee. Though the new season doesn’t technically start until Friday morning (and we’re still bracing ourselves for a few more frigid days between now and late April), we’ve already mentally said farewell to another Wisconsin winter and are now setting our sights on all things spring.
Between late March and mid-June, event calendars in Milwaukee and its surrounding suburbs will be in full bloom with concerts, comedy shows, and much more. And that’s not even counting the abundance of spring festivals (which we’ll be covering later this week!). There’s so much to look forward to in Milwaukee in the coming months, but here are 28 shows we’re especially excited about this spring.
Saturday, March 21
New Edition + Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton @ Fiserv Forum
Get ready for a formidable trio of legendary R&B projects who have combined for dozens of chart-topping singles and millions upon millions of record sales when The New Edition Way Tour drops by Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum on Saturday, March 21. Headliners and tour namesakes New Edition will be joined by the always great Boyz II Men and certified powerhouse Toni Braxton.
Saturday, March 21
RuPaul (DJ set) + DJ Chomper @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Drag icon, pop culture touchstone, and RuPaul’s Drag Race host RuPaul is coming to The Rave/Eagles Club on March 21 to DJ a set likely to consist of her own collection of club hits and other danceable bangers spanning decades before she sashays away to another city. Ru will get local support on the decks from DJ Chomper, who will start things off.
Wednesday, March 25
Samer Ghani “Memories Of A Street Cat” Release Show @ Cactus Club
In honor of the release of his new Memories Of A Street Cat photo book, Milwaukee photographer, videographer, and all around swell guy Samer Ghani has put together a stacked lineup of local musicians (each of whom appear in the book) to play a free all-ages show at Cactus Club. Show up at 7 p.m. on March 25 to see Klassik, Garden Home, Living Room, Known Moons, and El Sebas.
Friday, March 27
Wednesday + Gouge Away @ Turner Hall
Asheville, North Carolina alternative rockers Wednesday are coming to Turner Hall on March 27 to perform in belated support of last year’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2025 album Bleeds. If you, too, have been playing “Elderberry Wine” on repeat for months, we’ll see you there! Gouge Away opens.
Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28
Nate Craig @ The Laughing Tap (three shows)
After closing its Walker’s Point club last June in order to relocate to the Historic George Watts building in downtown Milwaukee (761 N. Jefferson St.), The Laughing Tap will finally reopen in its new, improved, and larger digs this month. They’ll call upon a familiar face to help them relaunch, as Los Angeles (by way of Wisconsin) comedy vet Nate Craig—who performed the club’s soft opening in December 2019 and was a recurring New Year’s Eve booking there—will christen the new venue with three shows spread between March 27 and March 28.
Saturday, March 28
Maria Bamford @ Turner Hall
Minnesota-raised comic Maria Bamford has been either crushing or absolutely alienating comedy audiences (at about a 50/50 ratio) since the late 1980s. About as “alternative” as alt-comedy gets, Bamford—by way of her inimitable comedic style that’s as off-kilter as it is uproariously funny—has gone on to do ample voiceover work, star in Lady Dynamite on Netflix, and film a few wholly unique comedy specials. You may also recognize her from her unsettling Target commercials. Knowing nothing about her recent material, it’s safe to say you’ll never see anything like her forthcoming Turner Hall appearance again.
Saturday, March 28
Kyle Gass + Mt. Air @ Shank Hall
Kyle Gass is an accomplished musician, actor, comedian, and one half of the incomparable Tenacious D (which has been on an extended hiatus after…eh, just read about it yourself). In addition to his work with Tenacious D, the low-key guitar virtuoso keeps busy with projects like Trainwreck, his Kyle Gass Band, Guitarings, and other solo efforts. Gass is hitting the road to play a small run of shows in support of Kyle Gass Band’s Live In Palmdale album that was released January 23. The Saturday, March 28 show will feature Mt. Air from Columbus, Ohio as both the opener and Gass’ backing band. John Konesky will also be present to “lend a musical hand” to Gass.
Sunday, March 29
Chuck Ragan + Eoin McCarthy @ The Argo
When the great Chuck Ragan, the gruff-voiced vocalist of Hot Water Music, comes to a new venue in Whitefish Bay to play stripped-down renditions of his band’s material and selections from his solo catalog, it’d be foolish to miss it. You can see Ragan on stage in the intimate confines of The Argo on Sunday, March 29. The troubadour will be preceded by Eoin McCarthy who locals might know from his work in Whiskey Of The Damned and Bellends.
