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 22-28, 2019.
MONDAY, JULY 22
The Psychedelic Furs + James @ Pabst Theater
You know legendary UK band The Psychedelic Furs from their song “Pretty In Pink,” which was used in John Hughes’ Pretty In Pink. You know legendary UK band James from their song “Laid,” which was used in everything. Both groups have done plenty more, of course, and tonight’s low-ticket-alert crowd is sure to know and love it all.
PONCÉ + Saebra & Carlyle, Bum Alum, Vanity Plates @ Cactus Club
TUESDAY, JULY 23
Chill On The Hill: Vincent Van Great + Funk Summit Bass Team, Milwaukee Rep with West Side Story @ Humboldt Park
The concept of Bay View’s early-week Chill On The Hill is simple: laying out on a blanket and imbibing food and beverages brought from home (or purchased from a series of vendors on site) whilst enjoying a diverse bevy of homegrown talent. With a terrific 2019 lineup (Rose Of The West, Trapper Schoepp, Vincent Van Great, Buffalo Gospel, more), there’s bound to be something for most every taste.
Jackie Venson + Will Pfrang And The Good Land Gang @ Cactus Club
Guster + Mikaela Davis @ Pabst Theater
Beer Academy 502: Women In Beer @ Lakefront Brewery
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Washington Park Wednesdays: Klassik + Aram Feriants, No Seatbelts, Immortal Girlfriend @ Washington Park
This free mid-week music series features a wide range of local acts performing under the gorgeous Washington Park bandshell. If the scenery alone isn’t worth the trip, this year’s downright awesome list of performers—Zed Kenzo, Immortal Girlfriend, Klassik, Ruth B8r Ginsburg, many more—certainly is.
Legendary Shack Shakers + Bleed, Beaumont James & The Wild Claims @ The Cooperage
THURSDAY, JULY 25
Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators + Joyous Wolf @ Pabst Theater
To paraphrase Shelly in Twin Peaks: Slash is cool. Slash has always been cool. He appears here with his non-GNR band, Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators.
Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends + Wailin Storms, Blue Unit @ Club Garibaldi
FRIDAY, JULY 26
Riverwest 24 @ Riverwest
The Riverwest 24 can seem like an overwhelming experience. It is a 24-hour bike race, after all. But the so-called “People’s Holiday” is much more than just a bicycling competition. It offers an opportunity to see the neighborhood like never before, and it essentially forces participants to work together to help out the community. It’s also the best party of the summer.
Friday Nite Music: Derek Pritzl + Andrew Koenig @ Colectivo Lakefront Cafe
For a second year, Colectivo Coffee has asked Milwaukee Record to put together a free, weekly concert series called Friday Nite Music. Every—you guessed it!—Friday night, we bring you a different Wisconsin singer-songwriter or band outside Colectivo’s Lakefront Cafe from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
German Fest @ Henry Maier Festival Park
Milwaukee’s German roots are undeniable, as the area was a major landing point for German immigrants in the late 1800s. German Fest, or “Milwaukee’s original haus party,” gives locals a chance to celebrate German-style with church services, a sheepshead tournament, a dachshund derby, and yes, brats and beer. (Through July 28.)
Dreamhouse + Under Aegis, These Fading Visions, Faux Fiction @ Walker’s Point Music Hall
The Curls + Dirty Dancing, Vanity Plates @ Riverwest Public House
The Living Deads + King Eye & The Squirts, Saebra & Carlyle @ X-Ray Arcade
SATURDAY, JULY 27
“Weird Al” Yankovic: Strings Attached @ Miller High Life Theatre
Let’s face it, “Weird Al” Yankovic fans: If you’ve seen one Weird Al show, you’ve seen ’em all. Well, unless you saw last year’s “Ill-Advised Vanity” shows at Pabst Theater, which featured oodles of deep cuts and original songs. And, well, unless you plan to see this “Strings Attached” show at Miller High Life Theatre, which will feature Al’s “usual big production—costumes, props, video wall—supported by his band, background singers, and…a full symphony orchestra!” YES.
Brady Street Festival @ Brady Street
Brady Street may no longer be Milwaukee’s answer to Haight-Ashbury, but it’s still an eclectic slice of the city. The nine-block parcel of shops, restaurants, bars, juggling emporiums, and encroaching luxury apartments once again plays host to various local food/beverage and retail vendors, belly dancers, drag performers, and multiple stages worth of local music.
Milwaukee Brewfest @ McKinley Park
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019, Milwaukee Brewfest offers hopheads an opportunity to enjoy unlimited samples from more than 100 craft breweries over the course of one summer afternoon. This year’s beverage selection hasn’t been announced yet, but have we mentioned that the lakefront beer bash offers unlimited beer? Because it does.
Milwaukee Air & Water Show @ lakefront
Board your pets and make some plans out of town (Mauthe Lake is nice this time of year), because the Milwaukee Air & Water Show is back. Again. Countless screeching death machines buzzing your apartment for days on end? Check. Severely frayed nerves? You bet. Thank you, United States Air Force’s Thunderbirds. Thank you. (Through July 28.)
Doormouse & Anonymous + The Demix, Black Lines Din Sky, DJ Speedsick
Abby Jeanne + Calliope Musicals @ Cactus Club
Night Glitter + Apollo Vermouth, L’Resorts @ The Cooperage
Graveyard Club + Paper Holland, LUXI @ Company Brewing
SUNDAY, JULY 28
Walt Hamburger + Seth Anderson @ X-Ray Arcade
From Caleb Westphal’s May 2019 fish fry review of Erv’s Mug in Oak Creek: “Walt Hamburger was along, as were a few other friends. Walt made a point to do and say outlandish things and then would say, ‘Are you going to put that in your article?’ He did point out to me that one of the workers helped someone put their coat on, which illustrated something that was pretty obvious anyway: the workers at Erv’s Mug that we came in contact with were exceptionally nice.”