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—brought to you by Lilliput Records—for August 19-25, 2024.
MONDAY, AUGUST 19
Monsoon + Bug Moment, Bronco @ Cactus Club
“Monsoon is a three-piece art-rock band from Athens, Georgia, founded by Sienna Chandler (guitar/vocals) and Joey Kegel (drums). The two weave together unorthodox styles to create music that dips between the conscious and subconscious. Their sophomore album Ghost Party is out on all streaming services.”
Musical Mondays: Fountain Of Youth @ Lake Park Summer Stage
“Fountain of Youth is a project of several Milwaukee musicians representing the city’s next generation of jazz music. Led by guitarist Sam Catral, the band features vocalist Faith Hatch and will cover jazz standards perfect for a summer night in Lake Park.”
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
Midge Ure + Brian Ritchie And The Zen Gardeners @ Shank Hall
“Having celebrated his 70th birthday with a sold out show at the historic Royal Albert Hall in October 2023, Midge is keen to continue the celebration of his life in music by announcing a new North American tour for August and September 2024. The tour will give Midge the opportunity to showcase the musical breadth and versatility of his extensive song catalogue written during the past 50 years; giving old and new fans alike a truly remarkable night of hits and rarely heard gems.”
Chill On The Hill: An Evening Of Jazz Featuring The David Bayles Quartet @ Humboldt Park
For nearly two decades, Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Chill On The Hill has brought music to Humboldt Park’s band chalet every Tuesday between June and August. And hey! It’s almost the end of August! Which means Chill On The Hill is almost finished for 2024! The David Bayles Quartet will bring the jazz for this penultimate installment. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. And, as always, “IF IT MAKES A CLOUD IT’S NOT ALLOWED.”
Skyline Music Series: Urban Empress & The UrbanItes @ Kilbourn-Kadish Park
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21
Summer Of Soul: Talib Kweli @ Peck Pavilion (Marcus Performing Arts Center)
Curated and organized by local engagement marketing firm Culture x Design, the bi-weekly Summer of Soul takes place on the Peck Pavilion and outdoor lawn of the downtown Marcus Performing Arts Center. In addition to local talent, the series features free shows from established national artists, including an August 21 performance by the legendary Talib Kweli. All Summer of Soul events are free and open to the public, and run from 5-10 p.m.
Built To Spill @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Built To Spill celebrates 30 years of There’s Nothing Wrong With Love, their second full-length album, by performing it in its entirety for lucky fans. The indie rockers meet in the middle ground between postmodern Pavement-style pop and the loose, spacious jamming of Neil Young.”
ArtBlaze On The Beach @ Bradford Beach
Nothing says “SUMMER” quite like the beach. And yet Milwaukee’s beaches can feel strangely underutilized during the summer months. Where’s the live music? Where are the local food vendors? Where are the “gargantuan fluorescent tentacles”? Enter ArtBlaze On The Beach, a new (free!) beach party series featuring live music, local food vendors, and, yes, “gargantuan fluorescent tentacles.” The series wraps up this week; music will be provided by Gego y Nony, DJ Shawna, DJ Kenny Perez, and Girls Rock. And yes, the evening will also feature the Sparkle and Burn Fire Show.
Vivarium In The Park: Old Pup @ The Vine Humboldt
Washington Park Wednesdays @ Washington Park Bandshell
Wonderful Wednesdays: Fox And Branch @ Lake Park Summer Stage
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
A-F-R-O + A.M. Early Morning, BLAX, John Jigg$ @ The Cooperage
“The Cooperage welcomes A-F-R-O to the Riverfront for the first time! A-F-R-O James ‘A-F-R-O’ Gutierrez is an actor, rapper, and writer. Gutierrez landed his first acting role on The Breaks; a VH1 television drama film about ’90s hip-hop. He returned to play the same character in three episodes of the TV series spin-off. A-F-R-O performed live freestyles on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, and The Queen Latifah Show. He was discovered on YouTube at age 17 by his hip-hop mentor, R.A. the Rugged Man.”
Lindsey Stirling + Walk Off The Earth @ Miller High Life Theatre
“Few artists embody boundless creativity quite like Lindsey Stirling. Not only a multi-award-winning musician known for her genre-bending virtuosity on electronic violin, she’s endlessly dazzled audiences with her extraordinary talents as a dancer—an element she brings to the stage as part of her spectacular live show, touring with a stunning frequency and continually selling out iconic venues all around the world.”
Third Space Presents: Cozy Danger @ Third Space Brewing
Fresh Coast Jazz Festival @ The Pabst Theater (through August 24)
Jazz In The Park: Stephen Cooper & The Nobody Famous @ Cathedral Square Park
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
Mexican Fiesta @ Henry Maier Festival Park (through August 25)
“Mexican Fiesta originally started in 1973 as a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. A south side street in Milwaukee County was closed to traffic to celebrate the Mexican community. It was the first time that there was the excitement of a neighborhood street fair, a sense that it was time for this thriving community to show itself and others, the extraordinary beauty of a culture rich in diversity. The possibilities were endless! Music! Dance! Tradition! A colorful pageant was born, and now 50 years later a flourishing Mexican Fiesta has become a stunning tribute to the vitality of the Hispanic community.”
