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 July 28 – August 3, 2025.
MONDAY, JULY 28
Musical Mondays: Chloe Kimes @ Lake Park Summer Stage
No Milwaukee outdoor summer concert series is quite as cozy—or quite as eclectic—as Musical Mondays. The free summertime series takes place on the Lake Park Summer Stage, near the playground, throughout July and August. And this year’s season—Musical Monday’s 27th!—looks to be another winner. As for this week: “A Nashville musician with roots in northern Michigan, rising Americana artist Chloe Kimes is actively defining the next generation of troubadours with an old-soul sensibility for storytelling in a spirited alt-country group.”
Daikaiju + Primitivs, Fight Dice, Nasty Boys @ X-Ray Arcade
“Daikaiju is a high energy instrumental psych-punk-metal surf rock collective with members hailing from Texas and the Pacific Northwest.”
Honeybee + Buena Cara, Royal Mill @ Cactus Club
It’s Alive: Antimeria @ The Riverside Theater
TUESDAY, JULY 29
Chill On The Hill: The Dirty Sweet + Jinksie @ Humboldt Park
For two decades, Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Chill On The Hill music series —presented in partnership with Milwaukee County Parks—has brought music to Humboldt Park’s band chalet every Tuesday between the beginning of June and the end of August. The entire 20th anniversary lineup is great, and this week is no exception. Fantastic punk outfit Jinksie opens, and The Dirty Sweet (“Wilco, The Replacements, and The Kinks all walked into a bar…”) headline.
Happy Accident + IfIHadAHiFi, Swim Two Birds @ MKE Ultra
Looking for “absurd psychedelic long-form noise and puppetry” from Portland? Looking for good ol’ fashioned Milwaukee noise-rock and good ol’ fashioned Milwaukee improv jazz/noise-rock? Then stuff yourself into the cozy confines of new venue MKE Ultra, where Portland’s Happy Accidents will headline a show featuring support from Milwaukee’s IfIHadAHiFi and Swim Two Birds.
Ghost @ Fiserv Forum
Can Fiserv Forum possibly withstand the sheer intensity and volume of a Ghost performance? Find out tonight, when the iconic Swedish rock spectacle comes to Milwaukee for its “Skeletour” world tour.
Grocer + Blue Unit, Combat Naps, So Zuppy @ Cactus Club
Riverwalk Commons Concert Series: Mathew Haeffel @ Milwaukee Public Market
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Live At The Lakefront: Joseph Huber Band @ Discovery World
“Wisconsin native and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Huber and his band mix elements of rock and folk music that captivate audiences with sincere and well-crafted songs along with impeccable musicianship. Whether it’s irresistible, fiddle-driven, dance tunes or honest, heart-wrenching songwriter anthems, Huber’s songs and shows span the spectrum of Roots music.”
Summer Of Soul: Soul Unplugged Downtown @ Marcus Performing Arts Center (Peck Pavilion)
“Milwaukee’s cherished summer tradition is back! Summer of Soul 2025 brings the rhythm, flavor, and soul of the city to the heart of downtown. Ranging from R&B and Latin jazz to funk, soul, and hip-hop, it’s just the start of what makes this event extraordinary. More than a free concert series, Summer of Soul transforms into a vibrant block party, featuring a rotating marketplace with local artisans, makers, and community vendors, along with delicious bites from Milwaukee’s top food trucks. ”
benches @ Shank Hall
“benches is a Southern California group consisting of Anson Kelley (vocals/guitar), Ethan Bowers (drums), Evan Ojeda (lead guitar), and Charlie Baird (bass). Reminiscent of both the ceremonious majesty of ’90s Britpop and the insouciance of 2000s NY rock, the band’s heart is rooted in defining the sound of bittersweet: A blend of joy and sadness, wrapped up into infectious indie rock.”
