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 May 26 – June 1, 2025.
MONDAY, MAY 26
Young Widows + Kowloon Walled City, Fotocrime @ Cactus Club
“The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound—or more accurately, the Young Widows feel—is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album.”
Vincas + Primitive Broadcast Service, Full Nude, Toadskin @ X-Ray Arcade
TUESDAY, MAY 27
Shilpa Ray + Red Stuff @ The Sugar Maple (sold out)
“Shilpa Ray is a ferocious force in modern music, blending punk rock grit with soulful blues and a razor-sharp wit. Hailing from Brooklyn by way of New Jersey, she wields a harmonium like a weapon, delivering explosive performances that channel raw emotion and fearless honesty. With a voice that can purr or roar, Ray draws comparisons to icons like Patti Smith and Nick Cave artists she’s also shared stages with. Her music is a bruising, beautiful rebellion against expectation, rooted in the chaos and contradictions of real life.”
Torcado + Half Moon Hideaway, Fairy Astronaut, Tlalok @ Cactus Club
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
Peach Pit + Briston Maroney, Bnny @ BMO Pavilion
“Peach Pit’s fourth album is a masterclass in expansive arrangement and deeply felt songwriting—a winning formula that only continues the incredible trajectory the band’s been on since their star-making debut EP Sweet FA in 2016. The eleven songs captured on Magpie find the quartet—lead singer Neil Smith, guitarist Chris Vanderkooy, bassist Peter Wilton, and drummer Mikey Pascuzzi—diving deeper into classic sounds while honing a musical style that entirely feels like their own.”
Origami Summer + Motherwind, In Shining Armour, Or Does It Explode?, Courtesy @ X-Ray Arcade
THURSDAY, MAY 29
Bobcat Goldthwait + Dana Gould @ The Laughing Tap (through May 31)
Apart, Bobcat Goldthwait and Dana Gould are both comic legends with laundry lists of impressive credits. Together, they’re unlikely friends, frequent collaborators, and co-stars of the Joy Ride documentary that chronicles their comedy, their differing styles, and their relationship that took years to forge. They’ll both be on stage in the cozy confines of The Laughing Tap for a total of five shows that will take place May 29-31. The residency from these comic legends will double as a fundraising effort to help The Laughing Tap’s impending move to a new location this fall.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Shank Hall
“Black Joe Lewis is the realest motherfucker there is. When Covid sidelined his touring, he started laying concrete to help support his baby mama and his kid. That’s fuckin’ real. When Joe and his band, the Honeybears, popped onto the national stage over a decade ago, many critics embraced him but still, there were some that maintained that they hadn’t paid their dues. Joe’s still here. Still going. Still cashing checks and snapping necks. The dues of hard work; the delirious heights of the industry as well as the disappointments and low hanging fruit. Through this all, Joe’s only honed his mastery over gut bucket blues guitar and his true voice.”
Valerie June + Buffalo Nichols @ Vivarium
“Known for her distinctive voice and singing style, Valerie June combines psychedelic folk, indie rock, country soul, symphonic pop and more.”
Old Pup + Sean Pratt Trio, Dandy L. Frehling @ Falcon Nest
VLNTYN (record release) + JJ Slater, Peter Lindsey @ The Sugar Maple
Preoccupations + Still Depths, DJ Apollo Vermouth @ Cactus Club
Sheer Terror + Lost, Legion, Old Salt, Form, Muzzle @ X-Ray Arcade
Edelweiss Concert Cruise Series: 3 For The Road @ Milwaukee River, 205 W. Highland Ave.
Thursday Bike Night Concert Series: Prime Country @ Harley-Davidson Museum
FRIDAY, MAY 30
Festa Italiana @ Henry Maier Festival Park (through June 1)
It’s Festa Italiana! The first big lakefront festival of the season! Three days of music, food, more music, more food, Saturday fireworks, and Sunday mass! Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sunday. Admission is only $15, and kids 12 and under are free. Here we go, Milwaukee! (R.I.P. Dick Contino, who used to rock Festa back in the day.)
