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 September 7-13, 2026.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Laborfest @ Henry Maier Festival Park
“Every year, labor unions and union members of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, put on the biggest festival on the Milwaukee Lakefront that’s free and open to the public. Through the generosity of local unions and the companies at which they work, we can bring you a day of fun at the lakefront that includes live music for adults and families, children’s entertainment like science and magic shows, a classic car show and union raffle.”
Earth Tongue + The Well, Moon Destroys, Wisconsin Space Program @ X-Ray Arcade
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Black Pontiac + Bowvee, No Thanks To You @ X-Ray Arcade
“Black Pontiac is a band born out of tension. Emerging from an underground DIY community they helped reshape in the wake of the pandemic, the Vancouver, BC quartet has been walking a careful line ever since; balancing grit, glam, garage rock edge and indie-pop hooks.”
Riverwalk Commons Concert Series: Crook & Company @ Milwaukee Public Market
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Turnstile + Texas Is The Reason, Haywire @ The Rave / Eagles Club
“Last year, Turnstile released its celebrated album Never Enough. The expansive collection is a restless and exhilarating evolution of Turnstile’s genre-defying sound and is a transformative journey, both fearless and alive, by one of the most forward-thinking and influential bands of their generation. Never Enough also earned the band their first two Grammy Awards, including ‘Best Rock Album’ and ‘Best Metal Performance’ for album track ‘Birds.’ Alongside the album, Turnstile released the companion film Turnstile: Never Enough, which was directed by the band’s own Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory and saw a theatrical release around the globe.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Goth In The Park: Goth Barge + Scary Lady Sarah @ Cathedral Square Park
“Goth Barge and Scary Lady Sarah take over Cathedral Square for ‘Goth In The Park’ finale. This marks the first time a DJ set has ever been the featured performance since Jazz in the Park launched in 1991. We are officially ushering in spooky season by swapping the usual jazz standards for a night of darkwave, industrial, and synth-pop. The afternoon starts at 3 p.m. with the Cathedral Square Market, where local vendors will be selling art, handmade goods, and treats. The music kicks off at 6 p.m. and runs through 8:30 p.m. in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. While the series is traditionally rooted in the jazz tradition, East Town Association is letting us close out the summer with a different kind of energy.”
She Returns From War + Maximiano, Lily Slay And The Vertebrae @ Cactus Club
“Hailing from Nashville by way of the historically rich city of Charleston, South Carolina, Americana music artist Hunter Park is defining what it means to not only live in the modern South, but to be a trans woman and artist within this landscape. Combining folk-infused vocal melodies and evocative lyrics that capture the unfiltered human experience, She Returns From War is taking her seat in the Americana music world with grace, strength, and passion.”
Gina Marie & The Golden Bucks @ Nashville North
“Gina Marie & The Golden Bucks blend vintage charm with modern grit, led by powerhouse vocalist and drummer Gina Marie DeGregorio. With roots in swing, country, jazz and Americana, the band delivers a soulful, high-energy sound that pays tribute to the golden era of American music with the earthy industrial audacity that permeates Chicago-born sound.”
From Milwaukee With Love: Milwaukee’s Romance Book Weekend @ North Avenue, Wauwatosa (through September 13)
“Coming back for a second year, From Milwaukee With Love is a love letter from Milwaukee to romance readers and authors from around the world. The Well Red Damsel and the amazing MKE Books & Beers are partnering with the Wauwatosa Public Library and dozens of Milwaukee’s small businesses to bring you four days chalked full of bookish events!”
Hazel Cat + dmb the etymology, Drugstore Lipstick, Red Quean @ MKeUltra
Shane Guerrette + Lunde @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
The Bourbon Jockeys @ The Wicked Hop
Thursday Bike Nights: Robert Allen Jr. Band @ Harley-Davidson Museum Campus
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Kacey Musgraves + Midland @ Fiserv Forum
Hot off the heels of releasing her excellent sixth studio album, Middle Of Nowhere, Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Kacey Musgraves brings her aptly named “Middle Of Nowhere Tour” to Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. What more needs to be said? Nothing! Be there!
Milwaukee INT Short Film Festival @ Avalon Atmospheric Theater (also September 12)
Looking for a jam-packed local film festival to satiate your local film festival appetite in the waning days of summer? Then look no further than the MKE INT Short Film Fest! The 28th annual shindig kicks off on Friday with a special 50th anniversary screening of the 1975 Wisconsin-made cult classic (and Mystery Science Theater 3000 favorite) The Giant Spider Invasion. The film will come complete with updated special effects and new sequences shot by director Bill Rebane, making it a Special Edition of sorts. Speaking of Rebane, the 89-year-old auteur will be on hand to receive a Pace-setter award, and to participate in a Q&A.
