What’s this? A list of shows? A list of summer shows? Yep! After what seemed to be an endless winter that gave way to a busy spring, summer is finally upon us. The season officially starts today, and it offers no shortage of worthwhile concerts, comedy shows, and other forms of live entertainment. Not even counting the massive list of local festivals happening in and around the city, here are a few of the standout summer shows we’re looking forward to in the next few months.
Saturday, June 21
Insane Clown Posse + JCW Wrestling @ The Rave / Eagles Club
It’s hard to believe now, but there was a moment when the most outrageous thing in pop culture was a song in which two rapping clowns from Detroit questioned the inner workings of magnets. “Fucking magnets, how do they work?” asked the Insane Clown Posse in 2010’s instantly infamous “Miracles.” We may never know how magnets work (or solar eclipses, vicious weather, and 15,000 Juggalos together), but we’d sure love to go back to a time when the question was the only thing occupying our minds. And maybe we can, because ICP— a.k.a. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope—will play The Rave / Eagles Club on June 21, and they’re bringing JCW with ’em.
Tuesday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25
Kyle Kinane @ Vivarium
Beloved comedian, actor, and Illinois native Kyle Kinane will return to the Midwest to take the stage at Vivarium on Tuesday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25. Tickets to this show—Kinane’s first Milwaukee appearance since headlining the Milwaukee Comedy Festival is 2023—are running low, so act fast!
Wednesday, June 25
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit @ Riverside Theater
Alt-country powerhouse and one of modern music’s finest songwriters Jason Isbell returns to the familiar confines of Riverside Theater along with his 400 Unit backing band for an early summer show in support of his months-old album Foxes In The Snow.
Saturday, June 28
Tommy Stinson + Karla Rose @ The Estate
It isn’t very often that a founding member of The Replacements plays an intimate show at an historic East Side jazz club. In fact, this might be the first time such a thing has happened. Don’t miss your opportunity to see Tommy Stinson performing at The Estate. Tickets and square footage are extremely limited. Karla Rose opens.
Thursday, July 3
Johanna Rose + Ellie Jackson, Old Pup @ Cactus Club
It’s a homecoming show for New Orleans (by way of Milwaukee) troubadour Johanna Rose, whom locals might remember from New Boyz Club, Nickel & Rose, and Calamity Janes And The Fratney Street Band. Bolstering the bill even further is opening support from Ellie Jackson and Old Pup.
Wednesday, July 9
Heart Attack Man + The Dirty Nil, Carpool, Dear Seattle @ Vivarium
Cleveland pop-punk trio Heart Attack Man is currently on a joyride throughout the U.S. “and Toronto and also Vancouver” in support of the band’s excellent months-old album, Joyride The Pale Horse, and they’re stopping at Vivarium on Wednesday, July 9. They’ll be joined by The Dirty Nil (who will be releasing their own outstanding album soon), Carpool, and Dear Seattle.
Sunday, July 13
Ramy Youssef @ Turner Hall
In addition to being an actor who’s best-known for starring opposite Emma Stone in Poor Things and as the creator/lead/namesake of RAMY, Ramy Youssef also dabbles in standup comedy. Actually, he more than just dabbles in the art form. He’s an award-nominated comedic storyteller with two acclaimed specials to his credit. Watch Youssef doing his thing when he takes the stage at Turner Hall on Sunday, July 13 as part of his “Love Beam 7000” tour.
Wednesday, July 16
Digable Planets @ Marcus Performing Arts Center (Peck Pavilion)
Following an inaugural year that featured performances by the legendary likes of Talib Kweli and Robert Randolph, the Marcus Center’s “Summer Of Soul” series is returning for a second season of shows at the Peck Pavilion and its outdoor lawn. This time around, the series will bring renowned headliners like BILAL, Digable Planets, and Madison McFerrin downtown. Those performers will be joined by openers with local ties, including KidCutUp, Grace Weber, and Gego y Nony. All Summer of Soul events will be free and open to the public.
Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25
Nate Bargatze @ Fiserv Forum
Is there a better stand-up comedian working today than Nate Bargatze? The veteran comedian has been blowing up in recent years—he’s hosted Saturday Night Live twice since 2023—all thanks to his decidedly low-key and fundamentally hilarious material. Remember when stand-ups didn’t have to be tiresome edge-lord culture warriors? And they could just be…funny? Huh! Anyway, Bargatze will bring his so-called Big Dumb Eyes 2025 world tour to Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum on Friday, July 25. Oh, and the tour will include all new material!
Sunday, July 27
Lucy Dacus + Jay Som @ Riverside Theater
A lot has changed since the last time Lucy Dacus was in Milwaukee. Since that early 2022 Turner Hall performance (which she had to play while resting on a couch on account of a back injury she was dealing with at the time), Dacus has won three Grammys from her work as a third of Boygenius. Along the way, she also found time to release Forever Is A Feeling, her fourth solo album, which topped both rock and folk charts after it was released in March 2025. She’ll come to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater on Sunday, July 27 as part of her “Forever Is A Feeling Tour” with the (also excellent) Jay Som playing in support.
