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 March 3-9, 2025.
MONDAY, MARCH 3
Sacrament (record release) + Age Of The Fallen, Parasite, World Of Fear @ Cactus Club
Milwaukee metal band Sacrament made a splash in February with the release of its four-song debut EP Divine, Dismantle. Want pummeling breakneck metalcore? Look no further than tracks like “The Nephalem,” “Kuru,” and “Undying.” Want Sacrament live? Look no further than this show! “For our upcoming EP release,” the band says, “we’ve put together a show at the famous Cactus Club with some of our favorite bands! We wanna see everyone there to hear Divine, Dismantle for the first time live!”
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
Clem Snide + Rye Valley @ Shank Hall
Eef Barzelay—the veteran singer-songwriter who releases music under the Clem Snide moniker—makes his way to Shank Hall for a show in support of his months-old album Oh Smokey. “With a slow hand and a tender heart Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) layed down just about everything you hear on Oh Smokey,” Barzelay says of the album. “Why I merely stumbled in and sang my lines..like some pre-diabetic Frank Sinatra. Which is all to say, I did it my way…sad slow songs about God and death…and the soft surrender.”
Disturbed: The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour + Three Days Grace, Sevendust @ Fiserv Forum
“The tour celebrates 25 years of Disturbed’s seminal debut album which launched the band into public consciousness and is one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time. The show will feature two sets of music, opening with Disturbed playing the five times platinum The Sickness in full, followed by a full set of greatest hits. The tour will feature support from special guests Three Days Grace, featuring the return of original singer Adam Gontier and opener Sevendust.”
WMSE’s Local/Live: Greg Koch @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“With a prolific career spanning over 20 records, Koch has carved out a unique niche in the music world, blending elements of blues, rock, and jazz into his signature sound. His latest album, Blues, released on Devon Allman’s Create Records, showcases his artistry with standout collaborations, including ‘Can’t Be Satisfied’ featuring Larry McCray and ‘Can’t Lose What You Never Had’ with Jimmy Hall and the Memphis Horns.”
Sam Prekop + Wavefiler, Lorna Dune @ Cactus Club
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
John Lodge (The Moody Blues) + Jon Davison (Yes) @ The Pabst Theater
“Legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, John Lodge returns to Milwaukee to perform the iconic album Days Of Future Passed in its entirety plus a collection of your favorite hits!”
Satsang (solo) + Sierra Marin @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“Satsang was founded by Montana-based musician Drew McManus in 2014. Known for their heartfelt, genre-blending sound, Satsang merges elements of folk, hip-hop, reggae, and rock, infusing each song with introspective lyrics and a strong message of positivity, spirituality, and social awareness. The name ‘Satsang’ reflects the band’s mission, derived from the Sanskrit words for ‘truth’ (sat) and ‘company’ (sang), symbolizing gatherings aimed at seeking and sharing deeper truths.”
Fred Mascherino + Holdfast. @ X-Ray Arcade
Cowboy Killers Vol. 3 @ Falcon Nest
THURSDAY, MARCH 6
Midweek Music: Ladybird (solo) @ Crafty Cow (Bay View)
Hey! Our free Midweek Music concert series is back at Crafty Cow in Bay View! There’s NO COVER for these all-ages shows, which run from 7-8:30 p.m. The series continues this week with a performance from Ladybird frontman Pete McDermott! And if a free weeknight show isn’t already great enough on its own, Crafty Cow will offer $4 pints of its delicious Crafty Cow Lager (made by 3 Sheeps Brewing) during all Midweek Music concerts. They’ll also have meal deals available during each show.
Wisconsin House At SXSW Sendoff @ The Cooperage
“OUR FAVORITE WISCONSIN BANDS ARE HEADED OUT TO SXSW TO MAKE SOME MOVES. C’mon out to The Cooperage and help send them off! (The Keystones, Scam Likely, Social Cig, NilexNile, Joey Turbo, Wave Chapelle.) Grab your friends and loved ones and come hangout and catch some tunes from the Wisconsin House lineup. Drink some beers, snap some photos, listen to some tunes and donate a few bucks to the bands to help with gas, hotels, food and whathaveyou for the trip down! THERE IS A $10 CASH SUGGESTED DONATION AT THE DOOR.”
