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 6-12, 2026, brought to you by Wynk.
MONDAY, APRIL 6
Clarion + Forest, Bed, I’ll Remember April @ Cactus Club
“Formed, almost accidentally, in a shared east LA lockout, the members of Clarion came together to write music together in late 2023. Anthony, Saya and Joseph had all had spent time in the local DIY scene of East Los Angeles and in 2024 decided to record the songs they had been writing in a quick three-day sprint. They implemented efforts like layering multiple amps in stereo, panned left to right with different tones, to create an illusion of two guitarists. They tried every idea that came to mind, allowing the songs to become fully realized instead of rushed. The result is an immersive and youthful mix of shoegaze, post-punk, and Japanese rock. These recordings became their debut EP, simply titled Clarion.”
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
WMSE’s Local/Live: The Crosses @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“Prepare yourself for this one. The April 7 edition of Local/Live from Anodyne on Bruce brings a free, all-ages show with The Crosses, hosted by Sid and Matt Wild. Fronted by Daniel Kubinski (Die Kreuzen), The Crosses bridge their hardcore roots with an angular, progressive metallic edge reminiscent of bands like Voivod. Their debut release pairs dissonant, tension-filled guitars with tightly controlled modern hardcore rhythm. The record features a full set of original material alongside a reworked Die Kreuzen track and a Hüsker Dü cover—connecting their forward-looking sound to the Midwestern lineage that shaped them.”
BLAX + THE DEMIX, Hot Science, Emmit James, Taiyamo Denku @ Cactus Club
There doesn’t seem to be much downtime for BLAX. The veteran Milwaukee hip-hop artist has spent the past few years releasing numerous albums, singles, videos, podcasts, and more. Oh, and don’t forget about touring! BLAX’s latest is the terrific Omnipotent Methodology, a 16-track LP that blends “jazz and conscious hip-hop in the DOOM/Dilla/Duckdown tradition.”
2026 Spring Election @ various locations
Vote! On Tuesday, everyone in Wisconsin will vote for a new Justice Of The Supreme Court. The open seat is due to Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley choosing to not seek reelection. Bradley is a conservative judge. Running for the seat are Judge Chris Taylor and Judge Maria S. Lazar. Taylor is a liberal judge. Lazar is a conservative judge. If Taylor wins, the court will have a 5-2 liberal majority. If Lazar wins, the court will have a 4-3 liberal majority.
Alley Eyes + Sitrus Sol, Iris Blue, Bunk Bed @ X-Ray Arcade
Wavefiler + Shifting Harbor, Lorna Dune, DJ Keith Sweaty @ MKeUltra
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
Lala Lala + Mother Soki @ Cactus Club
“Lillie West has always made her music in response to an itchiness to always be moving, but as she developed a burgeoning desire to settle, she found the surprise realization that steadiness can beget creativity. That evolutionary tension is what fuels much of her new album as Lala Lala, Heaven 2.”
Chad Price Peace Coalition (solo) + Miski Dee (City Mouse) + Geoff Palmer, Daniel James One Man Gang @ MKeUltra
“An artist entering his staggering fourth decade writing and performing music that weaves in and out of seminal pop-punk, alt-country, metal, and a fascinating indie folk-prog hybrid, Chad Price has made the most of his time.”
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
ZETI @ The Estate
“It Is What It Is – Prevail is the first release in more than a decade from ZETI, and the first music that Margaret Stutt has shared with us under any name since 2020. The intentional experimentation that has always distinguished ZETI from Pezzettino, Stutt’s other project, is as present as ever, but it’s more confident and coherent here than we’ve ever seen it before. Stutt’s lyrics on these songs display a similar focus and maturity. The songs aren’t cautious steps towards the unknown, but rather a disciplined and courageous challenge to a world that’s proven itself darker and more dangerous than any of us had hoped.”
Mint Field + Daydream Retrievers (solo) @ Cactus Club
“Mexico City based band Mint Field is one of these bands that make it shine. Guided by Estrella del Sol and Sebastian Neyra, Mint Field creates a unique blend of avant dream pop and shoegaze with some touches of trip hop that explores the nostalgia and melancholy of daily life with strong guitars and voices that are like sighs. Instrumentation and atmospheres are accompanied by delicate, harmonious and ethereal voices that are fundamental part of the sound.”
Marissa Nadler + Anand Wilder @ X-Ray Arcade
“American singer/songwriter Marissa Nadler blends traditional folk, Gothic Americana, dreamy pop, and noir-ish rock into an original musical framework. Her music is idiosyncratic, bearing a unique and imposing signature for its sparseness and interiority, yet it opens onto haunted vistas embraced by fans of genres ranging from indie folk to black metal.”
