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 for November 24-30, 2025.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Yung Gravy + Pertinence @ The Rave / Eagles Club
“When you think about it, the name Yung Gravy says a great deal. It’s perpetually youthful, and it oozes ‘sauce.’ As such, Yung Gravy uses his own special recipe to bring originality and positivity to make his one-of-a-kind impact on the genre. Gravy flexes his passion for soul music and oldies in his production, sampling a wide range of musical styles dating from the 1940s to the present-day.”
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
The Ike Reilly Assassination @ Shank Hall
“Ike Reilly is a punk-poet-troubadour and the leader of the ferocious musical outfit The Ike Reilly Assassination. The former doorman and gravedigger hailing from the seemingly idyllic town of Libertyville, Illinois is the subject of the award-winning documentary Don’t Turn Your Back On Friday Night. The film, from Executive Producer Tom Morello, chronicles the songs, career and proverbial life of Reilly. Like the subject matter of his music, the film deals with booze, drugs, religion, family, financial calamity and culls over 30 years of footage to reveal a complicated and formidable artist in his pursuit of both greatness and authenticity. The film is both profound and personal.”
A Christmas Carol @ The Pabst Theater (through December 24)
“A Christmas Carol is one of the best-known and well-loved stories in the English language. During the course of one memorable Christmas Eve, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future help Ebenezer Scrooge discover that it is never too late to change his miserly ways. Milwaukee Rep favorite Matt Daniels returns to play Scrooge, as enchanting music, dance, costumes, scenery and special effects will once again fill the theater to tell this timeless tale of love, hope and redemption.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Friendsgiving Blowout: Chicken Wire Empire + Dandy L. Freling @ The Cooperage
While Chicken Wire Empire plays festivals all over the Midwest and is known to embark on the occasional European tour, the Milwaukee-based bluegrass groups tends to only play sparingly in its hometown. The scarcity of those local outings only serves to make the band more special and less skip-able, so you definitely don’t want to miss Chicken Wire Empire’s “Friendsgiving” show at The Cooperage the night before Thanksgiving. This relatively rare local performance will feature two sets from the headliner (including one “Friendsgiving” set with some bluegrass contemporaries).
27th Annual Nod To Bob: A Bob Dylan Tribute & Fundraiser For Hunger Task Force @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
“Nod to Bob is a tribute to one of the world’s all-time truly great songwriters: Mr. Bob Dylan. 2025 marks the 27th annual event, which always doubles as a fundraiser for a critically important local charity: Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force, during its most needy time of the year. This night before Thanksgiving event features scores of great Milwaukee songwriter’s—in their own write—performing their best renditions of favorite Dylan gems.”
‘Twas the Night Before…By Cirque du Soleil @ Miller High Life Theater (through November 30)
‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show, based on the classic poem ‘A Visit from Saint Nicholas’ by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. A festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families, ‘Twas the Night Before… features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters—and a soundtrack including holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil.”
Max & The Invaders @ Ope! Brewing Co.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Pete Lee @ Milwaukee Improv (five shows, through November 30)
After growing up in Janesville, Wisconsin, Pete Lee has gone on to perform on Letterman, guest on The Tonight Show (NINE TIMES and counting!), and rack up a wide variety of credits that include notable TV shows like Last Comic Standing, As The World Turns, Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, and much more. He’s released comedy albums, put out a Comedy Central half-hour special, and has performed more than 500 shows at colleges around the country. Lee returns to the region November 28-30 for a total of five Thanksgiving weekend shows at Milwaukee Improv.
Holiday Benefit Show: Fake My Death + Smoke Free Home, Mizzy, Superglue @ X-Ray Arcade
Dead, Dead Swans + Old Wolves, Local Legends, Whiskey Of The Damned @ MKE Ultra
Carlos Adames Group @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Black Friday Dance Party: Radio Radio + DJ Paul H @ Mad Planet
Club Ritual: Black Friday Food Drive @ The Cooperage
Black Friday @ Lakefront Brewery
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Smoking Popes + Scott Lucas, Menthol @ X-Ray Arcade – POSTPONED
“Due to the incoming snowstorm, the Smoking Popes show originally scheduled for this Saturday, November 29th, is being rescheduled for Friday, February 27th, with the same lineup. Bummer! All previously issued tickets will be honored, and there is a 7-day window for refunds for anyone who can’t make the new date.”
Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts @ Shank Hall
“Led by free-wheeling front man Miles Nielsen, The Rusted Hearts have been wowing audiences for years with the diversity of their sound, the tightness of their four-part harmonies, and the quality of their songcraft. Equally comfortable in a compact three-minute pop song and an epic ten-minute jam, the band has toured incessantly since their inception in 2011, amassing an army of hardcore followers that have dubbed themselves the Rusted Herd.”
IshDARR + Melotuned, Greyishere, Keeshawn Carter, Lethal Dose @ Falcon Hall
Sevendust + Cory Marks @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Cassini Echoes + Red Quean, Farewell Moonlight, Tarek Sabbar @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Genau + Fake Twin, Youth Energy @ MKE Ultra
Groove Grease @ Ope! Brewing Co.
Neil Davis Quintet @ The Estate (early and late shows)
House Your Body: John Hawley + Andrew Optimist, Girl Next Door @ Mad Planet
Milwaukee Makers Market @ Discovery World
Punk Rock Rummage Sale @ X-Ray Arcade
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Julianna Riolino + Dusk @ Cactus Club
“Julianna Riolino considers her own growth on her sophomore record, Echo In The Dust. By Riolino’s own admission, Echo In The Dust is different from her debut, All Blue. On these songs, the Southern Ontario musician is soft as she is tough; seeing the benefit of laying down armour and splitting her heart open so that we may get a glimpse of our own. The songs on Echo In The Dust consider relationships of all sorts as the foundation for her awakening into a renewed creative self and person in this world; working through loss, grief, habits, and decisions she once made, seeking clarity in the past before leaving it to move forward. The adage ‘you don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been’ rings especially true on this album.”
Band Of Skulls + Tom Hamilton Jr. @ Vivarium
“English rock band Band of Skulls, formed in Southampton in 2004. The original lineup consisted of Russell Marsden (guitar, vocals), Emma Richardson (bass, vocals), and Matt Hayward (drums). Initially performing under the name Fleeing New York, the trio eventually rebranded as Band of Skulls in 2008, marking the beginning of their rise on the indie rock scene.”
Twilight In Concert @ The Riverside Theater
Clownvis Presley + Robot Witch, Nasty Boys, Candi Crucifix @ X-Ray Arcade
All Messed Up Potluck Drawing @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
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