Our fat-free, dolphin-safe Milwaukee events calendar is chock-full of things to do, but only a handful of events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations for July 11-17, 2022.
MONDAY, JULY 11
The Bronx + Avenues, Poison Hand @ X-Ray Arcade
Veteran L.A. punk mainstays The Bronx temporarily break away from their support slot on Frank Turner’s ongoing “50 States In 50 Days” tour to headline a can’t-miss Monday night soiree at X-Ray Arcade. Be there!
Hannah Gadsby @ Bradley Symphony Center
TUESDAY, JULY 12
Chill On The Hill: Wise Jennings + The MilBillies @ Humboldt Park
Chill On The Hill’s 17th season—which kicked off June 7—features a total of 13 weeks worth of free, family-friendly entertainment. Like last year, Chill has expanded its footprint by designating the space between the band chalet and the Vine Beer Garden for show-goers. The ever-popular concert series continues its 2022 season with a performance by Wise Jennings and The MilBillies. Go find your lawn chairs, break out your comfiest blanket, and put some beverages in the cooler.
Rat Bath + Garden Home, Northern Gloom, The Nile Club @ Cactus Club
Rat Bath has been scampering around the Milwaukee music scene since 2019, specializing in what the band calls “spooky country core.” That sound is certainly on display throughout the group’s debut LP, Rat From Hell. The 11-track record careens between noisy, full-barrel cow punk and chaotic, witchy hardcore, with everything in between. (A few quieter moments, and a guest appearance from Johanna Rose, are also included.) It’s a wild ride, and it’s one of the best Milwaukee albums of the year.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13
Milwaukee Night Market @ 3rd Street Market Hall
Remember the NEWaukee Night Market? The big art fair/food truck fair/”Hey, it’s the Milwaukee Blacksmith family!” fair that would take over a prime chunk of Wisconsin Avenue outside the old Shops of Grand Avenue four times a year every summer? It was great! Well, it’s now just the Milwaukee Night Market (and the old Shops of Grand Avenue are now 3rd Street Market Hall), but it’s back! Tonight’s installment will be followed by two more markets on August 17 and September 21. (Also: could it NOT rain this time?)
Tosa Tonight: Ben Mulwana Band + Tae & The Neighborly @ Hart Park
Since 2000, the Tosa Tonight summer concert series has brought free and family-friendly live music to Rotary Performance Pavilion in Wauwatosa’s Hart Park. Following a pandemic-prompted hiatus in 2020, the series returned with eight concerts in the summer of 2021. Thankfully, Tosa Tonight is back again in full force this summer. The series continues tonight with the Ben Mulwana Band, and guests Tae & The Neighborly.
Frankie And The Witch Fingers + Hot Garbage, Fellow Kinsman @ Cactus Club
Elf Power + E.R. Jurken @ Shank Hall
THURSDAY, JULY 14
Bastille Days @ Cathedral Square Park (through July 17)
Following a two-year COVID hiatus, the ever-popular Bastille Days returns to Cathedral Park Square. While the iconic Eiffel Tower won’t make an appearance this year (it’s being spiffed up and restored), folks can expect “great food, entertainment, the return of the infamous Storm the Bastille Run/Walk, along with some fresh new twists to create an authentic French flavor.” And remember: the Run/Walk is Thursday, so don’t park downtown!
Argopelter + Caley Conway, Hemma @ Boone & Crockett patio
Argopelter is an improvised experimental trio composed of Barry Paul Clark (bass), Devin Drobka (drums), and Christopher Porterfield (guitar). The group’s winter and spring residencies at Boone & Crockett were appointment viewing/listening, especially when coupled with incomparable singer-songwriter Caley Conway. Now, Argopelter and Conway are back for a Thursday night patio performance. They’ll be joined by Minneapolis group Hemma.
Third Space Presents: Sleepy Gaucho @ Third Space Brewing
Every Thursday through September 15, “Third Space Presents” brings a different musical act to the Menomonee Valley brewery’s new and improved outdoor patio. In addition to the concert (which runs from 6-8 p.m., including an intermission) and plenty of award-winning local beer on site, Triciclo Peru is always on hand to serve empanadas and other Peruvian goodies out of its food truck. Tonight’s installment features music from Sleepy Gaucho.
