Milwaukee is chock full of things to do, but only a handful of Milwaukee events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations for April 13-19, 2026, brought to you by Wynk.
MONDAY, APRIL 13
Horse Vision + Lipsticism, Gem Fumigation Spa @ Cactus Club
“In the rift between sound design, early emo, rock and pop, Horse Vision continues to elaborate on an alternative approach to traditional songwriting with a somewhat definitive, future-forward guitar music aesthetic. With the release of their 13-track album Another Life, Horse Vision conglomerates a distinct selection of acoustic instruments and their synthesized counterparts; the acoustic guitar and its synthetic equivalent, the recorded vocal and the vocaloid—weaving a musical landscape that is at once sincere and strangely familiar. When performing live, the foundation on which the band originates is at most evident, consisting of a classic rock trio setting with bass, drums and guitars.”
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Milwaukee Day @ various locations
Happy Milwaukee Day, Milwaukee! Or 414 Day! Or 4/14 Day! Or 414 Milwaukee Day! Whatever you call it, it’s that special time of the year when the the date (4/14) matches the city’s area code (414)! Fun! Get out there and enjoy oodles of events, celebrations, and—most importantly—DEALS. Find our Milwaukee Day list HERE. Also, isn’t it wild how a goofy joke between a group of friends more than 15 years ago has turned into a legitimate citywide holiday? It is!
The Recombobulation Area: 414 DAY LIVE @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
POSTPONED
How will YOU spend Milwaukee Day 2026? Well, if you enjoy lively chatter between smart, brilliant, consequential Milwaukeeans and one other guy, you’ll be attending a live Recombobulation Area podcast at the Walker’s Point Anodyne! The pod will feature Dan Shafer from the Recombobulation Area, Angela Lang from Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC), Milwaukee Day founder Andy Silverman, and 414 Day Executive Director Mocha Harris. The other guy will be Matt Wild from Milwaukee Record. He plans to talk about that snow pile or something. The full event runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The pod tapes from 6-7 p.m. It’ll be fun! Informative! And free!
An Evening With Dick Blau @ UWM Union Cinema
“As part of the UWM Union Cinema’s Experimental Tuesdays series, on April 14 at 7 p.m., the UWM Union Cinema will be presenting An Evening with Dick Blau, presented in conjunction with the UWM Archives. Dick Blau, a local photographer, artist, and filmmaker, has been making films and video works for over 40 years, and recently donated his archival collection to the UWM Archives. The evening will highlight his film and video works, including three 2K restorations remastered from original elements stored at the UWM Archives. The event will also include discussion about his career, and stories about working in the Milwaukee art community. The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres.”
Phill Smith + Pedro M. Gutierrez, Phill, Pedro, and John Larkin (improv set) @ MKeUltra
Key Of Evil + The Dirty Pretty, Son Reis Project, Kleptomaniac @ High Dive
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
Milwaukee Record Presents: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story @ Avalon Theater (And Post Credit After Party @ Sugar Maple)
We’ve done it before and we’re doing it again! Yep, we’re showing Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story at Avalon Theater! The 2007 film traces the amazing (and entirely fictional) life of Dewey Cox—played by John C. Reilly at his finest—in a parody of early 2000s musical biopics like Walk The Line and Ray. After the movie, follow us to nearby Sugar Maple, where we’ll be hosting a free 21+ Post Credit afterparty event from 9-11 p.m. that features specials on WYNK, activities inspired by the film, and a performance by Pete from Ladybird.
The Crosses Outlier Vinyl Listening Party @ Wiggle Room
“Triple Eye Industries, Rushmor Records, and Spectragram Records present: The Crosses Outlier vinyl listening party at Wiggle Room on April 15, 2026. Join us as we celebrate the release of the first original recordings from The Crosses. The band’s debut EP, Outlier, is slated for release on April 17, 2026 via Triple Eye Industries, Spectragram Records and Rushmor Records.”
