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 30 – October 6, 2024.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
The Roast Of Milwaukee @ The Cooperage
Milwaukee Record‘s long-running Roast Of Milwaukee is back! Like previous years, the event—which is done in association with the Milwaukee Comedy Festival—features a stacked cast of local comedians gently (or, in some cases, viciously) making fun of our fair city. This year’s event includes a wide range of locally sourced Roasters like Dana Ehrmann, AJ Grill, Luise Noé, Ryan Mason, Syed Hasnain, Elijah Holbrook, Caitlin Baratti, and a few extra special surprise guests dropping in to take some swipes at the city. And the laughs won’t just be at the expense of Milwaukee: a portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to Milwaukee Women’s Center. TMJ4 journalist James Groh hosts!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
WMSE’s Local/Live: Devils Teeth @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
“WMSE is excited to invite you back to Anodyne in Walker’s Point on Tuesday, October 1, (6 p.m.) for another free, all-ages edition of Local/Live, with Devils Teeth! Music director Sid and Milwaukee Record’s Matt Wild will be your hosts for this special live performance and interview. The Milwaukee-based garage rockers Devils Teeth are back with their first full length release since 2021, The Key Of Dickie G. Devils Teeth serve blistering amounts of energetic rock ‘n’ roll with nods to surf, punk and Italian western.”
Milwaukee Comedy Festival @ various locations (through October 6)
Originating long before the city had anything resembling a sustainable comedy community, Milwaukee Comedy Festival has grown and evolved along with Milwaukee’s standup scene. The annual comedic undertaking has also brought in noted national talent to headline some of its shows. This year’s festival—taking place October 1-6—is no different, as Adam Cayton-Holland, Matty Ryan, and more take part in the 19th annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival along with great local comics and up-and-coming humorists from all over the country.
Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse Live In Concert @ The Pabst Theater
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
Midweek Music: Next Paperback Hero @ Crafty Cow (Wauwatosa)
Join us at Crafty Cow Tosa on select Wednesdays and Thursdays in October and November for a total of eight Midweek Music performances! Once again, there’s NO COVER for these all-ages shows, which run from 7-8:30 p.m. If a free weeknight show isn’t already great enough on its own, Crafty Cow Tosa will offer $4 pints from Badger State Brewing. They’ll also have meal deals available during each show. The series begins tonight with Next Paperback Hero, and wraps up November 21 with Old Pup.
Joe Bartel + Dead Dead Swans, Clementine @ Bremen Cafe
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
Yard Act + Omni @ X-Ray Arcade (sold out)
“Since first steering their golden Rover into swift public acclaim back in 2020, Leeds quartet Yard Act have become one of the great indie success stories of the decade so far. Along the way, they’ve ticked off milestones ranging from a Number Two chart placing and Mercury Prize nomination for debut album The Overload, to a co-sign from Elton John who joined the band to guest on a string-laden reworking of album closer ‘100% Endurance.'”
Air Supply @ The Riverside Theater
“‘All Out of Love,’ ‘Even The Nights Are Better,’ ‘Making Love Out Of Nothing At All’…The trademark sound of Russell Hitchcock’s soaring tenor voice and Graham Russell’s simple yet majestic songs create a unique sound that will forever be known as Air Supply. With their heavily orchestrated, sweet ballads, the Australian group became a staple of early-’80s radio.”
Juvenile And The 400 Degreez Band + Mannie Fresh @ The Rave/Eagles Club
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
Milwaukee Oktoberfest @ Cathedral Square Park (through October 6)
Swarmm Events is bringing Milwaukee Oktoberfest to Cathedral Square Park for three days of Germanic fun! Expect live polka music, plenty of beer and food from Kegel’s Inn, and contests like a bratwurst eating competition and a Wiener Dog Beauty Pageant. Prost!
Fall Fest 2024 @ Perspective Brewing Company
Out in nearby West Allis, Perspective Brewing Company is hosting its third annual Fall Fest. The 2024 installment will feature a food truck, live music, and an array of fall-suited beers and seltzers to enjoy inside the brewery or around a roaring fire pit near Perspective’s patio.
Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival @ Baird Center (through October 6)
The 14th annual Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival is a celebration of all things ink, as body illustration enthusiasts and renowned tattoo artists take over the Baird Center for three days of fun, connection, and tattoos.
