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.
Given that it’s Halloween this Friday, it makes sense that this week’s concert options wear quite a few different masks — from album releases to genre celebrations to membership drives.
We know a few things about that last one, and with our own Fall Drive recently wrapped, it’s WMSE’s turn. They dressed up theirs as a Halloween Dance Bash that goes down Thursday at Anodyne with performances by Seances, El Sebas and Red Quean.
If you’re still feeling festive the following night, you can hit up Linneman’s on Friday and show your support for another good-hearted local org: Girls Rock MKE. They lined up some big-sounding names for this tribute show, featuring such almost-stars as Chappell Hoan, Pabst Benatar and Bobby Portishead, Jr.
Saturday is the album-release portion of the concert calendar, and the good news is you don’t even need to choose between the two artists celebrating new records that day. Ladybird thoughtfully scheduled a pair of shows around the recently released Clementine, which means you can catch the 5 p.m. performance and then pop over to the Vivarium for Willy Porter’s 8 p.m. shindig in honor of new album Humans in a Room.
Finally, we’re helping you wrap up the weekend live from Radio Milwaukee with Otoñofest MKE — an afternoon to amplify Wisconsin’s rising Latine artists and connect audiences through music, culture and community.
From noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, you can enjoy local food trucks and art pop-ups while taking in country-spun Spanglish ballads, hip-hop-infused cumbia, psychedelia, experimental soul and more. Taking the stage at the third-annual festival are Brandon Payton-Carrillo with Lakebeat Social Club, Ricky Orta Jr., Alyssia Dominguez, Tlalok, El Sebas and Ambulante y Clandestino.
It’s an event that proves Latin alternative isn’t just thriving in East and West Coast cities; it’s blooming right here on the coast of Lake Michigan, shaped by Wisconsin sounds and stories.
Best concerts in Milwaukee this week
- Oct. 30: Lonnie Holley & Friends @ John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 30: WMSE’s Radio Dead Time w/Seances, El Sebas, Red Quean @ Anodyne, 6:45 p.m.
- Oct. 30: Patrick Wolf, Holy Pinto @ X-Ray Arcade, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 30: DIY Fest w/Off Season, In Shining Armour, Charlie Boy, Tiny Vamp @ Falcon Hall, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 31: Colin Hay @ Pabst Theater, 8 p.m.
- Oct. 31: Girls Rock MKE Halloween Benefit & Tribute Show @ Linneman’s, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 1: Ladybird (album release early show) w/Long Line Riders @ Cactus Club, 5 p.m.
- Nov. 1: Ladybird (album release late show) w/Bitch Creek, Chapped Lips @ Cactus Club, 8:30 p.m.
- Nov. 1: Willy Porter (album release) @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 2: Otoñofest MKE @ Radio Milwaukee, noon
- Nov. 2: Bartees Strange w/Jacob Slade @ Vivarium, 8 p.m.
- Nov. 3: Gramma, Courtesy, Shoobie, Oh Well OK @ MKE Ultra, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 4: WMSE Local Live w/Paul Cebar @ Anodyne, 6 p.m.
- Nov. 4: Durand Jones & The Indications w/The Psycodelics @ Turner Hall, 8 p.m.