Feyleux + Lavish Waste, dark psychic @ MKeUltra
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
2026 Milwaukee Film Festival @ Oriental and Downer theaters (through April 30)
Two weeks. More than 100 feature films. More than 130 short films. More than 280 public screenings on five screens at two theaters. That’s the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival, folks, set to take over the screens of the Oriental and Downer theaters April 16-30. There’s a LOT to love: The Opening Night screening of the new Bob Uecker documentary Ueck. The return of the Stop Making Sense dance party and the Milwaukee Music Video Show. The Milwaukee Record-sponsored Cinema Hooligante program. New films starring Paul Rudd, Adam Scott, and more. HUNDREDS OF OTHER FILMS. SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES. (Oh, and don’t forget about our TREASURE HUNT.)
Screeching Weasel + The Queers, Hayley And The Crushers @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Screeching Weasel returns for their first Milwaukee show since they played The Globe East in 2000. Special guests The Queers open the show.”
Off With Their Heads + Toys That Kill, Panel @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Last April, accomplished Minneapolis punk outfit Off With Their Heads came to X-Ray Arcade to perform their 2010 album In Desolation in its entirety. Almost exactly a year later, they’ll return to the region to play at Anodyne’s Walker’s Point Roastery as part of a bill that also features Toys That Kill and Panel.
Sophia Corinne + Ellie Jackson, Lyle De Vitry, Mol Sullivan @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
“Sophia Corinne harvests poetry for the lines of each song from her life, one lived paying attention. Her songs offer the companionship of something beautiful for us to hold close in any season. Since 2021 she has been tending a garden of folk songs and diy shows, releasing multiple EPs and touring extensively across North America. In 2025 she released her debut album let’s just pretend via Ghost Mountain Records. She is currently based in Asheville NC, where she lives in a tiny home.”
Lion’s Tooth + Milwaukee Record Music Book Club: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley @ Lion’s Tooth
Do you like books? Do you like music? Do you like books about music? Then you’re in luck, because we’ve partnered with beloved Bay View bookstore Lion’s Tooth for the Lion’s Tooth + Milwaukee Record Music Book Club! How does it work? Just stop by Lion’s Tooth on the third Thursday of the month, from 6-8 p.m., and discuss a new music-related book. That’s it!
Liquid City Motors + Apollo Vermouth, Donnie Echo, Language Models @ Cactus Club
Off With Their Heads + Toys That Kill, Panel @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Pretty Sure + Killer High Life, Courtesy, Oh Well OK @ MKeUltra
Live In The Lounge: Allison Mahal @ The Argo
Carlos Adames Group’s April Latin Jazz + Open Jam @ The Estate
Say What You Mean @ Nashville North
Keith Scott @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Evan McMillian + Wylie Jakobs, Peter Hair, Robbie Sender @ Bremen Cafe
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
The Wedding Present + Mark Robinson sings Unrest @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
“The Wedding Present will be playing a series of concert dates in North America in 2026 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the release of their pivotal long-player, Seamonsters. Following the release of Seamonsters—which was recorded by the legendary Steve Albini in twelve days during 1991—The Guardian newspaper noted that: ‘Albini has given The Wedding Present considerable weight, with Gedge’s voice trickling between banks of scowling guitars’ and went on to feature it in its list of ‘1,000 albums to hear before you die.’ Despite its uncompromising sound, the album reached No. 13 in the British album charts and has been hailed as a classic.”
The Plastic Constellations + Tornavalanche, Group Of The Altos @ The Cooperage
It’ll be a night of nostalgia at The Cooperage, as Minnesota-based The Plastic Constellations and short-lived early aughts Milwaukee outfit Tornavalanche each treat listeners to reunion performances. Group Of The Altos—who are an active band, but don’t play out all too often—will open things up.
Gallery Night MKE @ various locations (also April 18)
“Gallery Night MKE—Milwaukee’s original gallery hop event‚has been uniting the city through art for nearly 40 years. Experience the vast creative culture in Milwaukee while you discover local galleries, art and artists. This free, quarterly event offers visitors the opportunity to purchase and enjoy art while visiting Milwaukee’s most dynamic neighborhoods.”
Monet X Change @ Milwaukee Improv (also April 18)
Following a memorable run on the latest season of The Traitors, accomplished drag queen Monet X Change will treat Brookfield to some of her sidesplitting stories and hilarious musings over the course of three Milwaukee Improv performances during her High Heels, Bad Knees Tour.