Courtesy (record release) + Dad Bods, New Confusion, Superglue @ Cactus Club
“Courtesy are a four-piece band from Milwaukee that combines the emotional drive of post hardcore with the noisy discordance of ’90s indie rock. Constantly evolving with each release, Courtesy are quickly becoming one of Milwaukee’s most promising young acts.”
Lucky Goat + Morgan Joyce Hart, ANDII @ The Sugar Maple
The Dirty Pretty + Silent Halo, Tea Service @ Bremen Cafe
Playworks Wisconsin’s Annual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament @ Lakefront Brewery
The Wonderlands @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Thursday Nights At MAM @ Milwaukee Art Museum
FRIDAY, MARCH 7
Anime Milwaukee @ Baird Center (through March 9)
“Anime Milwaukee (AMKE) is a three-day anime convention that operates at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with an estimated economic impact of over $3 million to the downtown area. We celebrate and educate fans about anime, manga, Asian culture, music and gaming. AMKE started as a college anime club meeting that grew into the idea for an event, and that event has been growing and thriving ever since.” This year’s theme: COTTAGECORE.
Friday Fish Fry Day Afterparty @ Third Space Brewing
Created in 2021 by local fish fry expert and Milwaukee Record contributor Caleb Westphal, Friday Fish Fry Day aims to “bring family and friends together to celebrate the Friday night fish fry tradition.” So get out there and enjoy some fish! And when you’re done partaking in your fish fry meal, keep the fun going with us at Third Space Brewing. The beloved brewery has joined forces with Westphal to host the official Friday Fish Fry Day Afterparty. From 6-10 p.m., Third Space will serve up its vast arsenal of tasty brews, including its Pretty Good amber they’ve dubbed “The Official Beer Of Friday Fish Fry.” Meanwhile, Interchange Food Pantry will accept donations of peanut butter, fruits and vegetables (both canned and fresh), and money. Those who donate at the event will get a wristband that’s good for discounted beer throughout the night. Frida’s Cocina will be parked outside the brewery and will be selling its excellent Mexican fare, including their delicious fish tacos. Finally, both Westphal and Milwaukee Record co-founder/co-editor Tyler Maas will spin 45s from a wide variety of genres and eras.
Steve Peplin + Amanda Huff Duo @ The Estate (also March 8)
“Longtime collaborators and close bandmates since 2017, Amanda Huff and Steve Peplin will be stripping down their usual lineups to bring The Estate an intimate look into their personal work and influences as a duo. Known as the frontmen of experimental jazz septet Strangelander, both Huff and Peplin are uniquely distinct in their own capacities. Peplin with a prolific background in jazz guitar and symphonic orchestration, and Huff a mainstay in the local pop and electronic scene. Together they plan to take the audience on a journey through unreleased material, fan favorites, jazz classics, and covers of some of the work that inspired the musicians they are today.”
Breaking & Entering Presents: Okay Omen + Night Again, Faded Places @ The Cooperage
“Okay Omen is Milwaukee’s loudest soft band, featuring members of Garden Home, Ladybird, and Bunk Bed. Okay Omen formed in 2022 and has since released two EPs: So It Goes… in 2023 and the recent Echoes Of Loss in 2024. The band coasts along the line between emo and shoegaze, dancing between dynamically driven emotional bursts and dreamy soundscapes.”
Aziz Ansari: Hypothetical Tour @ The Riverside Theater
“Aziz Ansari is an award-winning actor, director, writer and comedian. He co-created, writes, directs, and stars in the Netflix original series Master Of None for which he has won two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Writing as well as Emmy and DGA Award nominations for his directing. In October of 2025, he will release the film Good Fortune, which he wrote, directed, and costars with Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen.”
