Milwaukee’s concert scene has a lot going on, so we look at the shows coming up to find the ones you’ll look back on and be glad you went. Then we add them to our weekly Milwaukee Concert Picks.
Our city seems like it’s dead set on dumping a load of live-music options on us every week, which has forced us to go quick-hit style the last couple installments. So, with the variety of shows coming at us the next couple days, let’s keep the multiple-choice approach going.
Radio Milwaukee has strong connections to a couple of the concerts this weekend, starting Friday with a trans-Atlantic visitor making two stops that day. The first will bring Manchester (U.K.) artist Freak Slug to Studio Milwaukee for a session you can hear live at noon on 88Nine. Our members will be in the room for that one, and we’ve got a whole lot of sessions in the works for spring, so bounce over to our membership page if you’re interested in joining us for all of those.
When the artist also known as Xenya Genovese finishes at our place, she’ll have some time to enjoy the city before her proper show Friday night at Cactus Club. Chicago’s Huron John will be in support, and you can grab tickets right now for $18 in advance or $20 at the door.
Next up is our own “proper show” Sunday evening at Radio Milwaukee. We heard that our friends from Ladies Rock already had their spring showcase booked and ready to go for our performance space, so we thought, “Why not team up and really crank the event up a notch or seven?”
Doing the cranking with a special show right after the showcase are Lauryl Sulfate & Her Ladies of Leisure. The electropop duo’s irresistible combination of energy and empowerment are pretty much perfect for the occasion, and they’re all in for this all-ages show that gets going at 6:30 p.m. Kids 10 and under are absolutely free, and everyone else is pay-what-you-can (with a suggested donation of $10).
Finally, we’ve got two slightly out-of-the-ordinary events to check out. On Friday night, it’s the 12th annual Milwaukee Blues Festival at the Riverside Theater featuring a deep lineup that includes King George, Tucka, Pokey Bear, West Love, Theodis Ealey and Lenny Williams.
Then comes the real wild card: Saturday afternoon’s Adidas Day Party at Turner Hall Ballroom. The event in its 10th year celebrating hip-hop culture and will once again include a performance by … someone! This is the good kind of surprise that comes in the shape of a national hip-hop legend. Past installments have brought the Digital Underground, DJ Kool, Fatman Scoop and DJ Kid Capri to our city, and this Saturday we’ll all find out together who will join the list.
Milwaukee concerts this week
- March 19: Bummer Camp, Fever Haze, Barely Civil, Okay Omen @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- March 20: Rat Bath, Meek, Killer High Life, Tiny Vamp @ Cactus Club, 6:30 p.m.
- March 21: 12th Annual Milwaukee Blues Festival @ Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
- March 21: Freak Slug, Huron John @ Cactus Club, 7 p.m.
- March 21: Evan Honer w/Timmy Skelly @ Turner Hall, 8 p.m.
- March 21: The People Brothers Band, Wise Jennings @ The Cooperage, 7 p.m.
- March 21: Dwight Yoakam & The Mavericks w/Noah Rinker @ Miller High Life Theatre, 7 p.m.
- March 22: The Dead Bolts w/The Keystones, Well + Good @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- March 22: Adidas Day Party 10-Year Celebratoin @ Turner Hall, 3 p.m.
- March 23: Lauryl Sulfate & Her Ladies of Leisure, Ladies Rock @ Radio Milwaukee, 6:30 p.m.
- March 25: Parachute Day, Buena Cara, In Shining Armour, Oogwé @ X-Ray Arcade, 7 p.m.
