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 December 9-15, 2024.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
Girl In Red + Jonah Kagen, Sunday (1994) @ The Rave/Eagles Club
“The alternative pop artist from Oslo, born Marie Ulven, is continuing her path to global stardom, kicking off 2024 with a bang. In February, she announced that she would release her debut album for Columbia Records. Titled I’M DOING IT AGAIN BABY! the album will release in Spring 2024, followed by a tour across North America with shows at Radio City, The Greek, Ryman Theatre and Red Rocks amongst many other major venues.”
Radio Milwaukee Garage Sale @ Radio Milwaukee (through December 13)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
Cage The Elephant + Badflower @ The Rave/Eagles Club
“Since forming in 2006, Cage The Elephant have quietly bloomed as one of this generation’s premier rock bands buoyed by uncompromising creativity & wildly cathartic performances. Thus far, they have earned dozens of Gold, Platinum & Multi Platinum certifications, tallied over 5 billion streams, and notched 11 #1 records on Alternative Radio. The guys consecutively garnered 2 GRAMMY® Awards for ‘Best Rock Album’ for both Tell Me I’m Pretty [2015] and Social Cues [2019].”
Eli White + Melo Tuned, Atlik, MrkII @ Cactus Club
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
The All-American Rejects + Andrew McMahon (solo), Mod Sun, Dexter And The Moonrocks @ The Rave/Eagles Club
Just a few months removed from the band’s rain-soaked (but still super fun) performance at Summerfest, The All-American Rejects will bring their collection of timeless hits indoors to The Rave, where they’ll headline a night of FM 102/1’s The Big Snow Show.
Bowvee + Well + Good, Cozy Danger, Creature Weather @ X-Ray Arcade
“Colombian-American indie pop outfit Bowvee is the creation of Nick Bove, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jangly guitars and bright synths lead their first album Cool Guy; 9 tracks of energetic and optimistic music in the vein of Phoenix, Dayglow, Wallows, and Cavetown.”
Litmus Vinyl @ Ope! Brewing Co.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
Steev Baker And Dirt Sermons + Dead Dead Swans, Sully Meyer, Robbie Sender @ The Uptowner
“Steev Baker and Dirt Sermons is a Madison-based indie roots rock trio inspired by churches, farms, and that closed theater on main street that was turned into apartments a few years back. Steev sings, Emily plays cello, and Derek plays drums.”
BASIC (Chris Forsyth, Douglas McCombs, Mikel Patrick Avery) + YR KNIVES, Chris Rosenau, DJs Kelly and Parker @ Cactus Club
“BASIC, a mind-meld between Chris Forsyth, his frequent running partner (and formidable 6-string thinker) Nick Millevoi, and Mikel Patrick Avery presents This Is BASIC, a complex and entrancing instrumental LP recasting forgotten scraps of guitar history into a moving mosaic of strings, skins and electronics.”
Jeffrey Foucault @ Cactus Club
“In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power. With a string of critically acclaimed studio albums – ‘Stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest’ (The New Yorker), ‘Beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection’ (Uncut), ‘Songwriting Brilliance,’ (Irish Times) – he’s built a brick-and-mortar international touring career and a devoted following, one that includes luminaries like Van Dyke Parks, Greil Marcus, and Don Henley.”
Larry David Gruber + Disposable Thumbs, Smoke Free Home, Okay Omen @ Falcon Nest
The Taxmen + Lovin’ Kind @ Shank Hall
The Moth @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Retro Video Dance Party w/ DJ Erich @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14
Milwaukee Zappafest XXVI @ Shank Hall
“Milwaukee Zappafest is back for it’s 26th year in a row, great googly moogly! It is a time honored event that pays tribute to the great mind of Frank Zappa and his music. Milwaukee Zappafest is the longest running annual Frank Zappa tribute concert in America (2nd in the world) and features musicians from the greater Milwaukee area and beyond performing various renditions of Frank Zappa and Zappa related (Captain Beefheart, Wild Man Fischer, etc.) music.”
Brooks Wheelan @ Vivarium
Fresh off the release of his hilarious new special, Alive In Alaska, Brooks Wheelan—a former SNL cast member, tireless comedian, and frequent opener for John Oliver and Seth Meyers—returns to his native Midwest to make his Vivarium debut. Milwaukee’s own J Tyler Menz will also perform.
MKE Music Night: Horace Greene + Cosmic Lovechild, Alley Eyes, Zach Madlan @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
“MKE Music Night is very excited for our second installment of Indie Night. Stop by Linneman’s Riverwest Inn on Saturday, December 14th for a stellar evening of music featuring Horace Greene, Cosmic Lovechild, Zach Madlan, and Alley Eyes! You won’t want to miss this spectacular showcase of local indie music.”
Mike Mangione & Band + Zach Pietrini @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
The Panoptics + Moonglow, Varsity Mac @ Cactus Club
The Rocky Horror Holiday Show @ Oriental Theatre
The Unrulies @ Ope! Brewing Co.
House Your Body: Jonn Hawley + Andrew Optimist, Milkman @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: The Farwell Kings @ Cactus Club
Come on out to the Cactus Club for this week’s Packers-Seahawks game, and enjoy a halftime set from Americana outfit The Farwell Kings! Games are shown in the bar and on a projector screen in Cactus Club’s back room. As always, there will be touchdown shots (both regular and N/A options will be offered) and DJs during commercials. THERE’S NO COVER CHARGE for the concerts. Kickoff is at 7:20 p.m.!
JoyFest: A Girls Rock MKE Festival & Fundraiser @ X-Ray Arcade
“JoyFest is a celebration of the joy found in community, creativity, and the power of the collective, seeking to highlight the contributions of marginalized genders across Milwaukee’s creative spaces. The event will feature a full-day all-ages show featuring Girls Rock and Ladies Rock alumni bands and notable local acts, workshop programming with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, an Open Mic featuring Ladies Rock alumni band The Audacity, a community art project, a silent auction featuring dozens of items donated by local businesses, a 50/50 raffle, and other philanthropic opportunities to support Girls Rock MKE’s sustainability and 2025 growth initiatives. Attendees will also be treated to the first reveal of summer 2025 Girls Rock camp dates.”
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.