Nikki Glaser @ Miller High Life Theatre (two shows)
After devastating Tom Brady during the QB’s roast last year and crushing as the host of this year’s Golden Globe’s, veteran comedian Nikki Glaser is now a certified household name. She returns to her native Midwest to perform two shows at Milwaukee’s Miller High Life Theatre on May 30.
Bay View Gallery Night @ various locations
Since 2011, Bay View Gallery Night has organized “Milwaukee’s largest annual celebration of art, local business, music, and community.” The massive neighborhood-wide event brings together talented area artists and musicians, along with an eclectic mix of Milwaukee bars, restaurants and retailers for a large-scale happening that has quickly become a part of the Bay View tradition. It’s free. It’s fun. It’s locally focused. What more can you ask for? Well, how about the accompanying…
Bay View Jazz Fest @ various locations
Entering its 10th year (and the third installment that involves Humboldt Park Friends’ Jazz At The Vine music series), the folks at Milwaukee Jazz Vision—in association with Bay View Gallery Night—are hosting another edition of Bay View Jazz Fest. On Friday, from 5-11 p.m., seven neighborhood bars, distilleries, breweries, galleries, parks, and cider purveyors will host a total of 17 acts, including KASE, Mrs. Fun, Emmitt James Trio, Mark Davis Quartet, EKG, and many more.
Joshua Ray Walker + Boy Golden (solo) @ Shank Hall
Since first gaining notoriety in country music circles with his 2018 debut Wish You Were Here, Dallas singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker has won fans all around the world. Walker’s sophomore album, Glad You Made It, has garnered even more acclaim and found the up-and-coming country talent landing on the cusp of even bigger and better things. Now that he’s beaten cancer, Walker is ready to get back on the road to make up for lost time.
Kati Katchever + Morning, Ellie Jackson @ Jazz Gallery Center For The Arts
Michael Blaustein @ The Pabst Theater
Combust + Apex Predator, Streamroll, Big Laugh, Stress Test @ Cactus Club
Morta Skuld + Deterioration, Mind Harvester, Chemosh @ X-Ray Arcade
Stone Theory + Funk Summit Bass Team, Fightin’ Bob, Heather Redman & The Reputation @ Falcon Hall
Gabriel Harris + Laura Bomber & Tori Yocum, Hanna Simone @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Heirloom @ The Estate (two shows)
Friday Night Retro Mixtape: Sage “Champagne” Schwarm + Mosh Wah @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, MAY 31
Collections Of Colonies Of Bees + Solid Gold, Nunnery @ Vivarium
“For two decades, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees have existed in various forms and incarnations, beginning with Chris Rosenau and Jon Mueller. From there, the line-up grew and evolved. At one time, Nick Sanborn—currently in the spotlight as one-half of Sylvan Esso—counted himself as a member. At another, the group joined forces with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon to release two albums under the moniker Volcano Choir. Never content to paint the soundscape twice, the previously instrumental Bees now come outfitted with vocalist Marielle Allschwang, finding the Wisconsin-based ensemble harvesting the fertile intersection between experimental and pop to maximum effect.”
Crusherfest @ South Milwaukee (also June 1)
You read that right, turkeynecks: Crusherfest—the not-quite-annual celebration of wrestling legend Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski—returns to the wrestler’s native South Milwaukee May 31 – June 1. Downtown will be abuzz with “live music, food trucks, cold beer, a live wrestling event, and vendors galore,” and much more. Oh, and get ready to rub elbows with some pro wrestling legends at this year’s event during meet-and-greet sessions.
Chicken P @ The Rave / Eagles Club
With millions upon millions of streams and YouTube views to his credit, Milwaukee’s Chicken P has built a devoted audience that extends far beyond his hometown. The rapper, who is currently hitting stages around the country as part of his “4 Ever Lit” tour, returns home to headline a must-see concert at The Rave / Eagles Club.
WMSE Pin Smash & Vinyl Bash @ Falcon Bowl
“Two awesome events, awesomely mashed together! The record sale opens at noon upstairs, in Falcon Hall. WMSE will be selling CDs, vinyl, and more! Starting at $1! Additional vendors include: Irving Place Records, Atomic Records, Dave Cornils, Tiffany Hoebeck, Todd Bell, Marty Dempsey, Von Munz selling posters and more! You may remember Rock n’ Roll Bowl—well this event is bringing back the fun! We are hosting two sets of five teams (four people per team) with flights at 11 and 1:30 p.m. There will be trophies for team high score, individual high score, team low score and individual low score.”