Tuesday, July 29
Ghost @ Fiserv Forum
Can Fiserv Forum possibly withstand the sheer intensity and volume of a Ghost performance? Find out on Tuesday, July 29 when the iconic Swedish rock spectacle comes to the Milwaukee arena during its “Skeletour” world tour.
Thursday, July 31
Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail, Easy Action @ Turner Hall
A couple years after playing Summerfest, Dinosaur Jr. will move indoors to headline a July 31 show at Turner Hall Ballroom. The legendary rockers will be joined by Snail Mail and Easy Action.
Sunday, August 3
Cyndi Lauper + Jake Wesley Rogers @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
We’ll keep this short and sweet, folks: Music icon Cyndi Lauper will bring her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” to Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Sunday, August 3. The show is part of the final leg of Lauper’s yearlong farewell tour, which kicks off July 15 and ends August 30. Jake Wesley Rogers will open the show. Cyndi Lauper rules.
Friday, August 8
Billy Strings @ Fiserv Forum
Just shy of four years removed from his sold-out show at the Riverside Theater, finger-picking and Grammy-winning bluegrass virtuoso Billy Strings will return to Milwaukee to headline Fiserv Forum on Friday, August 8.
Friday, August 8
Broncho @ Cactus Club
Fresh off the release of Natural Pleasure, which has been described as “Radiohead’s Kid A filtered through a haze of pot smoke and reimagined for a generation craving both grit and transcendence,” Oklahoma indie rock outfit Broncho returns to Cactus Club for what’s sure to be a sellout. If there are still tickets available when you’re reading this, you should probably get them now.
Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16
LCD Soundsystem @ The Rave / Eagles Club
It’s been 15 years since LCD Soundsystem played The Rave, but that will all change this summer when the seminal James Murphy-led dance-punk project returns to the Milwaukee venue for shows Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16.
Friday, August 22
Lil Wayne + Tyga, Belly Gang Kushington @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
A Lil Wayne show in Milwaukee may not be rare (like Mr. Clean with hair), but we’re still pleased to report that the veteran rapper (and Green Bay Packers superfan) is scheduled to play Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Friday, August 22. Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington will play in support.
Thursday, August 28
St. Vincent + Gustaf @ The Rave / Eagles Club
The shapeshifting, ever-active, and always interesting Annie Clark (better-known throughout the world as “St. Vincent”) is coming to The Rave / Eagles Club on Thursday, August 28 in belated support of last year’s intense and altogether awesome album, All Born Screaming.
Friday, August 29
Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts @ BMO Pavilion
Neil Young. In Milwaukee. On Friday, August 29. YES.
Friday, August 29 through Sunday, August 31
Damon Wayans Jr. @ Milwaukee Improv (5 Shows!)
Despite sharing most of his name with a certified comedy legend, Damon Wayans Jr. has fashioned quite the comedic career of his own. Beyond starring in the criminally underrated Happy Endings sitcom, being a series regular on New Girl, and stealing scenes in Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, the younger Damon also routinely travels the country to perform standup. He’ll set camp at the Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield this summer for a five-show run August 29-31.
Thursday, September 4
Alabama Shakes + Sam Evian @ Miller High Life Theatre
You really don’t know just how special a group like Alabama Shakes is until they’re gone. Following an eight-year hiatus, the incomparable Brittany Howard-helmed rock band is back and, thankfully, touring once again. They’ll stop at Milwaukee’s Miller High Life Theatre as part of said comeback tour. Sam Evian will open.
Friday, September 5
Kumail Nanjiani @ Pabst Theater
Before he was writing and starring in Oscar-nominated films, hosting SNL, getting jacked and showing up in Marvel movies, joining the Ghostbusters universe, and becoming a household name, Kumail Nanjiani was cutting his teeth as a standup comic based right here in the Midwest. He’ll return to his comedy roots and come back to the region here it all began when he stops by the Pabst Theater on Friday, September 5 as part of his aptly-named “Doing This Again” tour.
Friday, September 12
Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band @ Miller High Life Theatre
Let’s just come out and say it: Ringo Starr is great. He’s a living legend, a comforting presence in a world gone mad, and a genius drummer (arguments over that last point in the comments below, please). So who’s in Ringo’s ever-changing All Starr Band this time around? How about Colin Hay (“Who Can It Be Now”), Steve Lukather (“Africa”), Hamish Stuart (“Pick Up The Pieces”), and more. So yeah: THE DUDE FROM TOTO WILL TOTALLY PLAY “AFRICA.” Also, Ringo will play “Matchbox” and “With A Little Help From My Friends,” obviously.
Saturday, September 13
HAIM + Dora Jar @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Este, Danielle, and Alana—who the planet simply knows as HAIM—just released their fourth album. Despite the new record being called I Quit, the band is still very active. In fact, HAIM will be coming to The Rave / Eagles Club on Saturday, September 13 in support of that very album. Dora Jar will open.
Thursday, September 18
DJ Diesel (aka Shaq) @ American Family Field (Brewers Postgame Concert)
Roughly 100 days removed from getting The Rave / Eagles Club moving during T-Pain’s “Back To Wiscansin Fest,” DJ Diesel (better known as Shaquille O’Neal) will try to repeat the feat when he gets behind the turntables at American Family Field for a concert set to take place immediately after that day’s Brewers-Angels game.
Friday, September 19
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 19!