Wisconsin Card Show @ Baird Center (through September 13)
“The LARGEST card show in Wisconsin! Presented by Lake Country Cards & Swarmm Events. Located inside Baird Center in Milwaukee. 300+ tables. Partners Include: Fanatics Collect, Heritage Auctions, PSA, JSA, Bo Jackson Battle Arena. Featuring football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, F1, Pokemon, Magic cards, and more. Trade Night: Friday and Saturday nights following the show. Athlete autograph signings by WSC including current and former Wisconsin athletes including: Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and more.”
Blood (record release) + Reverse Playback, Victor Buell IV @ Cactus Club
In the nearly six years since Blood’s debut release, Nicholas Schubert has made Blood his primary and only musical priority. He has also welcomed Nick Hoffmann into the mix. When recording and producing the new Closed Timelike Curves at Hoffmann’s home studio, the band tried to tap into a misfiring memory theme by implementing “analog samples pulled from old cassette tapes, vinyl fragments, and found audio” into the post-punk, darkwave, shoegaze, and industrial sonic landscapes they had fashioned. Blood says the EP “feels like the most intentional version of the project we’ve made so far, both sonically and conceptually.”
TosaFest @ Wauwatosa Village (also September 12)
TosaFest, which started way back in 1976, returns for another year September 11 and 12. Now 50 years removed from its start, the 2026 installment will offer live entertainment on three stages, food vendors galore, youth-focused “Kids Zone” activities, a vendor market, arts activities, Oktoberfest at Draft & Vessel, tons of nearby bars and restaurants to explore, a cheese curd eating contest, and more.
Sam Tallent @ Milwaukee Improv (through September 13)
Colorado comedian Sam Tallent has toured relentlessly across North America and Europe, amassed TV credits on Comedy Central and Viceland, and his debut novel (Running The Light) has garnered favorable reviews from literary critics and inspired kind words from fellow comics like Marc Maron and Ron White. Tallent—who has become something of a Milwaukee regular the past five years—returns to the region for five shows at the Milwaukee Improv in nearby Brookfield, spread over three late summer nights.
In Shining Armour + Lana Leone, My Melody, Overhand @ Cactus Club
Mall Goth ft. Goth Barge @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Puerto Rican Festival Of Wisconsin @ Henry Maier Festival Park
After previous installments at Humboldt Park, Wilson Park, Jackson Park, and Veterans Park, the state’s largest celebration of Puerto Rican culture returns to the Summerfest grounds. As always, there will be plenty of room to celebrate all things Puerto Rican in a wide variety of ways. Just some of the things attendees can expect to experience at the family-friendly event include dancing, food and drinks, live entertainment, a kid’s zone, DJs, dozens of retail vendors, and much more.
Silver City Fest @ Silver City Neighborhood (near 3501 W. Pierce St.)
“For 15 years, Silver City Fest has brought neighbors, businesses, artists, families and community partners together to celebrate the people and places that make Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood a special place to call home. This year, the annual celebration will look a little different as the community comes together during the ongoing reconstruction of National Avenue. This free, family-friendly street festival will take over Pierce Street from the 35th Street Viaduct to 37th Street, with activities taking place beneath the viaduct and along the street. The celebration will feature live music, local food, artists and makers, family activities, interactive art, community organizations and more.”
Argren Faire @ Black Husky Brewing
The past two years have seen a homegrown Ren Faire called the Argren Faire set up shop on Locust Street, outside of Black Husky Brewing in Riverwest. Argren Faire is based on the mythical land of Argren—a.k.a. the setting of the Spirit Song Saga by Milwaukee authors Ross Hightower and Deb Heim. The 2025 installment drew more than 5,000 folks. The Faire returns in 2026 with “even more artisan vendors, more food, more music, and more interactive events.”
Strummerfest @ Club Garibaldi
“Help us raise money for the MPS Music programs by paying tribute to legendary rocker Joe Strummer! Eight bands will have 15 minutes each to perform their own interpretation of some Joe Strummer’s songs. Come join some other Clash fans celebrating the only band that mattered and raising some money for a good cause.”