Sessanta V 2.0: Primus + Puscifer, A Perfect Circle @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
“Sessanta is a special 2024 concert tour with Puscifer, Primus and A Perfect Circle in celebration of singer Maynard James Keenan’s 60th birthday. Each of the 18 shows on the U.S. trek will feature all three bands on stage at once with a number of special guests helping the Tool, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle frontman welcome in his sixth decade. Each group will have its own distinctive set, but players from all three alt-metal acts will join in, rotate and surprise as the evening unfolds. Billed by Keenan as ‘kind of like “We Are The World” without the bleachers and plastic surgery,’ Sessanta is also a resurrection and evolution of Cinquanta: the one-night-only Los Angeles event that rang in Keenan’s 50th birthday in 2014.”
Renaissance Mash: Bug Moment + Totally Cashed, Chapped Lips @ Mad Planet
“Gather thy garb and ready thy revelry—on the eve of May 31st, Mad Planet shall host a most wondrous spectacle! Bug Moment, Totally Cashed, and Chapped Lips take the stage in a night of merry mayhem and sonic sorcery. Doors open at the stroke of 9:00, music commences at 9:30. 21+ only, brave souls. Costumes HIGHLY ENCOURAGED—come bedecked in thy finest fairewear and let the revels begin.”
TamaRocks: Music Festival To Benefit Tamarack Waldorf School @ Third Space Brewing
Lager & Friends @ Gathering Place Brewing
Stuck + Evinspragg, Delicious Monsters @ Cactus Club
High Gallows + Coyote Man, American Progress, Billy Russo @ X-Ray Arcade
Smooth Rogers + Alison Mahal, Blacktop @ Falcon Nest
Goodnight Moon + Bunk Bed, [Dying Noises] @ Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall
The Textures @ Ope! Brewing Co.
The Great Riverwest Rummage Sale & Flea Market @ Art Bar
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
Locust Street Festival Of Music And Art + Locust Street Beer Run @ Locust Street
“In the early ’70s, Milwaukee planned to widen Locust street between Humboldt and Holton. In 1976 after much discussion and debate the neighbors in Riverwest let the authorities know they were against it. Miraculously, the authorities agreed and the neighborhood threw a party to celebrate. They called it the Locust Street Festival Of Music And Art. We are still celebrating!” Oh, and for the first time ever, Milwaukee Record has its very own stage! The aptly-named Milwaukee Record Stage will be on the western edge of the Locust Street Festival grounds, near the intersection of Locust and Booth. And don’t forget the 1.6-mile Beer Run/Walk that will kick everything off at 11:30 a.m.!
Bluebird Improv: Tim Meadows, Matt Walsh, Joe Canale, Brad Norris, Meagan O’Brien @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Bluebird is a collective of some of the best improvisers on the planet. The show is inspired by a short conversation with audience members and what follows is an evening of never before (and never again) scenes and characters that cascade into a hilarious and original freewheeling show.”
Margarita Fest @ The Cooperage
“It’s Margarita Madness in Milwaukee! The Shepherd Express is hosting the 8th Annual Margarita Fest on Sunday, June 1st at The Cooperage. Come on out and sample from Milwaukee’s best margarita-makers and vote on your favorite margarita! We’ll crown a winner at the end of the event! Margarita samples included with admission. Live entertainment, food trucks, raffles, games, and a beautiful view of the city from the river!”
Slow Pulp + Hotline TNT, Obsess Tact @ Cactus Club (early show)
Hotline TNT + Slow Pulp, Combat Naps @ Cactus Club (late show)
Americana Brunch with Panalure & Friends @ Discourse Coffee / Radio Milwaukee
Mourning Star + ID, Light Blue Lines, Our Vanity @ Falcon Nest
Alborn + Left On Red, Apex Aura, Dark Sun, Ascend In Misery @ X-Ray Arcade
Dallas Ugly + The Spine Stealers @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
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