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 September 15-21, 2025.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Cro-Mags + Suffer No Fools, Force, World In Action, Sex Scenes @ X-Ray Arcade
“The history of the Cro-Mags is integral to the history of Hardcore, it’s evolution from Punk and the development of alternative music genres such as thrash, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from Metallica to Green Day, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited Cro-Mags with having a primal influence on their development.”
Maria Somerville + Dialogues @ Cactus Club
“By the time Irish musician Maria Somerville started writing Luster, her landmark label debut for 4AD, she had lived away from her native Connemara for quite some time. Having grown up amongst the wild, mountainous terrain of Galway’s rural west coast, she later relocated to Dublin, where she patiently developed an atmospheric dream pop signature inspired by the landscape of her youth—a spellbinding soundworld of gusting ambient electronics, ethereal guitar strums, sparse percussion, and hushed lyrical vignettes.”
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Bonnie Raitt + Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band @ The Riverside Theater
“Bonnie Raitt is more than just a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter. She’s an institution. Fifty years and 21 albums later, Raitt is still stunning us with her soulful, unaffected voice, her uncanny insights into blues guitar and her commitment to the redemptive power of music. How lucky we are to witness it live.”
Mudvayne + Static-X, Vended @ The Rave / Eagles Club
“Mudvayne will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band’s debut album, L.D. 50, on a U.S. tour in late summer and early fall. Released in 2000 via Epic, L.D. 50 produced three singles: ‘Dig,’ ‘Death Blooms,’ and ‘Nothing To Gein.’ L.D. 50 peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 85 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold by the RIAA for shipment in excess of half a million copies in the U.S. alone.”
Bluegrass Whatevers: The MilBillies @ Nashville North
Whiskey And The Devil + Wonderful Bluffer, The Panoptics @ Cactus Club
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Milwaukee Record Presents: Wet Hot American Summer @ Avalon Atmospheric Theater
Join us at the Avalon to watch the incomparably funny film that so many fell in love with long after its bewilderingly brief theatrical run. Yep! We’re showing Wet Hot American Summer again! If you want to see Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Janeane Garofalo, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Meloni, Molly Shannon, Ken Marino, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, a vegetable can-voicing H. Jon Benjamin, and so many more in some of their most memorable roles, make it your beeswax to be there at 7 p.m.
The Cactus Blossoms + Michael Gay @ Vivarium
“At its best, harmony duo singing can transform simple math into a magic trick. One plus one, instead of equaling two, suddenly yields an unexpected third thing. An upper-case ONE. A universal hum. A deep vibration that encompasses two different points of view. On their latest release, Every Time I Think About You, brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, aka The Cactus Blossoms, once again prove themselves to be among the most adept—and distinctive—modern practitioners of that magic. But like any great magician, The Cactus Blossoms can’t—or won’t—fully explain the illusion they create.”
Killer High Life + Nothing Of Consequence, Farewell Moonlight, The Hypnic Jerks @ X-Ray Arcade
MKE River Roundup: The People Brothers Band @ Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack
Nine One Seven Day: WMSE DJ Spin @ Wiggle Room
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Dialogues Documentary Festival @ Oriental + Downer theatres (through September 21)
If you think Milwaukee Film is just about the annual Milwaukee Film Festival (and, um, running the Oriental and Downer theaters all year round), think again! Milwaukee Film’s second annual Dialogues Documentary Festival, presented by Potawatomi Casino Hotel, is set to light up the Oriental and Downer September 18-21. More than 30 docs—complete with plenty of filmmaker Q&As and talkbacks—will be included in the four-day fest. “We’re so proud that Dialogues Documentary Festival is returning for a second year,” says Milwaukee Film’s Executive Director Susan Kerns. “This year’s lineup is bold, powerful, and sometimes just a lot of fun, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our theaters for four days of unbelievable true stories.”
Lion’s Tooth + Milwaukee Record Music Book Club: Don’t Say Please: The Oral History Of Die Kreuzen, by Sahan Jayasuriya @ Lion’s Tooth
Do you like books? Do you like music? Do you like books about music? Then you’re in luck, because Milwaukee Record has partnered with beloved Bay View bookstore Lion’s Tooth for another run of the Lion’s Tooth + Milwaukee Record Music Book Club! This month, author Sahan Jayasuriya discusses his excellent, long-in-the-works new book Don’t Say Please: The Oral History Of Die Kreuzen. He’ll be joined by none other than Die Kreuzen bassist Keith Brammer, and moderator Dan Shafer.