Wednesday, April 1
Matt Pryor + Small Uncle, Human Ant Farm @ Anodyne Coffee’s Walker’s Point Roastery
There’s no April fooling here, people! Matt Pryor, the singer and founding member of seminal Midwest emo outfit The Get Up Kids, is coming to Milwaukee for a headlining solo performance at Anodyne Coffee’s Walker’s Point Roastery on Wednesday, April 1. Pryor will be preceded by Small Uncle and Human Ant Farm.
Thursday, April 2
Milwaukee Record Beer Release with HOSTS, Gold Steps, and Dana Ehrmann @ Ope! Brewing
We’re partnering with Ope! Brewing in West Allis to produce a collaborative beer we think a lot of you are going to love. “Milwaukee Record Bee-Side Honey Lager” is a light-bodied lager that gets a dash of locally sourced sweetness from Kallas Honey. The beer will officially hit tap lines and cans on April 2. That same night, Milwaukee Record will host a beer release event at Ope! Brewing’s taproom. In addition to being able to enjoy Bee-Side Honey Lager for the very first time, there will also be performances by HOSTS, Gold Steps, and West Allis-born comedian Dana Ehrmann. The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. and the show is FREE.
Saturday, April 4
Maximiano (album release) + Field Report, Ava Brennan @ Cactus Club
In 2024, Maximiano—the eponymous project of Milwaukee-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Maximiano Janairo—burst into local music consciousness with the release of their formal debut album, The Real Truth. While matching the quality and overwhelmingly positive response of that record will be tough to do, Janairo seems up to the task. They’ll take the stage at Cactus Club on Saturday, April 4 to formally release Rokeby, a collection of homespun songs written in the Hudson River Valley during “a 10-day dog-sitting gig.” Field Report and Ava Brennan will play in support.
Friday, April 10
Snail Mail + Sharp Pins @ Turner Hall
Last summer, Snail Mail came to Turner Hall as a support act for Dinosaur Jr.’s tour. Less than a year later, the project helmed by Lindsey Jordan will return to the Milwaukee ballroom to kick off a full-fledged headlining U.S. tour just two weeks after the release of Snail Mail’s third studio album, Ricochet. Sharp Pins will open.
Sunday, April 12
Stavros Halkias @ Riverside Theater
Fresh off his role in Bugonia, comedian, actor, Giannis super fan, and the host/namesake of the hilarious Stavvy’s World podcast Stavros Halkias will return to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater as part of his extended “The Dreamboat Tour.” Don’t miss it!
Thursday, April 16
Off With Their Heads + Toys That Kill, Panel @ Anodyne Coffee’s Walker’s Point Roastery
Last April, accomplished Minneapolis punk outfit Off With Their Heads came to X-Ray Arcade to perform its 2010 album In Desolation in its entirety. Almost exactly a year later, they’ll return to the region to play at Anodyne’s Walker’s Point Roastery as part of a bill that also features Toys That Kill and Panel.
Friday, April 17
The Plastic Constellations + Tornavalanche, Group Of The Altos @ The Cooperage
It’ll be a night of nostalgia at The Cooperage on April 17, as Minnesota-based The Plastic Constellations and short-lived early aughts Milwaukee outfit Tornavalanche will each treat listeners to reunion performances. Group Of The Altos—who are an active band, but don’t play out all too often—will open things up.
Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18
Monet X Change @ Milwaukee Improv (three shows!)
Following a memorable run on the latest season of The Traitors, accomplished drag queen Monet X Change will treat Brookfield to some of her sidesplitting stories and hilarious musings over the course of three Milwaukee Improv performances during her High Heels, Bad Knees Tour.
Tuesday, April 21
Ty Segall @ Turner Hall
Ty Segall stays active. When the tireless garage rocker isn’t releasing records (his catalog currently stands at 19 albums!), he’s touring in support of them. Segall will pay Milwaukee yet another visit on Tuesday, April 21, when he returns to his now-familiar Turner Hall haunts.
Saturday, April 25
Tech N9ne + E-40, King ISO @ The Rave/Eagles Club
It’ll be a night multiple generations of hip-hop appreciators can enjoy when Tech N9ne and E-40 take the stage at The Rave on April 25 as part of their co-headlining Strange Wid’ It Tour 2026. The accomplished emcees with more than 75 years of combined on-stage and in-studio experience will be joined by Omaha-based rapper King ISO.
