Milwaukee summers are absolutely PACKED with festivals, fairs, music series, and more. It’s a busy time for Milwaukee, and an even busier time for Milwaukee musicians. Here’s an extremely non-exhaustive list of just a few hometown musicians who will be extra busy this summer.
1. 414JungleBaby
Fans and writers are floating 414JungleBaby’s “Yo Baby” as a strong candidate for Milwaukee Song of the Summer. Any why not? It’s two minutes of pure rap bliss, perfect for summer playlists and open-window weather in general. And if “Yo Baby” doesn’t make the cut, Milwaukee can take its pick from the rest of 414JungleBaby’s 10-track Jungle This Jungle That, which dropped earlier today.
2. The Kal Bergendahl Project
Summer is the season for working Milwaukee musicians; all those fests need live music, after all. Count longtime jazz-funk outfit The Kal Bergendahl Project among the musicians providing the bulk of those summer festival tunes. In the next few months, Bergendahl and his group will play Heart(beats) Of The City in Red Arrow Park on June 3, Summer Soulstice on June 13, Summerfest on July 3, Concerts On The Green in Enderis Park on July 9, Starry Nights in Brookfield on July 17, Musical Mondays in Lake Park on August 17, and more.
3. Laura Bomber (Bomber & Red, Valley Fox)
Some Milwaukee musicians stay busy with just one band—others find themselves not only playing in two bands, but playing twice the number of shows. Take Laura Bomber, for instance. The singer-songwriter is currently one half of Americana/bluegrass duo Bomber & Red (Ben Lila is the “Red”), and one third of indie-folk trio Valley Fox. Bomber’s first band is set to play Locust Street Festival on May 31, Summer Soulstice on June 13, and Harley-Davidson Museum’s Thursday Bike Night music series on July 2. With Valley Fox, she’ll play the Lakefront Festival Of The Arts at the Milwaukee Art Museum on June 14, another Harley gig June 25, Summer Sounds at Hubbard Park on July 8, and Discovery World’s Live At The Lakefront on July 15.
4. Wave Chapelle
Milwaukee hip-hop star Wave Chapelle is busy 365 days a year, but his long summer days are always especially busy. Summer 2026 is no different: Chapelle is set to play Locust Street Festival on May 31, Summer Soulstice on June 13 (along with the equally busy NileXNile), an Edelweiss Concert Cruise on July 2, and Flavor & Vibes On Teutonia on August 1. Are we likely missing 8,000 other shows? Yes.
5. De La Buena
Do we even have to explain this one? No Milwaukee summer would be complete without multiple festival appearances from the city’s top Latin and Afro-Cuban group, De La Buena. Percussionist and co-founder Cecilio Negrón Jr. passed away in 2023, but De La Buena has kept his spirit alive in the summers since. Look for the Milwaukee staple this summer at Musical Mondays in Lake Park on July 6, Concerts In The Garden at Boerner Botanical Gardens on July 16, and more.
6. dak duBois
Looking for some smooth, groovy, ’70s- and psych-inspired music to score your Milwaukee summer? Then look no further than dak duBois. Since coming on the scene in 2023, duBois—a.k.a. Dak Wright—has released multiple records and singles and has played dozens upon dozens of shows. His latest single is the perfectly hazy “Midwest Nice,” which you’re likely to hear live at Locust Street Festival on May 31, and Milwaukee Record’s own Morgan Park Picnic a week earlier, on May 23.
7. Emmitt James
Call his music whatever you want—hip-hop-jazz, jazz-rap-fusion, etc.—but Emmitt James never fails to deliver a good time. And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy that good time this summer. James is scheduled to play Morgan Park Picnic on May 23, Locust Street Festival on May 31, Summer Soulstice on June 13, Summerfest’s big Juneteenth celebration on June 19, and, of course, the fourth installment of his very own Emmitt James Big Band BBQ at Turner Hall Ballroom on August 21. James’ latest full-length record is 2025’s We Got Food At Home; his latest single is the aptly titled “Meet Me On The Dance Floor.”
8. Max Niemann (Diet Lite, Max & The Fellow Travelers)
Diet Lite has been one of the buzziest and busiest Milwaukee indie-rock bands of the past few years. Back in November, the group released its third full-length record, Double Wide Yukon. But that (terrific) release wasn’t enough for singer-songwriter Max Niemann—the Milwaukee musician has also been busy with his own country-leaning solo project, Max & The Fellow Travelers. Niemann will pull double-duty at this year’s Locust Street Festival when Diet Lite plays the Swarmm Events Stage at 1 p.m., and Max & The Fellow Travelers play the Falcon Bowl Stage at 3:30 p.m. Good luck, Max!
9. Hanna Simone
Singer-songwriter Hanna Simone is no stranger to Milwaukee summers, but 2026 may be her biggest summer yet. On May 22, Simone will celebrate the release of her new EP, Love Letter, at the Walker’s Point Anodyne (with support from Emmitt James, natch). Then she’ll take an extended record-release victory lap with a slew of shows: Lakefront Brewery on June 6, the Juneau Beer Garden on June 12, Summer Soulstice on June 13, Summer Sounds in Cedarburg on June 19, Indeed Brewing on June 22, Bastille Days on July 11, DanDan’s 10th anniversary on July 12, and A La Carte at the Milwaukee County Zoo on August 28. Phew!
10. Social Cig
It seems like it’s been the Year of Social Cig ever since Parker Schultz and his scrappy indie-rock outfit packed Turner Hall Ballroom last September for an instant-classic show celebrating the release of Patchwork: A Road Dog Story. The title of that album is appropriate—Social Cig has indeed spent much of the last few years on the road. Happily, the group is staying closer to home this summer. In the next few months alone, Social Cig will play (deep breath) Lakefront Brewery’s Maifest on May 17, Morgan Park Picnic on May 23, Locust Street Festival on May 31, Riverwalk Commons on June 30, Summerfest on July 3, Chill On The Hill on July 7 (along with Diet Lite), Brady Street Festival on July 25, and Mad Planet on August 22. Double phew!
11. Pat McCurdy
Obviously.
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