Shotwell + Cone Earth, Robits, Sub Rosa @ Bremen Cafe
Clan Of Xymox + Past Self, The Quilz @ Falcon Hall
Modern Tigers + Resurrectionists, Shrinestone @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Luna Luna + VALÉ @ Cactus Club
Bowvee + Delta Vice, Sushi Cowboy @ MKeUltra
Bryan Cherry Band @ Ope! Brewing Co.
The Moth: Suspicious @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: SpudNikk @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Milwaukee Zine Fest @ Milwaukee Central Library
The Bindery’s annual Milwaukee Zine Fest will take to the Milwaukee Central Library on Saturday. As always, the event—which has been around more than 15 years, making it one of the Midwest’s longest-running zine fests—will celebrate and promote “zine culture, DIY creative literary work, small press publishing, and other independent, self-created wonders in magazine-like format” with more than 100 vendors showcasing and selling their work on site. Milwaukee Zine Fest is free and suitable for folks of all ages to attend.
Record Store Day @ various locations
“Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today, Record Store Day is celebrated at independently-owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world.”
Los Tigres Del Norte @ Miller High Life Theatre
“Just about every year since their emergence, the prolific Northern Mexican cowboys have served as working-class heroes, narrating candidly the lives of the voiceless population in songs that transcend generations—hits like ‘La Jaula De Oro,’ ‘La Bala,’ ‘La Puerta Negra,’ and the recent ‘Un Consentido de Dios.'”
The Astronomers + BYRNE @ Vivarium
Ashes To Amber + Nature TV, Seth Charleston @ Falcon Hall
Spitalfield +Park, Danny Stevens, Alley Eyes @ The Argo
Heirloom @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Andrew Gelles Band @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Depeche Mode vs. Duran Duran vs. New Order @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
Gold Steps + When The Sun Sets, Say What You Mean @ The Argo
“Gold Steps has opened for Billboard-charting artists The Used, CharlotteSands, Stand Atlantic, Hit The Lights and letdown. to name a few. The band has fine-tuned their energetic live show through extensive touring, including supporting SayWeCanFly and Johnnie Guilbert on a full US Tour in 2022. Gold Steps has performed at several prestigious music festivals, including the Vans Warped Tour, Summerfest, SXSW and So What Music Fest. Alternative Press named Gold Steps as one of ’13 Artists Who Are Reclaiming The Pop-Punk Music Scene in 2021′ alongside Meet Me @ The Altar and Jetty Bones. Gold Steps has over 1.91 million streams on Spotify, with tracks featured on playlists including ‘Pop Punk’s Not Dead,’ ‘New Punk Tracks’ and ‘Fresh Finds Rock.'”
The Demix + Thomas Wincec, ~~ (tildetilde), Mosh Wah’s Palace @ Canni
We live in noisy, nihilistic times. Foundations are crumbling—both literally and figuratively—and the ground beneath our feet seems to shift at a moment’s notice. But what’s the sound of our fraught era? In Milwaukee, that sound sounds an awful lot like Action Building System, the latest album from veteran Milwaukee experimental/electronic provocateur The Demix.
Rap J + Darrin Alston, Riz, DJ Dscribe @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“Rap J is an artist born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the age of six years old, he started freestyling and discovered his passion for hip hop. Born with cerebral palsy, Rap J uses music to express himself and showcase that the condition does not define him. His musical influences include Michael Jackson, Biggie, and Tyler, The Creator. Rap J has had the privilege of playing Summerfest, Cactus Club, Bronzeville Fest, 2023 WAMI Awards, Shank Hall, Anodyne, and Drunken Cobra, and each show has reinforced his passion for music and connecting with audiences.”
The Goddamn Gallows + Jayke Orvis @ The Cooperage
Jeffrey Martin + Niall Connolly @ Cactus Club
Igor And The Red Elvises + Pulpa De Guayaba, Dead Dead Swans @ X-Ray Arcade
My Brightest Diamond + Evann McIntosh @ Shank Hall
Unsheathed Glory + William Covert, Dreamsucker, DJ Dustin Drase @ Jazz Gallery Center For The Arts
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