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 29 – August 4, 2024.
MONDAY, JULY 29
Pretenders @ The Riverside Theater
The Pretenders loom large in Milwaukee’s legacy, having “discovered” the city’s own Violent Femmes way back in 1981. The Femmes were playing outside the Oriental Theatre, and the Pretenders (who were playing inside the Oriental Theatre) were instantly smitten. Thanks, Pretenders! Who knows who will be discovered this time around, when Chrissie Hynde and her legendary band return to The Riverside Theater after a six-year absence.
Snõõper + EvinSpragg, Misprints, DJ Gosha @ Cactus Club
“Snõõper (the Project) began as a collaboration between local Nashville punk mainstay Connor Cummins and Blair Tramel, an early education teacher with a sideline in wickedly funny animation and art. As their cassette tapes and homemade videos began to find scattered fans around the world, the duo brought the Project to the live stage in late 2021 and Snõõper (the Band) was born. Featuring one of the wildest live shows out there, as well a maelstrom of puppets, 8-bit animation, papier-mâché, whistles, flashing lights and a whirling dervish of bodies, Snõõper commits the live act to a studio setting and sets the stage for one of the most promising punk debut albums in decades.”
Dale Watson And His Lone Stars + Liv @ Shank Hall
Locrian + Sleepersound, Ashamed, Nicholas Elert @ X-Ray Arcade
Musical Mondays: R&B Cadets @ Lake Park Summer Stage
TUESDAY, JULY 30
Chill On The Hill: Adorner + Lack Of Reason @ 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 August! Which means Chill On The Hill is in full swing! Drop by as Adorner and Lack Of Reason continue Chill’s 19th season in style. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. And, as always, “IF IT MAKES A CLOUD IT’S NOT ALLOWED.”
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
ArtBlaze On The Beach @ South Shore Beach
“After a spectacular debut at Bradford Beach, Joy Engine’s ArtBlaze On The Beach moves to South Shore Beach this Wednesday, July 31. This new annual series celebrating Milwaukee’s beaches and art scene features The Great Cosmopods, bonfires with smores, art activities, food trucks, and a big music stage facing Lake Michigan. Free and open to the public, ArtBlaze begins with family-friendly activities at 3:30 p.m. and progresses into a glowing dance party as night rolls in.” Music will be provided throughout the day and night by Lil Rev, Tigera, and De La Buena.
Mia Joy + 22º Halo, Standstill, Apollo Vermouth, DJ Libra BOGO @ Cactus Club
“Celestial Mirror, the new EP by Mia Joy, sees the Chicago-based musician move from one stage to the next, as she delves further into her explorations on identity, self expression, and the people who come in and out of her life. The first new music since 2021’s dreampop masterclass Spirit Tamer, which saw her tour alongside the likes of Sharon Van Etten, Squirrel Flower, Triathlon and more, the EP showcases more of Joy’s trademark ethereal indie pop that envelops the listener in a shroud of gentle, personal hymns that are both intimate & warmly inviting.”
Vivarium In The Park: Max And The Fellow Travelers @ The Vine Humboldt
Washington Park Wednesdays @ Washington Park Bandshell
MKE River Roundup: Natty Nation @ Twisted Fisherman
Wonderful Wednesdays: Susan Salidor @ Lake Park Summer Stage
Hubbard Park Summer Sounds: Command Performance Band @ Hubbard Park
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
Wisconsin State Fair @ Wisconsin State Fair Park (through August 11)
Ah, the Wisconsin State Fair. The food, the animals, the food, the rides, the food, the dog-days-of-summer heat, and the food. And it’s all back! From August 1 through August 11! Yes, we’ll be eating all the Sporkies again this year (Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle! Hot Ham & Glazers!) and yes, West Allis native Dana Ehrmann will again be covering the Fair for us on social media. Beyond that, buckle up for Main Stage entertainment from the likes of Gabriel Iglesias, TLC, Yung Gravy, Charlie Berens, Foreigner, that “Happy Together” tour with one of the guys from The Turtles, and more.
Vampire Weekend + Ra Ra Riot @ BMO Pavilion
Boo! Vampire Weekend is back! Earlier this year, five years after the release of their last album (Father Of The Bride), Ezra Koenig and company dropped a new album, Only God Was Above Us, on Columbia Records. It’s really good! Hear some standout tracks (“Capricorn,” “Gen-X Cops”) along with plenty of beloved classics (“Oxford Comma,” “Diane Young”) at tonight’s show, featuring Ra Ra Riot playing in support. The ’00s and ’10s are so back, baby!
