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 13 standout shows can help clear up any overlapping items on your social calendar.
Sunday, July 2
Dillinger Four + Off With Their Heads, Big Laugh, Bad Crime @ X-Ray Arcade
Almost instantly sold out. Sorry, folks!
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers + Dusk @ 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 with another Cactus Club favorite, Wisconsin’s own Dusk.
Thursday, July 6
Sparks @ Pabst Theater
Legendary pop-rock duo Sparks are set to play Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater on Thursday, July 6! The Sparks brothers (Ron and Russell Mael) were subjects of a recent all-star documentary by Edgar Wright. The group has been delighting and confounding since the early 1970s; a new album, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, came out May 26 on Island Records. This show is part of a world tour that kicked off May 23 in the UK, and will wrap up July 25 in Japan. Milwaukee Record contributor and local Sparks expert Rick Katschke says this will be Sparks’ first Milwaukee show in 40 years, and we believe him. Get ready!
Friday, July 7
Lou Barlow @ URSA
On July 7, Lou Barlow, the legendary musician who you surely know from his work in Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh will treat URSA to an intimate performance. This will actually be the second time Barlow will play the store, as he treated a small crowd at the Bay View home goods store to a memorable performance back in 2018. It’s also worth mentioning Barlow will be performing with Dinosaur Jr. at Summerfest the night before this solo set.
Sunday, July 9
Pool Kids + Sydney Sprague, Chase Petra @ X-Ray Arcade
Mere days removed from the surprise release of their new split with POOL, Florida pop-punk outfit Pool Kids will come to X-Ray Arcade for show that should serve as a nice comedown the night after Summerfest ends.
Wednesday, July 12
Puddles Pity Party @ Shank Hall
So yeah, this is pretty much just a dude dressed in creepy clown attire singing songs you know and love. The strange gimmick would fall flat if it wasn’t so beautiful and well-executed. Catch Puddles Pity Party when he drops by Shank Hall on July 12. You won’t be sorry.
Thursday, July 13
Please Don’t Destroy Live @ Turner Hall
Veritable viral video factory-turned-Saturday Night Live writing collective Please Don’t Destroy is taking its show on the road! We’re not quite sure how the trio’s comedic style will translate to a stage show, but we’re super excited to find out and we have no doubts Please Don’t Destroy Live will, um, destroy live.
Saturday, July 15
Jinkx Monsoon @ Pabst Theater
Jinkx Monsoon is a two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and a Broadway-caliber talent. She’s also extremely fucking funny. The drag star’s talent and versatility will be on full display at Pabst Theater on July 15, when Monsoon comes to Milwaukee as part of her bewitching “Everything At Stake” tour.
Sunday, July 16
Wheatus + The Eradicator @ X-Ray Arcade
Teenage Dirtbags and squash enthusiasts take note: Wheatus (yes, that Wheatus!) and The Eradicator are coming to Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade on July 16 for one of the strangest-yet-most compelling Sunday evening show pairings imaginable.
Friday, July 21
Rory Scovel @ Turner Hall
In addition to his ever-growing list of acting roles, Rory Scovel is one of the funniest and most original comedians working today. Don’t miss your chance to see the innovative humorist do what he does best at Turner Hall on July 21.
Milwaukee Record and The Recombobulation Area present “Game 6 Rewatch Party” @ The Cooperage
Join Milwaukee Record and The Recombobulation Area at The Cooperage on Friday, July 21 as we celebrate the two-year anniversary—plus one day!—of the most amazing game in Milwaukee sports history with a Game 6 Rewatch Party. The FREE fun will begin at 6:30 p.m., as Recombobulation Area founder Dan Shafer emcees the affair and Milwaukee Record co-founder Tyler Maas plays records to suit the citywide sports celebration. System Seltzers will be on-site to pour samples of some of its fine products (which will be available at the bar for $1 off all night long). We’ll start streaming the game on The Cooperage’s massive projector screen starting at 7:30 p.m. Bucks In Six.
Tuesday, July 25
Say She She + Abby Jeanne @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
“Discodelic soul band” Say She She has earned oodles of praise for good reason. The buzzworthy Brooklyn-based act will bring its genre-jumping, era-hopping sound to The Back Room @ Colectivo for a great Tuesday night show that’s only improved with opening support from New York (by way of Milwaukee) powerhouse Abby Jeanne.
Wednesday, July 26
Milwaukee Record presents ‘Airplane!’ @ Avalon Theater
Do you like endlessly quotable and ridiculously absurd movies from 1980 that feature Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? What about movies that check all of the above boxes and are directed by Milwaukee natives David and Jerry Zucker? If you answered YES to these questions, you’ll surely want to check out Milwaukee Record’s screening of Airplane!, Wednesday, July 26 at the Avalon Atmospheric Theater! And stop calling us Shirley.