Pete Holmes @ Milwaukee Improv (through October 6)
Pete Holmes has enjoyed quite the career. Through the years, he’s starred in a loosely biographical HBO series called Crashing and a CBS sitcom called That’s How We Roll, hosted a late night TBS talk show bearing his name, voiced “The E*Trade Baby,” recorded hundreds of episodes of his popular You Made It Weird podcast, wrote a book Comedy Sex God, and guest wrote some episodes of The Simpsons. However, Holmes is a standup comedian first and foremost. Following last year’s one-nighter at Turner Hall, the multi-talented comic returns to the Midwest to treat Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield to five shows spread over three October nights.
The Quilz + Video Sex Priest, Desperate Electric @ Mad Planet
Marika Hackman + Art School Girlfriend @ Vivarium
Creek + Superglue, Mizzy, In Shining Armor @ Sugar Maple
Pat And The Pissers + North Warren, Courtesy, Oh Well Ok @ Cactus Club
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
Beet Street Harvest Festival @ Cactus Club
Once again, Beet Street Harvest Festival—hosted by Cactus Club, Palomino, and Goodkind—is bringing live music, local food and retail vendors, community organizations, and pie-based competition to a parcel of Wentworth and Potter avenues. The family-friendly event runs from 1-7 p.m., with an 18+ after-party to take place at Cactus Club once Beet Street concludes. See the whole music, food, and vendor lineup HERE.
The Low Down 5: Indeed’s 5-Year Anniversary Block Party @ Indeed Brewing
Indeed Brewing is celebrating five years in Milwaukee by bringing back The Low Down block party. A portion of Second Street situated outside Indeed’s Walker’s Point brewery/will host live music, food and retail vendors, an Adventure Rock climbing wall, and beer releases (some of which can get the “Beer Brûlée” treatment by being caramelized with a hot fire poker).
Mike Viola + L.A. Exes @ Shank Hall
The voice on that infectious titular tune from the film That Thing You Do? That’s Mike Viola. The songs in the John C. Reilly vehicle Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story? Viola was one of the primary songwriters. Panic! At The Disco and Mandy Moore producer credits? They’re on his Viola’s resume as well. This is just a minuscule sampling of the pies Viola’s hands have been in. Almost exactly a year removed from playing Cactus Club, the accomplished musician returns to Milwaukee to perform at Shank Hall.
State Of Sound: Fuzzysurf + Caley Conway, Hello Face, Cozy Danger @ Radio Milwaukee
Home Away From Home Series: Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues @ Fiserv Forum
Showoff + Mulva, Bad Year, Fastplants @ X-Ray Arcade
Anita Velveeta + Gramma, Courtesy, Ashamed, Breakup Tour @ Sugar Maple
House Your Body: Jonn Hawley + Andrew Optimist, Milkman @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Milwaukee Record Halftime Series: Two And A Half Stars @ Cactus Club
Come on out to the Cactus Club for this week’s Packers-Rams game, and enjoy a halftime set from Milwaukee punk outfit Two And A Half Stars! Games will be shown in the bar, but they’ll also be shown on a projector screen in Cactus Club’s back room. As always, there will also be touchdown shots (both regular and N/A options will be offered). THERE’S NO COVER CHARGE for the concerts. Kickoff is at 3:25 p.m.!
Brady Street Pet Parade @ Brady Street
Attention, four-legged creatures and the two-legged creatures who love them: The beloved Brady Street Pet Parade returns to the bustling East Side street this Sunday! Dogs, cats, pigs, ferrets, rats, lizards, and humans are all welcome. The big event will take over a multi-block parcel of Brady Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Similar to years past, there will also be judged contests and a pet blessing. The event is free to attend, though you’ll need to buy tickets if you want to enter your pet(s) in the contests. Get those tickets HERE.
MILK Comic Fest @ The Cooperage
The third annual MILK Comic Fest runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and includes a wide array of area artists and vendors, as well as independent or small press exhibitors from all over the Midwest. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
Mean Jeans + Watermelon, Chinese Telephones @ X-Ray Arcade
An Evening With Bill Nye The Science Guy @ The Riverside Theater
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