Milwaukee 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—brought to you by Lilliput Records—for July 24-30, 2023.
MONDAY, JULY 24
Gogol Bordello + Puzzled Panther @ The Rave/Eagles Club
“Since the band’s genesis in the Lower East Side punk-rock scene of 1999, Gogol Bordello has been riling up audiences with an inimitable patchwork of raucous punk and Eastern European Gypsy-swing. Latest album Solidaritine takes them back to hardcore roots with a renewed sense of urgency, as Eugene Hütz explains: ‘Solidaritine is the substance that unlocks our empathy and our full human potential…May this be your punky uplift for our packed with troubled times.'”
MKE Music Night: Adorner + Orbital Mothers, Oh Geeez, Tlalok @ Cactus Club
Musical Mondays: Jamie Breiwick Quintet ft. Abigail Riccards @ Lake Park Summer Stage
TUESDAY, JULY 25
Say She She + Abby Jeanne @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
“Discodelic soul band” Say She She has earned oodles of praise for good reason. Tonight, the buzzworthy Brooklyn-based act brings its genre-jumping, era-hopping sound to The Back Room. Even better, the show will begin with a full performance by co-headliner Abby Jeanne; the Milwaukee-born psych/soul artist (now based in New York) has released a string of fantastic singles in the past few years, and recently performed at the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival.
Chill On The Hill: Dope Music Crew + Ben Harold And The Rising @ Humboldt Park
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26
Milwaukee Record Presents: Airplane! @ Avalon Theater
Do you like endlessly quotable and ridiculously absurd movies from 1980 that feature Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? What about movies that check all of the above boxes and are directed by Milwaukee natives David and Jerry Zucker? If you answered YES to these questions, you’ll surely want to check out our screening of Airplane! And stop calling us Shirley. Tickets are available HERE!
THURSDAY, JULY 27
Matt Watson @ Turner Hall Ballroom
“American comedian, musician and YouTuber Matt Watson is widely known for his role as a cohost of the weekly podcast SuperMegaCast. Watson also cohost’s SuperMega—a channel where they create comedy videos, music, and a weekly podcast episode—with Ryan Magee.”
State Of Sound: Social Cig @ Radio Milwaukee
Milwaukee indie outfit Social Cig had a big 2022, releasing the full-length CHEESEHEAD, receiving oodles of local acclaim, and playing a slew of high-profile shows. That momentum has continued throughout 2023, with frontperson Parker Schultz and company delivering energetic sets at Summerfest and other summer festivals. Catch Social Cig whenever you can, especially at intimate Radio Milwaukee shows like this.
Soft Blue Shimmer + Muted Color, Overhand, Apollo Vermouth @ X-Ray Arcade
Midcoast Presents: Dora Diamond + Mad Static, 39tharchitect, Maximiano @ Cactus Club
Hiahli + Cozy Danger, Dropbear Collective @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Música Del Lago: De La Buena @ Colectivo Lakefront
FRIDAY, JULY 28
Riverwest 24 @ Riverwest (through July 29)
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 one of the best parties of the summer—in Riverwest or in any other neighborhood. Be there!
German Fest @ Henry Maier Festival Park (through July 30)
“One of the largest German festivals in North America, German Fest Milwaukee is known for its authentic food, culture and entertainment. We invite you to bring the family, raise a stein, polka the night away and make it YOUR tradition.”
Regina Spektor @ The Riverside Theater
“Regina Spektor is synonymous with New York City. The singer, songwriter and pianist got her own Sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame, as well as ‘Regina Spektor Day,’ (June 11, 2019) proclaimed by Mayor Bill DeBlasio. The Grammy Award nominee first saw commercial success with the RIAA Gold-certified LP, Begin To Hope, which includes the singles ‘On The Radio,’ ‘Better’ and ‘Samson,’ as well as ‘Fidelity,’ which climbed the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.”
Jagged Little Pill The Musical @ Miller High Life Theatre (through July 30)
“Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE—everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show—is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music. Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, 1776) with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Grammy-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family ‘vaults the audienceto its collective feet’ (The Guardian).”
Blind Hill + Cozy Danger, BlueJets @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
Lake Drive + 5PM To Nowhere, The Mannequins @ Shank Hall
L’Eclair + sunking, DJ Chris Roberts @ Cactus Club
Soul Speed + Hanna Simone, Josh Trimble And The Juice @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
SATURDAY, JULY 29
Brady Street Festival @ Brady Street
One of Milwaukee’s largest, longest-running, and all-around best summer block parties is set to take over a nine-block stretch of the East Side for another thrilling installment from noon to 11 p.m. As always, Brady Street Festival will feature music, food, drinks, local retailers, and other activities. However, there will also be a few new stages, some new youth-focused amenities, and more. Find out absolutely everything you need to know about the big shindig HERE.
RAT BATH + Pescatarian At Best (split release), The Antibuddies, The Cult Of Nasty, DJ Maggie @ Cactus Club
“RAT BATH is a band of all trans-gender individuals that reclaim queer-coded villains from their childhood as heros in their storytelling and strive for visibility in the music industry. They describe their sound as ‘Y’allternative’ but have also been called Cow Punk, Alternative Emo, Dirt Americana and Murder Country. Which ever way you slice it; they are fast, loud, and have a unique backwoods edge.”
Milwaukee Brewfest @ McKinley Park
Audio Karate + Tightwire, Avenues, Showoff @ X-Ray Arcade
Venturer + Current Human Future Dragon, Adorner, Crown @ Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
SUNDAY, JULY 30
Valerie Lighthart ‘Spill Blood’ Release Show+ Lila Realm, Dora Diamond @ Cactus Club
“Valerie Lighthart is a pop artist who brings a certain cinematic sensibility to her sonic storytelling. Weaving together music, visuals, and poetry, she creates an immersive and unique artistic realm with characters like the goddess, the witch, and the banshee dancing dizzying around you. Get lost inside a lush and lascivious soundscape that entrances, drives, and dazzles.”
Ghost Cuts (record release) + Humid, Hazefader, Nicholas Elert @ X-Ray Arcade
Fighting’ Bob + Cosmic Endeavors, Soul Speed, Moonglow @ The Cooperage
Mike McClure + Madisen Ward @ The Back Room @ Colectivo
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