Hoancoming @ Milwaukee River
“Hoancoming will feature live music, a boat parade, and a drone and light show synced to the lights on the Hoan Bridge that will be visible from both water and land. Boaters can enjoy the event from the confluence of the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan, near the Hoan Bridge. Those attending on land can join in on the celebration from the adjacent Riverwalk or from general viewing areas at locations such as Boone & Crockett, The Cooperage, Milwaukee’s Pierhead Lighthouse, and more.”
HOG Havoc: Evanescence + Poppy, Sleep Theory, Black Map @ Fiserv Forum
“102.9 The Hog’s concert event, HOG Havoc, returns to Fiserv Forum on Thursday, Sept. 18, for a night of raw, unrelenting rock. The two-time Grammy Award-winning rock band Evanescence will headline the show and will be joined by boundary-pushing artist Poppy, breakout rock band Sleep Theory and heavy-alt trio Black Map.”
Glitterfox + Oh Geeez, Not Again @ Vivarium
GayC/DC + VLNTYN @ X-Ray Arcade
…Or Does It Explode? + Snag, Courtesy, Okay Omen @ MKE Ultra
Daniel Romano’s Outfit + Carson McHone @ Cactus Club
Meadowers + LO/ST, Bouquet @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Liam Phillips Trio @ The Estate
Thursday Bike Night Concert Series: Whiskey Of The Damned @ Harley-Davidson Museum
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Mondo Lucha! @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Milwaukee’s own Mondo Lucha! returns to the historic Turner Hall Ballroom for its 17th year! This one of a kind spectacular mixes high-flying professional wrestling, world class burlesque performances, music and comedy to create an event unlike you have ever witnessed. Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of the insanity!”
Harvest Fest Block Party & Pumpkin Spirit Release @ Great Lakes Distillery
“New year, same party! Our annual Harvest Fest Block Party & Pumpkin Spirit Release, sponsored byLakefront Brewery, is back for another rockin’ time. There will be live music from The Last Bees, with Jack Tell kicking things off. Food will be provided by Fox Den, Chucho’s Red Tacos, and The Iron Pig. Specialty cocktails, featuring our Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit, distilled with Lakefront Brewery’s Pumpkin Lager, will be pouring at our outdoor bar. We’ll even have a mini makers market! This event is FREE to attend.”
Hamilton Leithauser @ Vivarium
“Hamilton Leithauser, the hard-hitting, Carlyle-crooning frontman of The Walkmen, has worked the last eight years in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, writing and recording his new breakthrough solo record, This Side Of The Island. Known for his evocative lyricism, quick wit, and distinctive voice, Leithauser has been a significant force in rock ‘n’ roll since the early 2000s NYC scene, transitioning smoothly from his band’s successes to a flourishing solo career.”
Bert Kreischer: Permission To Party @ Fiserv Forum
Deutsch Does McCartney @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Modem + Clear Channel, Lavish Waste @ Club Garibaldi
The Paper Flames + Wisconsin Space Program, Mystical Zenith @ MKE Ultra
Oh Well, OK + Old Timer & Disposable Thumbs @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
The Back Alley + Well + Good, Scorched Waves @ X-Ray Arcade
Dead Man’s Carnival @ Miramar Theatre
The Moth: Themeless @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Music On The Beerline: De La Buena @ Beerline Plaza
Friday Night Retro Mixtape: Sage “Champagne” Schwarm + Mosh Wah @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Bay View Bash @ Kinnickinnic Avenue, between Potter and Clement
While many of Milwaukee’s summer festivals, block parties, and other large scale happenings have already come and gone, one of the city’s best fests of the season is still on the books. Bay View Bash returns to Kinnickinnic Avenue on Saturday and will fill the eponymous neighborhood with 11 hours worth of live entertainment, family fun, retail vendors, food, drinks, and more. On our very own Milwaukee Record Stage, we’ll have music from Diet Lite, BLAX, Higher Education Records, Body Futures, and Max & The Fellow Travelers. Oh, and the Bay View Babes Drag Show and Punk Rock Yoga! Find the full entertainment lineup, vendor list, and everything else you need to know HERE.