Alex Sitze + Bearjaws, Scatterbrainmane @ Falcon Nest
Stone Theory + The Taxmen @ Nashville North
Drinking Liberally MKE @ Art*Bar
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Snail Mail + Sharp Pins @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“On Ricochet, her third album as Snail Mail, Lindsey Jordan returns to assert herself as a generational songwriter, clear-eyed and honest as ever. Time has passed, but she remains a sensitive soul, and here her incisive introspection is tethered to newly expansive and hypnotic melodies and ornate string arrangements. While writing Ricochet, Jordan found herself fixating on concerns she’d previously pushed out of her mind, namely death and what happens after. These 11 songs are colored by the anxiety of watching life slip through your fingers, as well as the vulnerability of loving deeply rather than frenetically. Ultimately, Ricochet is an album about realizing—and accepting—that the world still turns no matter what is going on in your tiny life.”
Caley Conway + Em Spel, Wandering Nerve @ Jazz Gallery Center For The Arts
There are moments in Caley Conway’s 2024 album Partner when the ever-busy Milwaukee singer-songwriter finds herself caught in the humdrum duties of daily life. There are things to do—or not—people to see—or not—and the ones and zeros of technology to attend to. And then, suddenly, she’s off and dreaming, belly laughing with a distant friend or considering taking up “the work of birds.” When she comes back down to Earth, more often than not, she finds bliss in a comforting middle ground. “There aren’t enough hours in the day, I’ve counted,” Conway sings early in the record, before slyly adding, “For loving you.”
Men I Trust + Abby Holliday @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
“Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band formed in 2014, has quietly but profoundly left its mark on the music scene. Comprising Emma Proulx (guitar and vocals), Jessy Caron (guitar and bass), and Dragos Chiriac (keyboards), the trio’s enchanting sound, blending dream pop and indie elements, resonates with a global audience.”
Spoof Fest Day 1 @ Club Garibaldi
“Day 1 line up in order: Robert Palmer, Screaming Trees, B52s, Stone Temple Pilots, Salt n Pepa.”
Gary Owen @ The Pabst Theater (two shows)
Conundrum (record release) + Zang!, SSAANN @ MKeUltra
The Menzingers + I Am The Avalanche @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Market Unplugged: Wave Chapelle + Violet Wilder @ Milwaukee Public Market
Sludge Hawking + Mystical Zenith, Convoy @ X-Ray Arcade
Royal Mill + VLNTYN @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Eli + Orion, Oh Well OK, Heavy Bend, Disposable Thumbs @ Sugar Maple
Killer High Life + Monarch, Mazoku @ Bremen Cafe
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Little Blue Crunchy Things @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Milwaukee music icons Little Blue Crunchy things reunite for a special evening at Turner Hall Ballroom! No opening act—just two full sets of your favorite songs from the mighty LBCT. Get there early for a pre-show screening of the Little Blue Crunchy Things movie, Florence!”
Arts Fishing Club + Ladybird @ Vivarium
“Arts Fishing Club is more than just a band; they are storytellers, explorers of the human condition, and purveyors of living life boldly. An ethos demonstrated by frontman Christopher Kessenich’s first 4.5 month tour in which he walked 1600 miles along the east coast from Maine to Atlanta to Nashville, played 60 shows, and slept in strangers’ living room floors.”
Throwing Muses, Louie & The Flashbombs @ Shank Hall
“Throwing Muses released their new album Moonlight Concessions in 2025 via Fire Records. The album follows their acclaimed Sun Racket from 2020, a heady set filled with tough and tender tales spiked with surreal imagery. Moonlight Concessions goes back to basics, a return for Throwing Muses to their esoteric off-kilter best courtesy of Kristin Hersh’s pin-sharp sketches and their suitably abrasive musical arrangements, a collection of snippets from everyday life writ large—think Raymond Carver Short Cuts, overheard conversations, recounted happenings and telling one-liners, all sewed together to illustrate the times as they slowly mature, fully peppered with original Muses’ vim and vigor.”
Pop Evil + Sierra Pilot, Kamenar @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
“To mark the one-year anniversary of their acclaimed album What Remains, Pop Evil announce the release of What Remains (Midnight Edition), arriving March 27, 2026. The band’s new single, ‘The Decay,’ is out now after premiering on SiriusXM Octane. The track is a riff-forward modern rock track with depth, melody, and staying power.”
Doggy Day @ Deer District
“Doggy Day at Deer District is the spot for Wisconsin dog lovers to gather with their pups, enjoy delicious food and beverages, and shop local businesses while supporting local pups in need at the wonderful Deer District! This fun-filled event is a fundraiser presented by, and benefiting, Winston’s Wishes and directly helps our local pups in need. This event is free for the public to attend and will include over 80 local vendors, local food trucks, beverages, entertainment, prizes, giveaways, and activities for all furry friends and their humans.”
