Where has the summer gone? Okay, okay, so there’s still a ton of summer left, but the bleakness of autumn will be upon us before you know it. Thus, it’s important to use your limited summer entertainment allotment right. Not even counting the remaining days of Summerfest, there’s a ton of concerts, comedy shows, fun film screenings, and arts-focused entertainment options vying for your time and attention. And we’re not even factoring in outdoor activities, if you’re into that type of thing. July can be tough to navigate, but hopefully these 15 standout shows can help clear up any overlapping items on your social calendar. You can find more events in our Calendar section.
Saturday, July 2
Alejandro Escovedo + Hanna Simone @ The Cooperage (The Rushes Patio)
Transcendent singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo brings his decades of genre-jumping and altogether astounding material to “The Rushes Patio” outside The Cooperage for a free performance as part of the venue’s Summer Camp series. When you have a chance to see a rock and roll legend on a quaint patio for free, you take it! Hanna Simone opens.
Wednesday, July 6
The Yawpers + Whiskey And The Devil, Driveway Thriftdwellers @ Cactus Club
Once a frequent Milwaukee visitor, it’s been more than three years since the last time The Yawpers have performed in town. However, you can rejoice in knowing the Denver-based roots/rock hybrid will return to our fair city to head up an impressive Cactus Club bill that also includes local support from the likes of Whiskey And The Devil and Driveway Thriftdwellers.
Monday, July 11
The Bronx + Avenues, Poison Hand @ X-Ray Arcade
Veteran L.A. punk mainstays The Bronx will temporarily break away from their support slot on Frank Turner’s ongoing “50 States In 50 Days” tour to headline a can’t-miss Monday night soiree at X-Ray Arcade. Be there.
Thursday, July 14
Tony! Toni! Toné! @ Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
R&B greats Tony! Toni! Toné will come to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino for one night only to treat Northern Lights Theater to timeless cuts from their five albums and standout songs they wrote and performed in a wide range of films. You can safely bet this will be a great time.
Friday, July 15
WMSE’s Art & Music @ Pritzlaff Building
For the past half-decade, WMSE’s Art & Music has combined, well, art and music for a one-of-a-kind event. At the center is an auction of hundreds of album-sized, 12″ x 12″ pieces of original art from local and national artists. Toss in live music and WMSE’s own DJs, and you’ve got—once again—Art & Music! This year’s event will be no different. Set for Friday, July 15 at the Historic Pritzlaff Building, the 6th annual Art & Music will feature works for a wide variety of area artists. Everyone’s favorite local spaghetti-western surf-rock outfit Devils Teeth will “throw in their own special ‘art’ vibe to their live performance.” The auction goes live online on July 1. Tickets to the event are $15 in advance, and $20 the day-of. Get them NOW.
Saturday, July 16
Red Bull Flugtag @ Veterans Park
Red Bull’s long-running Flugtag event—in which folks construct their own ridiculous “flying” machines and “fly” them off a ramp into a body of water—is set to make its Wisconsin/Milwaukee debut Saturday, July 16 in Veterans Park. Need we say more? A group of celebrity judges will rank the creativity, performance, and distance of the flights. Judges include Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver, as well as local TikTok creator JMatt and Kwik Trip social media star Paige Forde. A Packer, a TikTok creator, and the person behind Kwik Trip’s social media. It doesn’t get more 2022 Wisconsin than that!
Wednesday, July 20
Motion City Soundtrack + All Get Out, Neil Rubenstein @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Third time is a charm (hopefully?) for Motion City Soundtrack, who have already twice postponed its “Commit This To Memory” anniversary tour on account of the pandemic. Sure, what started as a 15th anniversary tour to commemorate the Minneapolis band’s breakout album has now become a 17th anniversary jaunt, but this show will be worth the wait.
Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23
Sean Patton @ The Laughing Tap
Comedian Sean Patton has performed on network television talk shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Conan, been a frequent fixture on Comedy Central stand-up showcases (including his own half-hour), released two outstanding comedy albums, and has likely been a memorable guest on some of your favorite podcasts. Patton has also become something of a frequent Milwaukee visitor, thanks to the fine folks at Milwaukee Comedy booking him in recent years. He’ll come to the Milwaukee Comedy-owned and -operated Laughing Tap in Walker’s Point for a total of three shows spread over the course of as many nights.
Saturday, July 23
Alanis Morissette + Garbage @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Alanis Morissette will bring her 25-year Jagged Little Pill tour to Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Saturday, July 23. Oh, and Garbage will open! You, you, you, you oughta go.
MC Chris + Crunk Witch, Guerrilla Ghost @ X-Ray Arcade
Veteran musician, animator, Adult Swim mainstay, nerd culture legend, and guy we once took record shopping MC Chris is coming to Cudahy to head up an X-Ray Arcade show on July 23. Crunk Witch and Milwaukee’s own Guerrilla Ghost will perform in support.
New Found Glory + Four Year Strong, Be Well @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Has it really been 20 years since New Found Glory released Sticks And Stones? Let’s see…2002 plus 20 equals 2022. Yep, the math checks out! The tireless pop-punk outfit is currently celebrating the two-decade anniversary of its most commercially successful album to date (which also brought about regular play on TRL and earned the band Platinum-selling certification) with a tour that includes a stop at The Rave / Eagles Club. Four Year Strong and Be Well will play in support.
Sunday, July 24
Bikini Kill + Pineapple RNR @ Riverside Theater
The bad news: After releasing four albums, revolutionary Washington punk band Bikini Kill disbanded in 1997. The good news: They’ve thankfully decided to reunite for occasional tours since 2017, and the current Bikini Kill tour includes a stop at Riverside Theater on Sunday, July 24. Don’t miss it! Pineapple RNR opens.
Tuesday, July 26
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World 2022 Tour @ Riverside Theater
The official RuPaul’s Drag Race world tour returns to Milwaukee with an all new production and a stacked lineup of memorable cast members culled from previous seasons. Just some of the queens you can expect to see taking part in this “Werq The World” tour stop include Kameron Michaels, Rose, Vanessa Vanjie, current All-Stars cast member Yvie Oddly, and all four finalists from Season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (hell yeah, Lady Camden!). Shantay you should stay in town on July 26 and sashay away to Riverside Theater to see this in person.
Wednesday, July 27
Milwaukee Record presents ‘A League Of Their Own’ @ Avalon Theater
Join us at Avalon Theater on Wednesday, July 27 for a special presentation of A League Of Their Own. The 1992 baseball blockbuster follows the Rockford Peaches, a real-life team that played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Led by star catcher Dottie Hinson (played by Geena Davis) and disgruntled former big leaguer-turned-manager Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), the Peaches travel the Midwest as they take on the likes of the Racine Belles, Kenosha Comets, and South Bend Blue Sox. Joining that dominant battery of leading actors is an All-Star supporting cast that consists of Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Jon Lovitz, Bill Pullman, and many more.
Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31
D.L. Hughley @ Milwaukee Improv
The Hughley Show namesake, one of the “Original Kings Of Comedy,” and veteran stand-up D.L. Hughley will return to the Milwaukee Improv, which he helped break in last September, when he performs five shows in Brookfield-based club July 29-31.