UHBC 2026 Block Party #3 @ Urban Harvest Brewing Company
“We’re opening our doors and letting the party spill out onto South 5th for our 3rd Block Party of ’26. Our special guests will be the Sorry Mountain Bluegrass Band. Vevas 1942 Food Truck will be here to share an amazing looking menu with you. A perfect transition from summer into fall, our Short Stack Maple Brown Seasonal will be pouring when we open at 1. Bonus Beer release! We dug deep into the depths of our walk-in cooler and found a keg of our Full Stack Imperial Maple Brown.”
7th Annual Shorewood 12 Bike Race @ Shorewood
“Join the Gentlemen of Shorewood on Saturday, September 12 from 9:12 a.m. to 9:12 p.m. for the Shorewood 12 bike race! Simply put, teams of 4 take turns riding laps around Shorewood for 12 hours. But it’s not all about the laps. New this year: stop in local Shorewood businesses and participate in a variety of challenges to earn BONUS points for your team before the race day! All proceeds from the race and race entrance fees are donated back to various and multiple charitable organizations.”
IKEA Frank Mots International Kite Festival @ Veterans Park (also September 13)
“Gift of Wings hosts the annual Frank Mots International Kite Festival at Milwaukee’s Lakefront in Veterans Park. The event features professionally flown giant-sized kites and a grand launch of 600 kites each day at noon. The annual event is the weekend after Labor Day. Free fun for the family! Saturday open until 6 p.m.; Sunday, until 5 p.m.”
Jon Burks And The Donkey King + Mostly @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Mindy Smith + John Sieger @ Shank Hall
Lily Rose + Adam Paddock @ The Argo
Soulful Summer Music Series: Garrett Waite Quartet @ Gordon Park
South Shore Farmers’ Market: Jon Newcomb & Friends Rock’n Family Fun Time @ South Shore Park
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Dialogues + DJ Joey Turbo @ Cactus Club
The Pack is back…and so is the Milwaukee Record Halftime Show concert series at Cactus Club! This season, we’ve assembled a stacked roster of 13 acts that will provide FREE all-ages entertainment at Cactus Club during halftime of Green Bay’s games. Get ready to see approximately 15-minute shows from the likes of Dialogues, They Want Blood, Wisconsin Space Program, Resurrectionists, 5 O’Clock Charlie, and many more. Our pals at Miller High Life have returned as a sponsor, meaning fans can enjoy bucket and single bottle specials on both “The Champagne Of Beers” and Miller Lite all game long. Last and certainly not least, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe will once again be coming by most games to drop off some complementary pizza (while supplies last).
Bikini Kill + Ganser @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“Bikini Kill is a feminist punk band that started in Olympia, Washington, and later moved to Washington, DC. The band was active from 1990 to 1998. Although they sometimes switched instruments, the primary lineup was Kathleen Hanna on vocals, Tobi Vail on drums, and Kathi Wilcox on bass. Billy Karren joined on guitar after the band had played several shows as a three-piece. Bikini Kill is credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early ’90s via their political lyrics, zines and confrontational live shows.”
Peaches + Wheelchair Sports Camp @ The Rave / Eagles Club
The irreverent, influential, and all-around iconic Peaches comes to Milwaukee on Sunday to treat The Rave to cuts from her new album, No Lube So Rude, along with other material from her raunchy, raucous, and undeniably dance-y catalog.
Bob Log III + Long Arms, The Dead Ends @ X-Ray Arcade
“Bob Log III is a one man band slide guitar party. A perverse product of the Arizona desert, Bob Log III has been diligently traveling the globe since 1996, showcasing his incomparable talents and developing a devoted following along the way. A whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits, this super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed.”
Punch Brothers @ The Pabst Theater
“Punch Brothers, formed by mandolinist Chris Thile in 2006, is known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music. In addition to Thile, the band currently comprises guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas. Punch Brothers has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore (2018). The Washington Post applauded them for taking ‘bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart.'”
Caley Conway + Cathedral Becomes Tomb, White Dune, Attack Dog @ MKeUltra
There are moments in Caley Conway’s 2024 album Partner when the ever-busy Milwaukee singer-songwriter finds herself caught in the humdrum duties of daily life. There are things to do—or not—people to see—or not—and the ones and zeros of technology to attend to. And then, suddenly, she’s off and dreaming, belly laughing with a distant friend or considering taking up “the work of birds.” When she comes back down to Earth, more often than not, she finds bliss in a comforting middle ground. “There aren’t enough hours in the day, I’ve counted,” Conway sings early in the record, before slyly adding, “For loving you.”
Hooligan’s 90th Anniversary Party @ Hooligan’s
The Hungry Williams @ Ope! Brewing Co.
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