Spoof Fest Day 2 @ Club Garibaldi
“Day 2 line up in order: Yes, Danzig, Black Crowes, Weezer.”
Lost Orange Cat + Cozy Danger @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Ritt Momney + Mercury @ The Argo
Goalkeeper + Capture This, Gold Steps, Minnesota Fatts, Hot Mess @ X-Ray Arcade
Tea Service + Nora Nora, Properly Screaming, Middle Reader @ Cactus Club
Marquee & The Moonlighters @ The Estate (early and late shows)
The Love Monkeys @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Alley Cats II: An Adoption & Fundraiser Event Benefitting Urban Cat Coalition @ Falcon Bowl
House Your Body: Riptide + Jonn Hawley, Andrew Optimist @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
Stavros Halkias @ The Riverside Theater
Fresh off his role in Bugonia, comedian, actor, Giannis super fan, and the host/namesake of the hilarious Stavvy’s World podcast Stavros Halkias returns to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater as part of his extended “Dreamboat Tour.” Don’t miss it!
Americana Matinee: Long Mama + Erik Koskinen @ The Cooperage
Chilling in the woods and living simply: that’s the back-to-basics sentiment behind the gentle and soothing “Corduroy Road,” the 2023 single from Milwaukee indie-folk/Americana group Long Mama. “Corduroy Road” finds singer-songwriter-guitarist Kat Wodtke reflecting on their time spent living in Alaska; at the age of 22, Wodtke took a job building scenery for the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre, and lived in a small trailer six miles from town. Poor Pretender, Long Mama’s fantastic full-length debut, was released in 2022.”
Josh Evert + Sleeping Trees, The Hallelujah Ward @ Cactus Club
If you follow Milwaukee music, there’s a very good chance you’ve heard Josh Evert‘s work. In addition to being the longtime singer of The Fatty Acids, Evert played drums in Jaill, played with the Dinner Set Gang, and he crafts inventive and impressive solo work using field recordings he collects in natural settings all over the world. Beyond his own artistic endeavors, Evert also records a wide range of musicians at Silver City Studios—a Milwaukee-based studio he co-owns in the Washington Heights neighborhood.
Breakup Tour + Waterspouts, In Shining Armour, Courtesy Call @ MKeUltra
Breakup Tour formed during the 2020 pandemic, cobbling itself together from a host of other Milwaukee groups: Nat Otto (Man Random), Sam Schrader (Bureaucratic Drift), D.H. Thomas (The Unitaskers), and Amy Upthagrove (June Gloom, Intolerable Swill). Last year’s Sorry For Your Loss finds those musicians sharing songwriting and vocal duties (sometimes in a single song) and delivering winning tracks with Very Online parenthetical titles like “I’m In Debt (No One’s Gay For Moleman)” and “Born Dizzy (Ever Heard Of The Knife Alien?).” Well, have you, Scully?
Morgan Park Picnic Fundraiser & Volunteer Sign-Up @ Busby’s
Area businesses interested in sponsoring this year’s Morgan Park Picnic should reach out to us at [email protected] to get information on sponsorship levels and incentives. In an effort to offset some of the costs associated with putting on an event of this magnitude, we’re hosting a Morgan Park Picnic Fundraiser & Volunteer Sign-Up event at Busby’s on Sunday, April 12. From 2-5 p.m., there will be raffles and 10-Liners for great local items. And sign up for a volunteer shift if you want to pitch in at the event itself!
38th Annual Blessing Of The Bock Beer Festival @ Falcon Hall
“Join us at Falcon Bowl for the 38th Annual Blessing of the Bock, our gloriously questionable claim to fame as the Longest Continuously Running Beer Festival in the United States 15+ breweries. All the bock you can responsibly sample. Usinger’s sausages keeping the foundation solid. Live polka from the Happy Shotski Polka Combo. And of course the sacred moment itself: the ceremonial blessing of the beer by ‘Brother’ Jim Klisch of Lakefront Brewery, ensuring the taps flow smooth and the spirits stay high. $30 gets you in the door and a cup to roam the samplings. All proceeds benefit the Riverwest Investment Co-Op, helping keep Riverwest running strong.”
Sicard Hollow + Pert Near Sandstone @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Joseph + The Man The Myth The Meatslab @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Pat Metheny – Side Eye III+ @ The Pabst Theater
WAMI Finalist Party @ Ope! Brewing Co.
The Return Of Lasagna Cat: A Garfield Inspired Pop Up Market @ X-Ray Arcade
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