Pat & The Pissers + Chapped Lips, Lunar Moth, Slap Happening @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Kangaroo Court + The Keystones, Publik, 4×4 Animal Style @ Falcon Hall
Gully Boys + Skating Polly, Breakup Tour, DJ Libra BOGO @ Cactus Club
Whores + Facet, Exitstatements @ X-Ray Arcade
Cello Madness: Peter J. Thomas + Natural Satellite, Cassini Echoes @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Retro Dance Party: Radio Radio + DJ Paul H @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, MARCH 8
Bug Moment (record release) + Hey Ily, Blind Equation, Digital Maddie, Molokai, Dataexit @ Cactus Club
Last fall, Milwaukee’s premier “emo-adjacent rock melancholia” group Bug Moment released a terrific new single, “Arbiter.” The band followed it with the fantastic “Purple Guy.” And now comes the dramatic (and terrific/fantastic) “Chaos Emerald.” See the connection? Yep, each song title is a reference to a video game (Halo, Five Nights At Freddy’s, Sonic The Hedgehog). Oh, and each song will appear on Bug Moment’s new EP, The Lazer Collection. The five-song record will be the group’s first release since 2023’s The Flying Toad Circus LP.
Umphrey’s McGee @ The Riverside Theater
“Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 27 years now. Though often pigeonholed into ‘jam band’ circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t fit that traditional mold; and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward, Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set, too. Amongst 2,500+ gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember those?) than any other act on the bill.”
Pom Pom Squad + Caroline Kingsbury @ X-Ray Arcade
“Pom Pom Squad is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band that has been making waves with their distinctive blend of punk, grunge, and pop influences. Led by vocalist and songwriter Mia Berrin, the band emerged in 2015 and quickly gained attention for their raw, emotive sound and poignant lyricism. Originally conceived as a solo project by Berrin, Pom Pom Squad evolved into a full-fledged band as she assembled a talented lineup to bring her musical vision to life. Their music delves deep into themes of identity, vulnerability, and personal growth, often drawing from Berrin’s own experiences with mental health challenges and societal pressures.”
Full Nude + Impish Tips @ Uptowner
Jump The Bluff + Future Plans, Fuzzysurf, Squishee @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Food & Froth @ Milwaukee Public Museum
Steve Peplin + Amanda Huff Duo @ The Estate (also March 7)
The Bourbon Jockeys + The Grovelers @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Empty Graves + Vapid Soul, Midwinter, Dark Deeds @ Falcon Hall
Hazlett + Abby Powledge @ Vivarium
Morgan Wade: The Obsessed Tour @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Broken Arrow + Candy Cigarettes, The Coves @ The Sugar Maple
Fantastic Planet: A Global Dance Party @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, MARCH 9
Tap Into Milwaukee @ Pilot Project Brewery
“Milwaukee, it’s time to toast to the best in beer, hard cider, and seltzer! Join the Shepherd Express at Pilot Project Brewery in the historic Brewery District for a day of delicious drinks, great food, and nonstop fun! Sample a curated lineup of beers, crisp ciders, and refreshing hard seltzers. Enjoy mouthwatering food for purchase from Pilot Project, live music, games, and raffles with exciting prizes. Make your own custom pretzel necklace and snack in style while you sip your way through the event! Whether you’re a beer lover, cider fan, or seltzer enthusiast, this event has something for everyone. Bring your friends and celebrate in style at Pilot Project Brewery!”
Ally The Piper + Velocihamster @ X-Ray Arcade
“Ally The Piper is a viral internet sensation, renowned for modernizing the Great Highland bagpipe. She blends classic rock and heavy metal with Celtic influences, captivating audiences worldwide. Supported by legends like Metallica and Iron Maiden, Ally showcases her talent on various traditional instruments and is redefining the bagpipe’s place in contemporary music.” Opening will be Milwaukee’s (and the world’s!) only lap steel metal band, Velocihamster!
Killer High Life + Kraig Durco, BRONCO @ Bremen Cafe
Bare Ass Antlers + Fetal Matter @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
The Hungry Williams @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.