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 December 29, 2025 – January 4, 2026.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29
Spafford @ Vivarium (through December 31)
“Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability and off-the-cuff extended jams, Spafford paints a picture in real time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. It’s a private language comprised of both their talent as musicians as well as their formidable catalog of influences, spanning ’90s alt-rock radio hits to Steely Dan and The Crystal Method. Each Spafford show is a sonic pilgrimage, the journey of a team of musicians so in tune with each other that a single note communicates intent and purpose. Spafford is amongst the most creative and hard-traveling bands on the contemporary jam scene, performing countless sold-out headline dates along with high profile festival sets at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, and many others.”
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30
Telethon + Devon Kay & The Solutions, Teenage Ice Age @ X-Ray Arcade
In March, Telethon released a surprise full-length album. The 11-track Suburban Electric is the long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s Swim Out Past The Breakers. Over the course of the near-40-minute album, Kevin Tully’s lyrics take the form of testimonials from imagined individuals like a struggling character actor, a bored senior who has seen enough in life, a guy who builds a time machine, an exorcist who goes away on business, and “a guy who let things get away from him a bit.” The expansive scope of song subjects is more than matched musically, as the band not only applies its usual layers of top-tier operatic power pop to the mix, but builds on the instrumentation employed on past releases with full-on orchestral arrangements.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31
New Year’s 2025: Garrett Waite Quartet @ The Estate (late show)
“Join us on New Year’s Eve at The Jazz Estate for an unforgettable entry to 2026 with Garrett Waite and his quartet! Deliberately shunning category and genre, guitarist and vocalist Garrett Waite’s music features memorable melodies, psychedelic textures, and virtuosic improvisations. Not quite rock, not quite jazz, his compositions harken back to the fusion explorations of Return To Forever as well as songwriters like Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell with a forward-looking approach drawing on alternative and psychedelic rock acts like Radiohead and Khruangbin. A passion for world music infuses sounds from the Amazon, Caribbean, and Middle East.”
New Year’s 2025: Sam Catral Trio @ The Estate (early show)
“This 8-10:00 seating will showcase the newly formed group of young Milwaukee musicians includes Liam Phillips on upright Bass, Yanni Chudnow on drums, and Samuel Catral on guitar. The performance will feature a number of Sam’s original compositions including several new ones. Join us this New Year’s Eve for a special night that you won’t want to miss!”
Gather Them NYE @ The Cooperage
Last Rites NYE Party @ Last Rites
High Dive NYE: Asher Grey + Greyhound, Richard Galling @ High Dive
Art*Bar New Year’s Eve Dance Party: Funk Summit Bass Team @ Art*Bar
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1
Polar Bear Plunge @ Bradford Beach
With the first day of the new year comes a first-day-of-the-new-year tradition in Milwaukee: jumping into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. Yes, the annual Polar Bear Plunge will once again take over Bradford Beach on New Year’s Day. Bundle up, hang out early, and jump into the lake at noon! And don’t forget to bring a change of dry clothes!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2
Trapper Schoepp @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“In fall 2025, Trapper released his rawest work yet titled Osborne, which traces his path through addiction, recovery and chronic pain brought on by BMX accidents in his youth. Osborne lends its name from the unit Trapper was in at a Minnesota rehab facility and is also a nod to the songwriter’s muse Ozzy, who attended the same facility. Channeling Black Sabbath, Suicide, and Springsteen, this 11-track record is wildly different than anything Trapper has done. Produced by pop polymath Mike Viola (Andrew Bird, Dawes) and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham, Jackson Browne), Trapper feels like he’s found an honest voice in song and spirit through Osborne.”
IshDarr + Melotuned, Greyishere, Keeshawn Carter, Lethal Dose @ Falcon Hall
Originally scheduled to take place on November 29, IshDarr’s Falcon Hall show was postponed due to a snowstorm. The accomplished Milwaukee rapper will show he’s worth the wait when he takes the stage at the Riverwest venue alongside the likes of Melotuned, Greyishere, Keeshawn Carter, and Lethal Dose.
Grössrama + Tim Schweiger & The Middlemen, Spirit Horse, DeGoey Moore Band @ MKE Ultra
Bellends + Daughter Undone, Guy-Fi 3 @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Stuck Up + Dulce, Bowvee, Bifid Corpse, Sleeps While Walking @ X-Ray Arcade
Interlay + Poolish, Edging, Chapped Lips @ Cactus Club
Candy Cigarette + Whiskey And The Devil, Blind Hill @ Shank Hall
Billy Peterson Trio @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: DJ Paul H @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3
Milwaukee Record Presents: N/A Day @ The Cooperage
From noon to 4 p.m., Milwaukee Record will host the fifth annual Milwaukee edition of N/A Day at The Cooperage. The “Dry January Beverage Festival” will give people an opportunity to enjoy unlimited samples of more than 50 products in the wide-ranging, ever-evolving, and rapidly growing non-alcoholic drink market. Vendors range from local operations to nationally regarded brands in the N/A space. Whether you’re looking to turn over a new leaf in the new year or you’re just seeking to add some more refreshments to your personal repertoire, N/A Day is sure to be a fun and low-risk way to try some new drinks on for size.
Magnetic Minds + Exit Statements, Plant @ Cactus Club
Russ Johnson Quartet @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Charli xcx vs. Chappell Roan vs. Kesha @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Chinese Telephones + DJ Tommy @ Cactus Club
This is it! The final regular season Green Bay Packers game of the year! (And yes, we’ll be doing the playoffs, too.) Join us as we watch a sure-to-be-thrilling (?) contest against the Minnesota Vikings, and then enjoy a quick halftime set from classic Milwaukee punk outfit Chinese Telephones. Our pals at Hamm’s are sponsoring the series, meaning fans can enjoy specials on cans and buckets of the beer “from the Land of Sky Blue Waters” and Miller High Life all game long. WYNK has also come on as a sponsor and its THC seltzer is available at a discount during all games. Last and certainly not least, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe is once again coming by most games to drop off some complementary pizza. Games are shown in the bar as usual, and also shown on a projector screen in Cactus Club’s back room.
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