March is a period of transition. The month straddles two seasons…a part-time resident in the ass-end of winter and a temporary tenant within the burst and bloom brought on by spring. As the season changes and we gain an hour of daylight, the glorious onslaught of local festivals is so close, yet still aggravatingly out of reach. However, there’s still a wealth of places to go, people to see, and things to do this month while awaiting the warmth and activity of summer.
Between respected touring musicians and comedians, some great local concerts, our screening of Tremors, and some compelling food-focused events, this March isn’t shaping up to be half bad! Here are 15 standout events happening in and around Milwaukee in March.
Saturday, March 1
The Sloppy Boys Live Podcast @ X-Ray Arcade
What iiiiiiiiiiiiis up? Tonight, The Sloppy Boys—a podcast that “takes a deep dive into the drinks that you love”—drop by X-Ray Arcade for the penultimate stop on their winter tour. Beyond the laughs, the wildly different pronunciations of the word “Cudahy,” and the potential of a parody song, The Boys will also treat those in attendance to an evaluation of a drink during the live podcast recording.
Tuesday, March 4
Clem Snide + Rye Valley @ Shank Hall
Eef Barzelay—the veteran singer-songwriter who releases music under the Clem Snide moniker—makes his way to Shank Hall for a show in recent support of his months-old album, Oh Smokey.
Saturday, March 8
Pom Pom Squad + Caroline Kingsbury @ X-Ray Arcade
About six months removed from the release of the project’s excellent Mirror Starts Moving Without Me, Pom Pom Squad will come to Cudahy to play songs from that new album and other standout songs from its back catalog at X-Ray Arcade. Caroline Kingsbury opens.
Monday, March 10
Faye Webster + Mei Ehara @ Riverside Theater
Following a wildly successful 2024 that included the release of her wonderful album, Underdressed At The Symphony, and numerous appearances at some of the world’s biggest music festivals, Atlanta indie-pop sensation Faye Webster will drop by Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater as part of her “Underdressed At The Symphony” tour. Mei Ehara opens.
Thursday, March 13
Shiner + Fight Dice, Overhand @ X-Ray Arcade
Stop us if you’ve heard this twice before: Kansas City rock stalwarts Shiner are coming to Cudahy for a can’t-miss club outing that also features local support by D&D-themed supergroup Fight Dice and the ever-busy Overhand. Originally scheduled to happen December 4, then again on January 9, the show will now take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 13.
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s ‘Fables Of The Reconstruction’ And More + Dave Hill @ Turner Hall
Famed character actor Michael Shannon and accomplished musician Jason Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Split Single) will bring their “Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends” band to Milwaukee’s Turner Hall on Thursday, March 13. The concert, which is the penultimate appearance on a 19-show tour, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s sophomore album, Fables Of The Reconstruction. Shannon, Narducy, and company will perform the 1985 album in sequence and in its entirety, along with a few other R.E.M. classics. Dave Hill will open.
Friday, March 14
The Dollyrots + Jinksie, Doubter, Socially Suspect @ Cactus Club
During the band’s 20-plus-year run, The Dollyrots have released more than a dozen albums and EPs, played all over the world, performed with countless punk and rock and roll mainstays, and had their music featured on television shows and in films. Almost exactly a year after playing at X-Ray Arcade, the veteran pop-punkers will come to Cactus Club for a stop on their “Sugar In The Gas Tank Tour” with local support by Jinksie, Doubter, and Socially Suspect.
Martin Lawrence @ Riverside Theater
Say what you will about Black Knight and the Big Momma’s House trilogy, but Martin Lawrence remains a skilled and influential comedian. With close to 40 years of experience logged on stage and in front of cameras, the transcendent comic still has what it takes to make a massive room of strangers double over with laughter—at least if his Riverside Theater stops in 2011 and 2016 were any indication. The standup legend returns to Milwaukee on March 14 as part of his ongoing “Y’all Know What It Is!” tour.
Saturday, March 15
Old Pup + Joseph Huber, Dandy L. Freling @ Cactus Club
Old Pup straddles the line between country, folk, Americana, and experimental. The Milwaukee-based band led by pedal steel player and songwriter Will Hansen will play a belated release show for his latest album, Spider Towns, at Cactus Club on Saturday, March 15. Fellow local music mainstays Joseph Huber and Dandy L. Freling will open things up.
Sunday, March 16
Meatless Raffle @ Cactus Club
Milwaukee Record is proud to present the inaugural Meatless Raffle. The 100% vegetarian version of a Midwest mainstay will take place at Cactus Club on Sunday, March 16 from 1-4 p.m. During that three-hour span, we’ll be raffling legitimately valuable prize baskets filled with meat-free delicacies, gift cards to vegetarian- and vegan-friendly local establishments, a variety of beverages, and other great goodies. In addition to the primary raffles we’ll do every 30 minutes, we’ll also have a few 10-liners going as well as our Prize Wheel. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Kinship Community Food Center.
Tuesday, March 18
Keb’ Mo’ & Shawn Colvin @ Bradley Symphony Center
Five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ and thee-time Grammy winner Shawn Colvin will bring their outstanding catalog and almost a century of combined music experience to Bradley Symphony Center for a can’t-miss event in the waning days of winter.
Wednesday, March 19
Milwaukee Record presents ‘Tremors’ @ Avalon Theater
Want to see a wickedly fun creature feature—starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and, hell yes, Michael Gross and Reba McEntire—on the big screen? Then get your Graboid-loving ass to the Avalon Atmospheric Theater on Wednesday, March 19. (Pardon our French.) That’s when we’ll be screening the original Tremors and turning the Avalon into one long smorgasbord.
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.
Sunday, March 23
WMSE’s Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser @ MSOE Kern Center
Rockabilly Chili will return to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Kern Center (1245 N. Broadway) on Sunday, March 23. The 23rd installment of the wildly popular and devilishly delicious event will kick off at 11 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. Over that four-hour span, attendees will be able to sample chili from dozens of Milwaukee area restaurants, cafes, caterers, and other establishments who will be competing for awards in three categories: Best Meat, Best Veggie, Best Heat, and Most Unique. There will also be hardware handed out for Best Display.
Saturday, March 29
Turner Hall Tiki Takedown @ Turner Hall
Following four successful installments, Turner Hall Tiki Takedown will once again be bringing warm vibes and cool cocktails back to the eponymous downtown ballroom this March. Yes, you can take your taste buds on an early spring trip to the islands when the cocktail competition and rum-fueled celebration officially returns. From 1-4 p.m., Turner Hall will host mixologists from a variety of local bars and restaurants, each of whom will be serving up their own unique tiki cocktail creations using TIKI LOVERS spirits as they compete for votes from those in attendance so they might claim the coveted Tiki Takedown Trophy and Tiki Master title.
