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.
To most people, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. We do things a little different here in Milwaukee because we have a massive annual event that carries the name of the season. So, of course, we’re going to point you toward something that officially starts the countdown to the World’s Largest Music Festival.
This Thursday night at The Cooperage is the Summerfest Kickoff Party that, for the purposes of this weekly post, features live performances from a collection of local talents: Gego y Nony, The Keystones, NilexNile and DJ Bizzon. But they’re not the only artists on hand, because clothing brand Unfinished Legacy will be well represented via the unveiling of its official Summerfest merch collab.
Like any good party, this one is free and open to the public, which means anyone can get in the running for the prizes and tickets being given away throughout the night. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the festivities getting underway at 7 p.m.
Our second pick of the week is actually two picks in one — or maybe four? — because two beloved Studio Milwaukee veterans will be on the same bill for not one but TWO shows at Cactus Club this Sunday. Toplining the two-fer (or four-fer) are Slow Pulp and Hotline TNT, who were kind enough to grace our stage for a pair of October sessions in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The former Madisonians from Slow Pulp released one of my favorite albums of that year, Pulp, and beautifully translated that material to their live performance, punctuated by Emily Massey’s lovely vocals. Hotline TNT also brought new music for their visit, having shared the single “Candle” just a few days prior as part of Cardinals at the Window, a 136-track compilation for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Those two Studio Milwaukee Sessions alone should be enough to convince you of both bands’ live chops, which will be on display at Cactus Club twice Sunday: an early show at 5 p.m. with opener Obsess Tact and a late installment at 8:30 p.m. with Combat Naps.
Best Milwaukee concerts this week
- May 28: Peach Pit, Briston Maroney @ BMO Pavilion, 6:30 p.m.
- May 29: Valerie June w/Buffalo Nichols @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- May 29: Official Summerfest Kickoff Party w/Gego y Nony, The Keystones, NilexNile @ The Cooperage, 7 p.m.
- May 29: Old Pup, Sean Pratt Trio, Dandy L Freling @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- May 29: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
- May 30: Gabriel Harris w/Laura Bomber & Tori Yocum, Hanna Simone @ Anodyne, 7:30 p.m.
- May 30: Front of Truck w/Sad Laser, The Buddyrevelles, Kevin Tihista/Housesitters @ Linneman’s, 8 p.m.
- May 31: Collections of Colonies of Bees @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- May 31: Smooth Rogers, Alison Mahal, Blacktop @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- June 1: Slow Pulp, Hotline TNT, Obsess Tact @ Cactus Club, 5 p.m.
- June 1: Slow Pulp, Hotline TNT, Combat Naps @ Cactus Club, 8:30 p.m.
- June 1: Dallas Ugly, The Spine Stealers @ Anodyne, 6 p.m.
