Some of you are in a serious relationship, or at least involved in a budding romance. Others are happily (or perhaps miserably) single. No matter where your love life lands, the same thing holds abundantly true for everyone: you need to go out and do something—anything!—on Valentine’s weekend. V-Day proper lands on a Friday this year, meaning most people will celebrate (or be reminded they’re alone and true love might never find them) sometime between Thursday and Sunday of this week.
Whether you’ve simply procrastinated on cementing post-dinner plans for you and that special someone, or you just need to escape loneliness and self-doubt for a few hours, allow Milwaukee Record to serve as your cherubic guide to celebrating and/or escaping this Hallmark holiday with some suggestions of things to do this weekend.
Thursday, February 13
Line Dancing & Live Music @ Club Garibaldi
Two Thursdays each month, Club Garibaldi in Bay View hosts Line Dancing & Live Music. As the name suggests, this recurring Robbins’ Roundup event features line dancing as Milwaukee-based country band Convoy performs. Garibaldi also offers $3 specials on Lone Star and sliders. This multi-faceted happening runs 7:30-10:30 p.m. and costs $10. The same event is also taking place at Club Garibaldi on February 27 and, assuming the pattern continues, on March 13.
Midweek Music: Ernie Brusubardis Quartet @ Crafty Cow (Bay View)
Hey! We’re bringing our free Midweek Music concert series back to Crafty Cow in Bay View! There’s NO COVER for these all-ages shows, which run from 7-8:30 p.m. The series continues this week with a performance from the Ernie Brusubardis Quartet. And if a free weeknight show isn’t already great enough on its own, Crafty Cow will offer $4 pints of its delicious Crafty Cow Lager (made by 3 Sheeps Brewing) during all Midweek Music concerts. They’ll also have meal deals available during each show.
Trampled By Turtles + Wild Horses @ The Pabst Theater
Grilled Cheese Grant Fundraiser: World In Action + Misprints, Spoy, Buena Cara @ Cactus Club
Bay Faction + Bug Moment @ X-Ray Arcade
Kevn Kinney + Bobby Bare Jr @ Shank Hall
Cameron Webb’s Valentine’s Day Soul Revue @ The Estate
Friday, February 14
3rd Annual Lonely Hearts HonkeyTonk @ Cactus Club
For the third consecutive year, the Lonely Hearts HonkyTonk brings some of the city’s best musicians in the folk/Americana/country realms together at Cactus Club for one can’t-miss Valentine’s Day showcase. This year’s event includes “sad country songs” from the likes of Kati Katchever, J.R. Wesley, The Krause Family Trio, Ellie Jackson, The Spine Stealers, and Maximiano.
Honky Tonk Takeover @ Falcon Hall
It’s a full-on Honky Tonk Takeover at Falcon Hall this Valentine’s Day. A $10 cover (whether attending solo or with a date) gets you a two-step tutorial, as well as instruction on Western-style partner dances and line dancing. Stick around after the lessons for live country tunes from the likes of Convoy and Sludge Hawking. This 18+ event starts at 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. doors).
Long Line Riders @ The Wiggle Room
One Friday a month, the Milwaukee country purveyors in Long Line Riders set up shop at The Wiggle Room for a three-hour split showcase. They’ll spin records at the Bay View listening lounge from 5-6:30 p.m. before playing a live set of country classics from 6:30-8 p.m. This one-two punch is 21+ and it’s free!
Natasha Leggero @ Milwaukee Improv
Actor, podcaster, accomplished comedian, and Rockford native Natasha Leggero will return to her native Midwest for a total of five Milwaukee Improv performances spread over three Valentine’s Day-adjacent nights. Whether you’re looking to celebrate or flat out avoid V-Day, seeing Natasha Leggero live is an excellent option.
All Messed Up XIII @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
All hail the return of Milwaukee’s “annual randomized musical experiment,” All Messed Up! The two-night extravaganza will feature a total of 16 new bands that were created via random drawing back in December. Friday night showcases the musical stylings of Pjörk, RSTLNE!, The New Jersey Drones, and Soups Totes DuJour.
The 5 Card Studs @ Shotzy’s Country Rock Bar II
PAL-entine’s Day @ Third Space Brewing
Lady SabO + *aya, RBL @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Good Kid @ Turner Hall Ballroom (sold out)
Belmont + Young Culture, Static Palms @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
Vermit + Mark Adams Son Of Bill, Evinspragg @ Bremen Cafe
The Incorruptables @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Casablanca: Film With Orchestra @ Bradley Symphony Center
Cameron Webb’s Valentine’s Day Soul Revue @ The Estate
Saturday, February 15
Chris Novak Birthday Extravaganza @ The Cooperage
Milwaukee music super-fan and all-around great guy Christopher Novak has long celebrated his birthday by giving local listeners a gift in the form of one heck of a concert. This year’s loaded lineup includes Gold Steps, Colfax Speed Queen, Alley Eyes, and Mari Mari taking the stage at The Cooperage.
John Roy @ The Laughing Tap (two shows)
Veteran comedian and Midwest ex-pat John Roy has been a touring comic for two decades. Along the way, he’s amassed a number of late night TV appearances, won Star Search, sold some scripts, and has been part of comedy festivals all around the country. On February 14-15, Roy will return to Wisconsin (a state he once called home) for a total of three performances at The Laughing Tap, including two Saturday night shows.
My Funny Valentine @ ComedySportz
Over at ComedySportz, many of Milwaukee’s best humorists will perform improv sets inspired by classic love songs. All those involved will be spreading the love to those in need, as all proceeds from the show will benefit Kids Impact Community. There’s also a discount with the donation of adult underwear, socks, and personal hygiene products.
Iron Pizza + Full Nude @ Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts
Milwaukee’s Iron Pizza occupies a warped, whacked-out wavelength where every broken thrift shop kiddie keyboard is an instrument to be treasured, and where songs like “Stoopid Drugged Up Monkees” exist. The band has been making its own delightful no-wave electro ditties since 2014; a four-song EP, Nobody’s Fool, was released in 2018.
I Choose You! – A Pokemon-Inspired Market @ X-Ray Arcade
Sad Boy Saturday @ X-Ray Arcade
Natasha Leggero @ Milwaukee Improv
All Messed Up XIII @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Greg Marshall Pops Out Of The Trees @ Vivarium
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol + Lip Critic, Zang! @ Cactus Club
Mulva + Brave You, Local Legends, Dinoslug USA @ Falcon Nest
Litwax + Taco Tuesday, Vex-Hate, Candy Apples & Razor Blades @ 4Seasons Skate Park
Sean Hendley + Brain But My Friends Call Me Brian @ Art Bar
Cameron Webb’s Valentine’s Day Soul Revue @ The Estate
Sunday, February 16
God’s Outlaw + Kilbourn, Cat Call Killers @ Club Garibaldi
“God’s Outlaw is a Wisconsin-based rebel country band that performs originals, a Johnny Cash tribute, and other old school country music like the top hits to the B-side gems your grandpa listened to. God’s Outlaw does country the old way. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, David Allen Coe, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams (as well as Jr. and 3).”
Natasha Leggero @ Milwaukee Improv
Faded Places + Half Moon Hideaway, Hey Muchacho @ Falcon Nest