Robot Witch + Grace Under Water, Fetty Butters @ Polish Falcon
Katy Kirby + Mei Semones, Maximiano, DJ Kelly Aiglon @ Cactus Club
Jazz In The Park: Marcus Adams & Friends @ Cathedral Square Park
Edelweiss Concert Cruise: Failure To Launch @ Milwaukee River, 205 W. Highland Ave.
Third Space Presents: The MilBillies @ Third Space Brewing
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2
10cc + Robin Taylor Zander (Cheap Trick) @ The Pabst Theater
“Among the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music, 10cc arise one of the very few acts to have achieved commercial, critical and creative success in equal measure. Testament to 10cc’s ongoing appeal, the band can count a generation straddling array of fellow artists, from Axl Rose to Sophie Ellis Bextor and Chrissie Hynde to The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie among their millions of fans. 10cc has sold more than 30 million albums around the world and the band’s longevity is testament to their timeless songs, as is their continuing to traverse the globe and play countries as disparate as Iceland and South Africa, Latvia and Japan, as well as across Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and the US.”
J.E. Sunde + Caley Conway @ Cactus Club
“J.E. Sunde (Jonathan Edward Sunde) is a songwriter and composer based out of Minneapolis, MN. Jon studied western classical music with a vocal emphasis at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Starting in college, Jon spent 10 years making beautifully unusual music with The Daredevil Christopher Wright. He has since released three solo records with his most recent record, 9 Songs About Love, released in November of 2020. With a love of songwriters and performers like Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, and Paul Simon, Jon writes densely poetic songs with a bent toward the philosophical. Also, his voice sounds like some sort of weird angel.”
Micah Emrich (record release) + FTBK, Duwayne, Nzinga @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Protest The Hero + ’68, Greyhaven @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
Friday Night Retro Dance Party @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
Weird Fest Block Party @ MobCraft Beer Brewery & Taproom
Ever since it launched 11 years ago, MobCraft Beer has been known to keep things unorthodox, unconventional, and yes, a little weird with inventive crowdsourced brewing creations and outstandingly off-kilter events. For five years of that span, the Walker’s Point brewery has embraced oddity with its Weird Fest Block Party, which has delivered live music, wrestling, and so-called “weird beers” to the brewery and the surrounding streets for a full day of summer fun. Today, Weird Fest will return for its sixth installment, from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There’s a lot going on at this year’s shindig—including the “World’s Smallest Island Party”—and you can read all about it HERE.
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 3, 2024, 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.”
Mike Hanford (early and late shows) @ Cactus Club
Back in April, The Sloppy Boys played two sold-out shows at Cactus Club. Well, apparently one of the band’s members had so much fun that he went ahead and booked some more shows at the very same venue. Tonight, Mike Hanford—who you surely know from The Birthday Boys, his Comedy Bang! Bang! appearances, his writing work and occasional on-camera cameos on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and as a member of the aforementioned party rock band The Sloppy Boys—returns to Milwaukee to treat comedy fans at Cactus Club to two standup performances.
Hot Science (record release) + The Demix, Fundamentals @ Quarters Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace
State Of Sound: Waldemar + ANDII, Long Mama, Secret Menu @ Radio Milwaukee
Oozing Wound + Sex Scenes, Messy @ Promises
Dance Fest @ Marcus Center Peck Pavilion
Wisconsin IPA Fest @ Third Space Brewing
Deep Cricket Night + Blue Jets, Certain Stars @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Sprecher Root Beer Bash @ Bayshore
Barry Manilow: The Last Milwaukee Concert @ Fiserv Forum
Lizzo vs. Ariana Grande vs. Charli XCX @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
Wisconsin Vintage Fest @ Deer District
“Wisconsin Vintage Fest, Wisconsin’s largest vintage shopping market, will return to Deer District on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Plaza at Fiserv Forum and in The Beer Garden. Wisconsin Vintage Fest is free to attend and will host more than 85 vendors from around the Midwest for a day of nostalgia and shopping for classic clothing, records, video games and more.”
The Wildwoods + Admiral Radio @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods, a folk/Americana trio led by Noah and Chloe Gose, accompanied by the bassist Andrew Vaggalis deliver a musical journey through the soul of American roots. With accolades ranging from international songwriting competitions to standing ovations at festivals like Summerfest and FreshGrass, their latest release, Foxfield Saint John (2023), solidifies them as a force in the folk scene.”
Allergen + Superglue, In Shining Armour, Bunkbed @ X-Ray Arcade
Summer Patio Music Series: Brett Gaertner @ Great Lakes Distillery
Cafe Sopra Mare: Anthony Deutsch @ Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
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