Back in June of 2015, a dozen (primarily) punk and hardcore bands hailing from five states came to The Metal Grill in Cudahy for an unforgettable day of all-ages fun known as Dummerfest. The festival returned to the venue in 2017 and brought the likes of Off With Their Heads, Negative Approach, The Copyrights, and more to the suburban club’s stage. The Metal Grill abruptly closed days later, causing Dummerfest organizer Nick Woods to put the festival on hiatus in 2018 as he (and a group of others) prepared to purchase the building and open a new, improved venue in the same location.
Now that X-Ray Arcade is up and running (and has already hosted the likes of Owen, Okilly Dokilly, and Eyehategod since opening in February), the new Cudahy arcade bar and all-ages venue is able to bring Dummerfest back to the property for another installment. They’ll do just that on Saturday, June 22, when X-Ray Arcade hosts more than a dozen bands on both indoor and outdoor stages—including one booked by Milwaukee Record—over the course of an all-day affair that will culminate with a performance by The Lawrence Arms. It will be the legendary Chicago punk band’s first metro Milwaukee show in more than 15 years, and we’re told Dummerfest will be one of a select few (we’re talking fewer than five) Lawrence Arms shows in 2019.
Pre-sale tickets are limited to just 200, and are available now for $45. Day-of-show tickets will also be available (while space permits) for $50. The complete, all-day lineup will be announced May 10. In the meantime, here’s all you need to know: Dummerfest is coming back. The Lawrence Arms will play in Cudahy. It’s going to be amazing.