Nick Cave, GloRilla, Paul Simon and 25 more standout spring shows Milwaukee Record Staff March 17, 2025 Between the gradual increase of daylight, the return of baseball, rising temps (between sporadic instances of snowfall), and a steady stream of festival announcements, it’s starting to feel a lot like spring in Milwaukee. Though the new season doesn’t technically start until Thursday 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, drag events, 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. Thursday, March 20 through Saturday March 22 Hari Kondabolu @ The Laughing Tap (five shows) Comedian Hari Kondabolu has amassed an impressive reel of TV appearances, has released some chart-topping albums, and has been called “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” by the New York Times. In late 2017, Kondabolu became a household name and changed the way we watch television (for the better), when TruTV released his Simpsons-centered documentary, The Problem With Apu. Beyond his socially impactful documentary, he’s one hell of a comic. Now something of a Laughing Tap regular, Kondabolu will return to the Walker’s Point club March 20-22 for a total of five shows. Friday, March 21 Dwight Yoakam And The Mavericks + Noah Rinker @ Miller High Life Theatre What better way to celebrate the first full day of spring than seeing certified county music legend Dwight Yoakam and his trusty Mavericks at Miller High Life Theatre? Before Yoakam delights the venue with cuts from his incomparable 40-year career, opener Noah Rinker will set the stage. Wednesday, March 26 GloRilla + Real Boston Richey, Queen Key @ The Rave / Eagles Club The last six months have been very good to GloRilla. Since October, the Memphis rapper earned a Grammy nomination, released her critically acclaimed and commercially successful Glorious, and had three songs from said album climb the Billboard charts (simultaneously!). Now a bonafide modern music sensation, GloRilla will stop by The Rave as part of her ongoing “The Glorious Tour” that includes opening support from Real Boston Richey and Queen Key. Thursday, March 27 Sarah Shook & The Disarmers + Dale Hollow @ Cactus Club Sarah Shook & The Disarmers absolutely love the Cactus Club and Milwaukee listeners are reaping all the benefits. The eternally busy band will return to their beloved brew city haunt for the final time during what’s being called its “Farewell Tour.” Dale Hollow opens. Wednesday, April 2 Mannequin Pussy + Finom @ Turner Hall Now in its 15th year as a band and firmly implanted in the punk rock zeitgeist, Mannequin Pussy is no longer “up and coming” because, well, they’ve arrived. The Philly outfit will drop into Turner Hall in belated support of last year’s album, I Got Heaven, with Finom in tow. Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 Daniel Van Kirk @ The Laughing Tap (three shows) Dan Van Kirk is the pride of Rochelle, Illinois. The (now-L.A.-based) stand-up comedian, improvisor, impressionist, and podcaster—who’s probably best-known in the medium for his work alongside the Sklar Brothers on Dumb People Town—returns to his beloved Midwest April 11-12 for a total of three shows at The Laughing Tap. Saturday, April 12 Wheatus + Rematch, Breakup Tour @ X-Ray Arcade Teenage Dirtbags take note: Wheatus (yes, that Wheatus!) will return to X-Ray Arcade just shy of two years after its first appearance at the Cudahy venue. They’ll have local support from the likes of Rematch and Breakup Tour. Friday, April 18 Avenues + Something To Do, Local Legends, Gold Steps, Bodyman Want @ X-Ray Arcade Not only is this an all-around excellent local lineup, it’s also a concert for a great cause. With an aim to bring in the necessary cash to make the business as accessible as possible, the fine folks at X-Ray Arcade have announced some “Accessible Entryway Construction Fundraiser” efforts, which will take place this spring. This stacked show is one such fundraising event where 100% of ticket sales will be allocated to X-Ray’s accessibility efforts. There’s also the option to donate more when purchasing the tickets. Friday, April 18 Bob Mould Band + Craig Finn @ Turner Hall Legendary punk/alt-rock pioneer Bob Mould—he of Hüsker Dü, Sugar, and solo fame—and his band will headline a can’t-miss show at Turner Hall on Friday, April 18. Craig Finn—he of The Hold Steady and solo fame—and his band will open. Sunday, April 20 Pattie Gonia Presents: Save Her! @ Turner Hall Beyond being a beloved drag queen, Pattie Gonia is an environmentalist and community organizer who has earned praise for their efforts in the realm of climate change from the likes of Outside Magazine, TIME, and National Geographic. On April 20 (in accordance with Earth Day), Pattie Gonia will bring the environmentally-focused “SAVE HER!” show to Turner Hall. Thursday, April 24 Smoking Popes + Off With Their Heads @ X-Ray Arcade Talk about a one-two punch! On Thursday, April 24, a pair of prominent pop-punk projects will join forces on a nostalgic night in which Smoking Popes will play its 1994 album Born To Quit in full and Off With Their Heads will perform 2010’s In Desolation in its entirety. Thursday, April 24 IshDARR + special guests @ Cactus Club On Thursday, April 24, IshDARR will mark the 10th anniversary of his breakout album, Old Soul, Young Spirit (and the new release of the album’s 10th anniversary edition) with a Cactus Club show. The accomplished Milwaukee rapper will be joined on stage by special guests TBA. Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 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 and White Chicks 2 (both of which are reportedly in the works), you can catch Wayans in Brookfield when he performs a total of five shows at Milwaukee Improv between April 24 and April 26. Wednesday, April 30 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Miller High Life Theatre It’s only been about 18 months since Nick Cave graced Milwaukee with his powerful presence. But that was Nick Cave solo (along with Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood). What about Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds? Good news, Milwaukee, because Cave and the Bad Seeds are scheduled to play the Miller High Life Theatre on Wednesday, April 30 as part of The Wild God Tour. Friday, May 2 Brett Newski & The Bad Intentions + The Dreaded Laramie @ Falcon Hall Eternally busy musician, author, and road dog Brett Newski and his backing band (recently re-dubbed “The Bad Intentions”) will play a rare hometown outing at Falcon Hall in Riverwest. The Milwaukee appearance which will serve as a release show for Newski’s ameriCONa Pt. 1: Educate Freeloaders To Buy Art, an album that will not be released on streaming platforms. So if you want to hear the album, get to this show and buy the record. Monday, May 5 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 to share tales and humorous musings from his wrestling career and beyond. Thursday, May 8 Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic @ Club Garibaldi Almost seven years removed from performing at Turner Hall (and eating Durty Burgers with us in the venue’s green room), Randy of Trailer Park Boys will bring his Cheeseburger Picnic comedy showcase back to Milwaukee. This time around, he’ll be taking the stage at Club Garibaldi. Fingers crossed we’ll get to eat some wings with him in the basement beforehand. Friday, May 9 Jimmy Eat World @ The Rave / Eagles Club It isn’t too often that Milwaukee gets a non-festival tour stop from Jimmy Eat World. However, the longstanding and beloved emo outfit is swinging by The Rave on Friday, May 9. Stay tuned to learn who the openers are in the weeks to come. Are you listening? Friday, May 9 Brother Ali + DJ Abilities, Jabee @ Shank Hall Long-tenured and low-key legendary rapper Brother Ali will treat Shank Hall to cuts from his extensive catalog that spans decades. He’ll be joined by his former Rhymesayers label mate (and Milwaukee’s own) DJ Abilities, as well as opener Jabee. Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 Paul Simon @ Riverside Theater We’re talking about Paul Simon here, people! Do we need to say more? (That was rhetorical: No, we don’t need to say more.) Saturday, May 24 Pissed Jeans + Necron 9, Sex Scenes @ Cactus Club This Memorial Day weekend will be one to remember as Philly rockers Pissed Jeans come to town to play an intimate (for them, at least) show at Cactus Club. Milwaukee’s own Necron 9 and Sex Scenes will add some local flare before the headliner does its thing. Friday, May 30 Nikki Glaser @ Miller High Life Theatre (two shows) After devastating Tom Brady during the QB’s roast last year and crushing as the host of this year’s Golden Globe’s, veteran comedian Nikki Glaser is now a certified household name. She’s returning to her native Midwest to perform two shows at Milwaukee’s Miller High Life Theatre on May 30. Friday, May 30 Joshua Ray Walker + Boy Golden (solo) @ Shank Hall Since first gaining notoriety in country music circles with his 2018 debut Wish You Were Here, Dallas singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker has won fans all around the world. Walker’s sophomore album, Glad You Made It, has garnered even more acclaim and found the up-and-coming country talent landing on the cusp of even bigger and better things. Now that he’s beaten cancer, Walker is ready to get back on the road to make up for lost time. He’ll return to Shank Hall along with a solo set by Boy Golden on May 30. Sunday, June 1 Bluebird Improv @ Turner Hall When Bluebird—an improv collective that features all-time make-’em-up masters like Tim Meadows and Matt Walsh in its ranks—comes to your city and tickets are still available, you say yes and you go. Saturday, June 7 Todd Barry @ Shank Hall With more than 40 years of stage time beneath his belt along with an often-imitated, never replicated wry and soft-spoken comedic style, Todd Barry is on the fringe of comedy legend status. Barry—who has been a recurring visitor to Milwaukee in recent years, including a couple of Milwaukee Comedy Festival appearances—will come back to town to head up a show at Shank Hall on Saturday, June 7. Friday, June 13 Peter Mulvey @ Anodyne 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 on Friday, June 13. Saturday, June 14 T-Pain’s “Back To Wiscansin Fest IV” at The Rave / Eagles Club In 2022, singer, rapper, and producer T-Pain embarked on an 18-show jaunt he called his “Road To Wiscansin” tour. That run of shows culminated with a show at The Rave/Eagles Club, which was dubbed “Wiscansin Fest” a day. The next Junes, T-Pain kept coming back to Milwaukee. The fourth annual installment (called “Back To Wiscansin Fest”) is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 14. This time around, the worldwide sensation will be joined by the likes of Feid, Keyshia Cole, Pusha T, Wale, Jermaine Dupri, DJ Diesel (Shaq’s DJ alias), NLE Choppa, Kash Doll, Dreezy, Prof, Durand Bernarr, Armani White, Milwaukee’s own DJay Mando and NilexNile, and more. Wednesday, June 18 Old 97’s + Ladybird @ Tosa Tonight (Hart Park, Wauwatosa) On Wednesday, June 18, Tosa Tonight will kick off its 25th anniversary season by welcoming Old 97’s to the Hart Park Rotary Pavilion. The legendary and long-running Texas outfit will come to Wauwatosa in belated support of its 13th album, 2024’s American Primitive. As if a free outdoor performance by a seminal alt-country mainstay isn’t already good enough, the 97’s will also be joined on the bill by Milwaukee’s own Ladybird, who will start things off at 6 p.m.