Washington Park Wednesdays: Latin Swing Factor + JC Munguia Duo @ Washington Park Bandshell
Tosa Tonight: Adrian+Meredith + The Delta Routine @ Hart Park, Wauwatosa
Scowl + Glixen, Big Laugh, Mizzy @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
Jordan Smart + Dandy L. Freling @ Cactus Club
MKE River Roundup: De La Buena @ Twisted Fisherman
Summer Sounds: The WhiskeyBelles @ Hubbard Park
Wonderful Wednesdays: Little Miss Ann @ Lake Park Summer Stage
Wicked @ Marcus Performing Arts Center (through August 17)
Heart(beats) Of The City: Rob Knapp And The Soul Patrol @ Red Arrow Park
Mayfair Collection Summer Concert Series: Amelia Ford Band @ Keady Plaza
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Wisconsin State Fair @ Wisconsin State Fair Park (through August 10)
It’s the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair! From July 31 through August 10, hundreds of thousands of proud Wisconsinites will flock to the State Fair Grounds in West Allis to take in all the sights, sounds, and zany food the fest has to offer. Want to watch some racing pigs? The State Fair has you covered. Want to slide down the Giant Slide? The State Fair has you covered. Want to catch music from Boyz II Men, Queensrÿche, Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, that “Happy Together” revue featuring one of the guys from The Turtles, and more? The State Fair has you covered. Support the West Allis lawn parking economy! We love you, Wisconsin State Fair!
Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail, Easy Action @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Dinosaur Jr. was founded in 1984 and the group emerged among the most highly regarded in alternative rock. By reintroducing volume and attack in his songs, J Mascis shed the strict limitations of early 1980s hardcore, becoming an influence on the burgeoning grunge movement. Mascis’ body of work continues to inspire a generation of guitar players and songwriters today.”
Long Mama + Luke Callen, Jacob Miller @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
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.
Bunk Bed + Oh Geeez Not Again, Munkn!, Bleached Out @ Falcon Nest
Magazine Beach + Primrose, Breakup Tour, Killer High Life, …Or Does It Explode? @ Sugar Maple
Shrinestone + Cassini Echoes, The Paper Flames @ Bremen Cafe
Under The Bridge: Old Pup @ Third Space Brewing
Jazz In The Park: The Claudettes @ Cathedral Square Park
The Okmoniks + Jinksie @ X-Ray Arcade
WMSE Presents: Don’t Look Back @ Oriental Theatre
Thursday Bike Night Concert Series: The Delta Routine + Well & Good @ Harley-Davidson Museum
Tunes@Noon: Jenny Thiel Group @ Courtyard of 411 East Wisconsin Center
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
UltraBomb + Boss’ Daughter, M545, Bellends @ X-Ray Arcade
“UltraBomb, the eagerly anticipated international supergroup, have now arrived bringing together three iconic musicians from the cream of punk rock. The band is made up of Greg from Husker Du, Derek from Social Distortion and Ryan from Soul Asylum.”
Carrellee + Lavish Waste, Dark Psychic, Goth Barge DJs @ Cactus Club
“Carrellee is an ethereal synth-pop and darkwave artist based in Madison, Wisconsin. Her debut album Scale Of Dreams was released in 2022 on Negative Gain Productions (Twin Tribes). The album quickly sold out (and was repressed) as she embarked on 200 dates across the US and Canada from 2022 into 2024. Highlights included performing at Coldwaves Festival in Chicago, Verboden Festival in Vancouver where Drab Majesty headlined, as well as shows with IAMX, Glass Spells, Actors, Vision Video, Snooper, Patriarchy, ETC.”
Adeem The Artist + The Slow Harvest (solo) @ Shank Hall
ASkySoBlack + Shamewave, Overhand, Crash House @ Sugar Maple
Fake My Death + Bad Kitchen, Hello Face, Pareidolia @ MKE Ultra
Nineteen Thirteen + Mea Jima @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Sounds Of Summer: Another One @ Bayshore
Starry Nights: Tonight Only @ Sharon Lynn Wilson Center for the Arts
Music For The Masses: Dark New Wave Dance Party @ The Cooperage
Friday Night Retro Dance Party: DJ Paul H @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Black Arts Fest MKE @ Henry Maier Festival Park
“Black Arts Fest MKE exists to celebrate the deep roots of African Heritage and the creativity of Black Cultural Arts. This dynamic ethnic festival occurs each year, on the first Saturday of August, on the Summerfest grounds. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 12 noon until 10 p.m. Black Arts Fest MKE is packed with fun-filled festivities with exciting programming featuring Art, Education, Music, Entertainment, Poetry, Dance, Fashion, Literature, Heritage, Health, Wellness, Community, Cuisine, Vendor Markets and more. The festival strives to educate all and strengthen pride in African ancestry. Come on out! Bring the kids, your peers, and the elders to this multi-generational experience.”