Float Fest @ Float Milwaukee
Starting at 5:30 p.m., a parcel of pavement on the 200 block of Freshwater Way will be closed off to allow for live entertainment, food vendors, and fun. Your senses won’t be deprived at Float for a change, as the likes of Immortal Girlfriend and Night Spice will perform. There will be fire-bending, fire-eating, and hoop-dancing by Taylor Flows, as well as aerialism from Mooncat and Kristin Smarelli, along with pole dancing from Pole Factory MKE. Adventure Rock will bring a climbing wall to the fest, too. Float Festers are also encouraged to pick up food from Float’s neighbor Ruta’s Cafe, on-site vendor Flour Girl & Flame, as well as sweet treats from nearby Purple Door Ice Cream. Broken Bat Brewing will also have beer, seltzer, and non-alcoholic options available for purchase on-site.
Devils Teeth (record release) + The Daniel James Gang, Roboman @ Promises
Back in 2021, Milwaukee garage/punk/surf outfit Devils Teeth released La Leggenda Di Chong Li, a self-described “spaghetti western garage rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li from the martial arts film Bloodsport.” The following year, Devils Teeth members Jon Hanusa, Eric Arsnow, Chuck Engel, and Caleb Westphal made a pilgrimage to Detroit to record the follow-up. Behind the scenes would be legendary producer Jim Diamond, who has recorded records for everyone from The White Stripes and The Dirtbombs to The Mistreaters and Temper Temper. Setting up shop in Diamond’s studio—an abandoned transmission shop—Devils Teeth proceeded to bash out an impressive 20 tracks. Seven of those tracks form the group’s excellent new album, The Key Of Dickie G.
Strummerfest MKE @ Club Garibaldi
“Hear interpretations and covers of Joe Strummer’s music by: Honolulu Millionaires, Obscure Birds, Bellends, The Bourbon Jockeys, Combustor, The Jones, Frog Water, Thick Needles, and Last Gang In Town! Proceeds go to Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation’s Music Program!”
Abby Jeanne & The Shadowband @ Lilliput Records
“Not only will I be releasing a new song ‘Propaganda Machine,’ but I will ALSO be in my home-town Milwaukee, WI to perform a FREE and RARE intimate live show at Lilliput Records!!! (5:30pm) I will be debuting and playing an entirely new psychedelic set which will be released under my latest project Abby Jeanne + The Shadowband. Come taste whats being worked on and say hi!”
Nineteen Thirteen @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“The mesmerizing trio, Nineteen Thirteen, features Janet Schiff playing the 1913 Romanian Cello and creating a Live Cello Orchestra by using a powerful looping pedal technique. We find Victor DeLorenzo playing a dynamic and ever changing Drum System, and Matt Meixner who weaves a subversive and melodic web of exotic Keyboard + Synthesizer textures. Nineteen Thirteen plays original music that incorporates Classical, Jazz, Soul and Rock influences. Cello, Drums and Keys – FOREVER!”
Maggie Rose + Crystal Rose @ Vivarium
BALTHVS + Dak Dubois @ Cactus Club
Prize Horse + Sleepwalk, Lockstep, Shamewave, Okay Omen @ Sugar Maple
Ladders + LUXI, Mourning Star @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Nox Novacula + Poison Hand, DESTROS @ X-Ray Arcade
Bob Schneider + Liv Mueller @ Shank Hall
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: DJ Don Black @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
WMSE Backyard BBQ: Guided By Voices + Buffalo Nichols, NEWSKI, Jinksie, The Exotics @ Humboldt Park
The park is open! Legendary high-kicking Dayton, Ohio indie-rock band Guided By Voices is headlining WMSE’s 14th annual Backyard BBQ! The free—we repeat, free—show will run from noon to 8 p.m., and will once again serve as a thank-you to listeners and supporters of the long-running free-form radio station, as well as a thank-you to the community at large. But that’s not all! A bevy of local talent will play throughout the afternoon as well. The Exotics will kick things off, followed by Jinksie, NEWSKI, and Buffalo Nichols.
Green Day + The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, The Linda Lindas @ American Family Field
To honor the 30th anniversary of Dookie, the 20th anniversary of American Idiot, and to support the band’s months-old Saviors, Green Day will step up to the plate, er, stage at American Family Field. The long-running trio will be joined by quite the supporting cast: The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and The Linda Lindas.
New Kids On The Block + Paula Abdul, DJ Jazzy Jeff @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
NKOTB! Paula Abdul! DJ Jazzy Jeff! Girl, you are wicked awesome.
Moonglow (EP release) + Emmett Mulrooney, League Two @ Vivarium
Princess Chelsea + Daarling @ X-Ray Arcade
ABBA vs. Queen vs. Blondie @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
SS Web + Saddle Of Southern Darkness @ Linneman’s Riverwest
“Spontaneous. Surprising. Weird. Energetic. Boozy. These are just some of the words that have been used to describe Milwaukee dark roots band Steering Ships With Empty Bottles. With an eclectic mix of traditional roots sounds, fast-paced punk and rock riffs, and soulful lyrics it’s no wonder they’ve set themselves apart in an expansive musical landscape. With songs to get your feet stomping and your heart weeping, there truly is something for everyone in their craft. This has offered them the fortunate opportunitie to spread their sound both all across the United States and abroad.”
Summer Patio Music Series: Dianna Jones @ Great Lakes Distillery
Cafe Sopra Mare: Crook And Co. @ Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
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