Much of the world blindly hates all country music despite barely dipping a toe into the genre. Just as many people claim to love “country” that’s actually awful creations that hamfistedly shove references to dogs, trucks, and beer into pop-produced nonsense that would make the legends weep. However, country music can be legitimately good when it’s done right. Thankfully, music fans everywhere seem to be coming around to that idea.
In fact, country music converts—both old and new—right here in Milwaukee are forming great country bands, booking shows and other affiliated events that celebrate the genre, and attending a higher volume of country western-related events than anytime we can recall in recent history. With a cavalcade of country and country-adjacent events on the books in Milwaukee between now and the end of winter, Milwaukee Record figured we’d risk the ire of the comments section and round up a few standouts from the bunch. Yeehaw?
Thursday, February 13
Line Dancing & Live Music @ Club Garibaldi
Two Thursdays each month, Club Garibaldi in Bay View hosts Line Dancing & Live Music. As the name suggests, this recurring Robbins’ Roundup event features line dancing as Milwaukee-based country band Convoy performs. Garibaldi also offers $3 specials on Lone Star and sliders. This multi-faceted happening runs 7:30-10:30 p.m. and costs $10. The same event is also taking place at Club Garibaldi on February 27 and, assuming the pattern continues, on March 13.
Friday, February 14
3rd Annual Lonely Hearts HonkeyTonk @ Cactus Club
For the third consecutive year, the Lonely Hearts HonkyTonk brings some of the city’s best musicians in the folk/Americana/country realms together at Cactus Club for one can’t-miss Valentine’s Day showcase. This year’s event includes “sad country songs” from the likes of Kati Katchever, J.R. Wesley, The Krause Family Trio, Ellie Jackson, The Spine Stealers, and Maximiano.
Honky Tonk Takeover @ Falcon Hall
It’s a full-on Honky Tonk Takeover at Falcon Hall this Valentine’s Day. A $10 cover (whether attending solo or with a date) gets you a two-step tutorial, as well as instruction on Western-style partner dances and line dancing. Stick around after the lessons for live country tunes from the likes of Convoy and Sludge Hawking. This 18+ event starts at 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. doors).
Long Line Riders @ The Wiggle Room
One Friday a month, the Milwaukee country purveyors in Long Line Riders set up shop at The Wiggle Room for a three-hour split showcase. They’ll spin records at the Bay View listening lounge from 5-6:30 p.m. before playing a live set of country classics from 6:30-8 p.m. This one-two punch is 21+ and it’s free!
Thursday, February 20
Cowboy Karaoke With Megs @ Club Garibaldi
Every third Thursday of the month, Cowboy Karaoke takes over the back room at Club Garibaldi. Starting at 7:30 p.m., folks who wish to sing their favorite country songs can sign up for their turn with the mic. And if you need some liquid or cornmeal-battered courage before stepping on stage, you can get bottles of Lone Star, select shots, and corn dogs for just $2 apiece.
Colter Wall And Friends @ Miller High Life Theatre
The pride of rural Saskatchewan, 29-year-old Colter Wall has both the voice and the material of a much older man. Following 2017’s Milwaukee debut (a sold-out show at The Back Room @ Colectivo) and a Turner Hall sellout in 2019, this continually rising Canadian country star is returning to town with some respected collaborators in tow for a “Colter Wall And Friends” show at Miller High Life Theatre on Thursday, February 20.
Thursday, February 27
Line Dancing & Live Music @ Club Garibaldi
We repeat: Two Thursdays each month, Club Garibaldi in Bay View hosts Line Dancing & Live Music. As the name suggests, this recurring Robbins’ Roundup event features line dancing as Milwaukee-based country band Convoy performs. Garibaldi also offers $3 specials on Lone Star and sliders. This multi-faceted happening runs 7:30-10:30 p.m. and costs $10. The same event is also taking place at Club Garibaldi on February 13 and, assuming the pattern continues, on March 13.
Thursday, March 13
Ladies Of Country @ Pabst Theater
No, you won’t see the real Dolly, Shania, Reba, or Martina take the stage at Pabst Theater for the “Ladies Of Country” show. However, when the musicians being paid tribute to are this outstanding, accomplished, and all-around iconic, it’s okay to accept an imitation if it means their countless hits can all come together in one show. Watch skilled celebrity impersonators Karen Hester do Dolly Parton, Corrie Sachs channel Reba McEntire, and Stacey Whittion Summers tackle dual duty as Shania Twain and Martina McBride on Thursday, March 13.
Line Dancing & Live Music @ Club Garibaldi
We repeat again: Two Thursdays each month, Club Garibaldi in Bay View hosts Line Dancing & Live Music. As the name suggests, this recurring Robbins’ Roundup event features line dancing as Milwaukee-based country band Convoy performs. Garibaldi also offers $3 specials on Lone Star and sliders. This multi-faceted happening runs 7:30-10:30 p.m. and costs $10. The same event is also taking place at Club Garibaldi on February 13 and February 27.
Clare Doyle + Ladybird, Driveway Thriftdwellers @ Cactus Club
Up-and-coming Americana talent Clare Doyle will make the trip from the Twin Cities to treat Milwaukee to her country-tinged sound when she headlines a March 13 show at Cactus Club. Both this show and its country cred will be bolstered with local support by Ladybird and Driveway Thriftdwellers.
Saturday, March 15
Old Pup + Long Mama @ Cactus Club
While Old Pup straddles the line between country, folk, Americana, and experimental, the Milwaukee-based project led by pedal steel player and songwriter Will Hansen will certainly scratch that western-leaning itch. The band will play a belated release show for the project’s latest album, Spider Towns, at Cactus Club on Saturday, March 15. Fellow country-adjacent Milwaukee band Long Mama will open.
Thursday, March 20
Cowboy Karaoke With Megs @ Club Garibaldi
We repeat: Every third Thursday of the month, Cowboy Karaoke takes over the back room at Club Garibaldi. Starting at 7:30 p.m., folks who wish to sing their favorite country songs can sign up for their turn with the mic. And if you need some liquid or cornmeal-battered courage before stepping on stage, you can get bottles of Lone Star, select shots, and corn dogs for just $2 apiece.
Friday, March 21
Dwight Yoakam And The Mavericks @ Miller High Life Theatre
Okay, so March 21 is actually the first full day of spring, but who’s going to leave the great Dwight Yoakam off a Cream City country music round-up just because the season technically ended the day before his Milwaukee tour stop? Not us! The influential and incomparable musician and his Mavericks backing band will start spring off right with a can’t-miss show at Miller High Life Theatre on Friday, March 21.