The Mighty Deerlick + Hello Face, Bellends @ Falcon Hall
Despite being active in the local music scene since 1988, The Mighty Deerlick—which started out as a band called The Slow Pedestrians in La Crosse before vocalist Dave Reinholdt and guitarist Dan Franke moved to town and changed the band’s name—has somehow only managed to put out a cassette, a 7-inch, a holiday release, and last year’s long-awaited Happy Hour Ever After LP. The latter could technically be called a debut album that doubles as a collection of the band’s best material through the years. Beyond the fact that it finally exists, Happy Hour Ever After is also significant because it’s a way of honoring and saying goodbye to Franke, who passed away in late 2023.
Find Your Kuumba: A Celebration Of Local Music, Art, And Community @ Kuumba Coffee & Juice
“Join us Saturday, August 2 from 12 – 4 p.m. at Kuumba Coffee & Juice for Find Your Kuumba—an all-ages afternoon of music, art, and community co-hosted by Girls Rock MKE and The New State. This free, all-ages event will feature performances by local artists including Lily Slay, a community open mic led by Girls Rock and Ladies Rock alumni band Nail Polish, DJs, artist vendors, food and beverages from Kuumba, and and hands-on creative activities—from DJ mentorship to collaborative art-making.
This event celebrates the spirit of kuumba—creativity that uplifts community—and kicks off an exciting youth-led partnership between Girls Rock MKE and The New State.”
Wisconsin IPA Fest @ Third Space Brewing
“Join us for the 9th annual Wisconsin IPA Fest to try the best of the best IPAs from around the state, and see who is crowned the winner. This year’s fest on Saturday August 2nd will feature IPAs from 40+ breweries from around the state, hundreds of beers to sample, food trucks, a DJ, a Make Your Own T-Shirt Station, and more fun along the way. We’ll announce which brewery will take home the title of Wisconsin’s Best IPA, as voted on by experts and peers in the industry! Attendees will get to cast their votes for the People’s Choice award. You don’t want to miss this—snag your tickets while you can!”
Sprecher Root Beer Bash @ Bavarian Bierhaus
Dance Fest @ Marcus Center Peck Pavilion
Rematch + Eternal Boy, Gold Steps @ X-Ray Arcade
Rabbitology + Sparkbird @ Cactus Club
Ratchet + IE, Nicholas Elert @ Jazz Gallery Center For The Arts
Current Sounds: Happy Shotski Polka @ Lakefront Brewery
Scotty’s Bar & Pizza Annual Car & Bike Show Bash @ Scotty’s Bar & Pizza
Bee Gees & The Police Tribute Night: Fever MKE + Driven To Tears @ Mad Planet
Punk Rock Rummage Sale @ Falcon Hall
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
We’ll keep this short and sweet, folks: Music icon Cyndi Lauper is bringing her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” to Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater. The show is part of the final leg of Lauper’s yearlong farewell tour, which kicked off July 15 and ends August 30. Cyndi Lauper rules.
Robot Witch (record release) + Bellends, Local Legends @ Cactus Club
Last spring, reformed synth rock outfit Robot Witch showcased a leaner, meaner, and decidedly more punk-tinged sound than any of its prior output on its Make A Change EP. In the year-plus since that release, the pared-down project has played a handful of local outings and finished recording a full-length album. Tonight, Robot Witch celebrates the release of that record, Take Me To The Show.
Boundaries + Stick To Your Guns, Gates To Hell, Psycho-Fram @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
Em Spel + SSAANN, *aya @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Cocojoey + Chriad x Blissom, Shontrail, OnlyFerns @ MKE Ultra
Summer Patio Music Series: Matt Mueller @ Great Lakes Distillery
Cafe Sopra Mare: School Of Rock @ Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Cathedral Square Market: Never DeadBeat Poets @ Cathedral Square Park
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