Tony! Toni! Toné! @ Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
R&B greats Tony! Toni! Toné come to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino for one night only to treat Northern Lights Theater to timeless cuts from their five albums, and standout songs they wrote and performed in a wide range of films. You can safely bet this will be a great time.
Social Cig + Ocean Child, Kat And The Hurricane @ Cactus Club
Mudvayne + Starset @ The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Carry Nation & The Speak Easy + S.S. Web, Highlonesome, Dig Deep @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
FRIDAY, JULY 15
WMSE’s Art & Music @ Pritzlaff Building
For the past half-decade, WMSE’s Art & Music has combined, well, art and music for a one-of-a-kind event. At the center is an auction of hundreds of album-sized, 12″ x 12″ pieces of original art from local and national artists. Toss in WMSE’s own DJs, cocktails from Great Lakes Distillery, live music from everyone’s favorite local spaghetti-western surf-rock outfit Devils Teeth, and you’ve got—once again—Art & Music!
Milwaukee Boat Line Concert Cruise: The Appalachians @ Milwaukee Boat Line
Despite the dozens of festivals, block parties, and weekly outdoor music series taking place on Milwaukee soil every summer, Milwaukee Boat Line sees fit to extend the city’s celebratory spirit to the water with its annual Concert Cruise series. Every Friday night between early June and the end of August, a variety of Wisconsin bands board the Vista King to perform on the lake vessel’s poop deck while the beer and pre-mixed margaritas flow liberally from 9-11 p.m. The series continues this week with a performance from The Appalachians.
Music On The Beerline @ Beerline Trail
Ben Harold & The Rising + Jorge Valentine @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Bug Moment + MTN AIR, 9 A.M. @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Bike-In Movie Series: ‘Mars Attacks!’ @ Swing Park
SATURDAY, JULY 16
Red Bull Flugtag @ Veterans Park
Red Bull’s long-running Flugtag event—in which folks construct their own ridiculous “flying” machines and “fly” them off a ramp into a body of water—makes its Wisconsin/Milwaukee debut this weekend in Veterans Park. “The iconic Red Bull event takes place July 16 and challenges Midwesterners to launch one-of-a-kind airships off a 27-foot flight deck erected in the historic Veterans Park and into Lake Michigan,” explains a press release. Need we say more? (Okay: “Flugtag” is German for “flying day.”) A group of celebrity judges will rank the creativity, performance, and distance of the flights. Judges include Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver, as well as local TikTok creator JMatt and Kwik Trip social media star Paige Forde.
Big Clown + Florida Brothers Band, Gorilla Knifefight @ Circle-A Cafe
Big Clown out of Memphis, Tennessee stop by Circle-A, where they get local support from Gorilla Knifefight and wrestling-inspired Milwaukee outfit Florida Brothers Band. The show doubles as the digital release for Florida Brothers Band’s new EP, Pick Your Sting.
Gigs 4 Good: Justin Witte + Sean Williamson @ The Tonic Tavern
Last summer, The Tonic Tavern celebrated its 12th anniversary with a new charitable music series. “Gigs 4 Good” featured a wide range of Milwaukee musicians performing at Tonic on select Saturdays. It went so well, Tonic brought it back for 2022! Like last time around, proceeds from the concerts (brought in through audience donations and from the bar donating a portion of that night’s sales) benefit Milwaukee Center For Children And Youth, Bay View Community Center, and The Women’s Center. The series continues tonight with a performance from Justin Witte and Sean Williamson.
Riverwest Food Truck Rally @ Gathering Place Brewing Company
Adi Armour (record release) + Cigarette Break @ Company Brewing
SUNDAY, JULY 17
Mötley Crüe + Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts @ American Family Field
The Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, AND Joan Jett? Good grief, it’s a bowling-alley jukebox from 1986 come to life! But seriously, these hard-rocking, well-coiffed hair-metal groups absolutely ruled at their peaks; these days, well, some have aged better than others. Come for the music, get there early for a Heavy Metal Parking Lot reboot outside American Family Field.
Milwaukee Makers Market @ Discovery World
Now into its sixth season, Milwaukee Makers Market gives customers an opportunity to explore a market featuring 50+ local makers and small businesses that create artwork, jewelry, clothing, kids apparel, herbal tea, soaps, candles, stickers, pastries and more. This installment takes place at Discovery World and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Calliope Musicals + Adorner, SSAANN @ Cactus Club
Milwaukee Armenian Fest @ St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church
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