Opetoberfest @ Ope! Brewing Co.
“Get your steins and stretchy pants ready—Opetoberfest is taking over the taproom! We’re going full polka with The Val Sigal Polka Band (two sets!), plus stein hoisting comps to separate the lightweights from the legends. Dust off your lederhosen, grab an Opetoberfest Märzen, and get loud. Ope-style Oktoberfest: No rules, just beer, brats, and bad decisions.”
Paw Fest At The Lakefront @ Henry Maier Festival Park
“There’s a brand-new pet event coming to Henry W. Maier Festival Park this year! From the organization behind Doggy Day at Deer District, Winston’s Wishes is excited to announce a brand-new celebration of pets, people and paws: Paw Fest at the Lakefront presented by Yutka Fence on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This FREE, pet-friendly fest is all about wagging tails, tasty treats, and good fun. Well-socialized, leashed dogs are invited to bring their humans (and vice versa!) for a full day of pet-centered play, shopping, music, and more.”
Bay View Bash Afterparty: NITE + Immortal Girlfriend, Standstill @ Cactus Club
Rotating Specials: A Milwaukee Variety Show @ Washington Park Media Center
Lene Lovich + Video Sex Priest @ Shank Hall
The Darkness + Mark Daly @ The Rave / Eagles Club
Jazz Flux Featuring Jerry Grillo @ The Estate
Stoneburner + The Demix, Hot Science @ MKE Ultra
Funky Fruit: Asher Gray @ High Dive
Wine & Harvest Festival @ Cedarburg (also September 21)
David Bowie vs. Talking Heads vs. Devo @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Stallis Cowboys + DJ Slam Jam @ Cactus Club
The Pack is back! And so is the Milwaukee Record Halftime Show concert series at Cactus Club! We’ve assembled a stacked roster of 15 acts that will provide FREE all-ages entertainment at Cactus Club during halftime of Green Bay’s games. Our pals at Hamm’s will sponsor the series, meaning fans can enjoy specials on cans and buckets of the beer “from the Land of Sky Blue Waters” and Miller High Life all game long. WYNK has also come on as a sponsor and its THC seltzer will be available at a discount during all games. Last and certainly not least, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe will once again be coming by most games to drop off some complementary pizza. As usual, there will be a DJ playing music during commercial breaks. There will also be touchdown shots (both regular and N/A options will be offered). Games will be shown in the bar as usual, but they’ll also be shown on a projector screen in Cactus Club’s back room. And we repeat: THERE’S NO COVER CHARGE for the concerts.
Bean Plant Block Party @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
As a means of celebrating its 26th year in business, Anodyne is hosting its fourth annual Bean Plant Block Party on Sunday, September 21. From 12-5 p.m., the Walker’s Point location and a portion of Bruce Street outside the cafe will feature an abundance of offerings. There will be food available from the Cafe Corazon food truck. On top of Anodyne’s everyday caffeinated specialties, Indeed Brewing and Station 1846 will handle beer and other beverages. A range of local retail vendors will be selling their goods on-site. Cream City Skatepark ramps/obstacles will bring outdoor activity to the event. Skaters of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. Speaking of skating, a portion of all beer sales will be donated to National DIY Skatepark. Oh, and there will be music. The tunes—provided by local acts that feature Anodyne employees in its ranks—will include performances by Cherry Clerk, Muzzle, Soma, Matty Timmons, and So Zuppy.
Puerto Rican Festival Of Wisconsin @ Henry Maier Festival Park
“Join us for the 12th Annual Puerto Rican Festival of Wisconsin! A day full of live music, cultural performances, many vendors, family fun and come try some delicious food! Take a one-day trip to Puerto Rico! $15 parking, or free on the street. Children under 10 only $5.”
Pete Yorn: You & Me Solo Acoustic @ Turner Hall Ballroom
Lung + Resurrectionists, Bob Piggins @ MKE Ultra
Milwaukee Makers Market @ American Family Field
Cathedral Square Market: The All-Star Supper Club Band @ Cathedral Square Park
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