Sunday, April 26
Mick Foley @ Milwaukee Improv
After a lengthy, body-busting tenure in professional wrestling, Mick Foley (f.k.a. “Mankind”) made the move from the ring to the stage. Foley—who’s now an author, comedian, spoken word artist, and storyteller—will come to Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield April 26 to share tales and humorous musings from his wrestling career and beyond.
Tuesday, April 28
Waxahatchee + MJ Lenderman, Brandon Wedl @ Riverside Theater
What could be better than seeing Waxahatchee—Katie Cruthfield’s outstanding indie folk project—at a historic Milwaukee theater on a Tuesday night in late April? How about seeing Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman together at a historic Milwaukee theater on a Tuesday night in late April? Well, you’re in luck because these rapidly rising talents (who are also collaborators) will be coming to Riverside Theater on Tuesday, April 28. Brandon Wedl will open.
Friday, May 1
The New Pornographers + Will Sheff @ Turner Hall
Fans of Canadian supergroups who have been crafting impeccable pop-leaning indie rock for more than two decades take note: The New Pornographers will play Milwaukee’s Turner Hall on Friday, May 1. The band, made up of A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, Todd Fancey, Blaine Thurier, John Collins, Joe Seiders, and Simi Stone, are one of those bands that have never made a bad album. We’re willing to bet that streak will continue with The Former Site Of, which is due out March 27.
Sunday, May 3
David Byrne @ Miller High Life Theatre
Legendary Talking Heads frontman and solo artist David Byrne will bring his Who Is The Sky? Tour to the Miller High Life Theatre on Sunday, May 3. This will be his first performance in Milwaukee since coming to Riverside Theater in May 2018.
Friday, May 8
A Screening of ‘Say Anything’ with John Cusack @ Pabst Theater
Is there anyone better than John Cusack? If you were weaned on ’80s movies like Sixteen Candles, Better Off Dead, and Say Anything…, the answer is “no.” If you were weaned on ’90s movies like Grosse Pointe Blank, Con Air, and Being John Malkovich, the answer is “no.” And if you were weaned on more recent movies like High Fidelity, The Ice Harvest, and Hot Tub Time Machine, the answer is…well, you get the idea. Anyway, Cusack is coming to the Pabst Theater Friday, May 8 for a screening of the aforementioned Say Anything… and a live conversation. Nice!
Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17
Marlon Wayans @ Milwaukee Improv (five shows!)
In addition to being an actor, filmmaker, and one half of the Wayans Brothers, Marlon Wayans is an accomplished comedian. In fact, standup has been his primary focus of late, as he’s released five specials since 2018. As the world waits for Scary Movie 6 to come out this June, you can catch Wayans in Brookfield when he performs a total of five shows at Milwaukee Improv between May 15 and May 17.
Saturday, May 16
Dethklok + Amon Amarth @ Landmark Credit Union Live
In 2023, Dethklok and Babymetal teamed up for a night of metal mastery at The Rave during their Babyklok Tour. This time around Dethklok will team up with Amon Amarth for “The Amonklok Conquest,” a tour that will stop by the newly-opened Landmark Credit Union Live on Saturday, May 16 for what’s sure to be an excellent (and loud) time.
Thursday, May 28
Rilo Kiley @ Riverside Theater
After an outstanding 15-year run, Rilo Kiley called it quits in 2013. Fortunately, few bands remain broken up forever at this point in time, and the Jenny Lewis-fronted indie outfit made the decision to finally get back together in 2025. The legendary indie band will bring its Really Fucking On Tour to Riverside Theater on May 28 and you should be there.
Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13
George Wallace @ Milwaukee Improv (four shows!)
George Wallace—the veteran comedian, not the segregationist monster by the same name—is one of the best to ever do it. The iconic comic, actor, the singer of the fictional Milwaukee Peaches, and one of the only few bright spots left on Twitter will treat the Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield to four performances over the course of three June nights. It’s going to be great and whatnot.
Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17
Garth Brooks @ American Family Insurance Ampitheater
Country superstar Garth Brooks is playing TWO Summerfest “kick-off” concerts in June. The first show will take place at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater Tuesday, June 16. That will be followed with a second show, scheduled for Wednesday, June 17—a day before the first official day of Summerfest—also at AmFam Amphitheater. These will be Brooks’ first Summerfest shows ever, and his first Milwaukee shows in over a decade.