By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Aug 03, 2021 at 6:06 PM

It may technically be the dog days of summer, but when it comes to live music, the summer is finally singing with Summerfest less than a month away and several live music series in full effect – now including Buskerfest, coming to the streets of Downtown Milwaukee this weekend.

Running Aug. 6-8, Buskerfest will bring three days of live music, spoken word poetry, magic, storytelling and more to special locations – including several Sculpture Milwaukee pieces – scattered across Downtown, the Third Ward, East Town and Westown. The hour-long performances are all free – but tips are encouraged, so come with some bucks to pay your talented local artists and performers.  

Here is the lineup of performances coming to sidewalks and street corners around Milwaukee this weekend – and where to find them:

Friday, Aug. 6

"Apollo/Poll" (Wisconsin Center at 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – M.A.D.D. (Milwaukee African Drum and Dance), African drum and dance
  • 5 p.m. – Malique Lion, African drum

"Love Podium" (3rd Street Market Hall entrance at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Ethan Keller, Americana singer/songwriter
  • 5 p.m. – Ken Brown, acoustic singer/songwriter
  • 6 p.m. – Brit Nicole, spoken word/poetry
  • 7 p.m. – Kavon Cortez Jones, spoken word/poetry

"Gild the Lily (Caribbean I, II,  III)" (Chase Tower at 111 E. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Dan Kolesari, classic rock covers
  • 5 p.m. – Fressure Point, soul/funk
  • 7 p.m. – Donna Re'nee, hip hop and R&B

"After Harry" (Pocket Park at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Jessica Lyn Music, singer/songwriter and piano
  • 2 p.m. – Un Petite Recital De Harp, harp
  • 5 p.m. – Rebekah Ruetz, violin
  • 7 p.m. – Brandon King, saxophone

"Bronze Fonz" (RiverWalk at 117 E. Wells St.)

  • Noon – Roxie Beane, acoustic funk/covers
  • 5 p.m. – Frogwater, Americana/folk

Milwaukee Public Market

  • Noon – Andy Braun, acoustic singer/songwriter
  • 2 p.m. – Heather Lewin, Irish/old-time fiddle
  • 5 p.m. – Nate Bjorge, acoustic singer/songwriter
  • 7 p.m. – Bruce Dean, Americana/roots originals

Historic Third Ward mid-block park (100 block of N. Broadway)

  • Noon – Versatile Accordion, accordion/polka

"Hand Heart" (Catalano Square)

  • 5 p.m. – Smith & Binder Jazz, jazz
  • 7 p.m. – Big Style Brass Band, jazz

1000/1100 blocks of Old World Third Street/MLK Drive

  • 6 p.m. – Extra Crispy Brass Band, jazz

Saturday, Aug. 7

"Apollo/Poll" (Wisconsin Center at 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Nancy Maio and Gare Hofstad, violin and guitar
  • 2 p.m. – Underground Sound Jazz, jazz
  • 5 p.m. – Ms. Lotus Fankh, soul/funk

"Love Podium" (3rd Street Market Hall entrance at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – NilexNile, hip hop and R&B
  • 5 p.m. – Delta Triplett, hip hop and R&B
  • 6 p.m. – Marc the Zani, interactive street performance/magician

"Gild the Lily (Caribbean I, II,  III)" (Chase Tower at 111 E. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Limber Brain, acoustic multi-instrumentalist
  • 5 p.m. – Ben Harold and The Rising, old soul rock 'n' roll
  • 7 p.m. – Stanley Kates Jr. and Friends, drums

"After Harry" (Pocket Park at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Gothic Milwaukee, interactive street performance/ghost stories
  • 2 p.m. – Around the World with Pocket Lady, interactive family-friendly street performance
  • 5 p.m. – Ian Wasserman, cello
  • 7 p.m. – Milwaukee Harpist, harp

"Bronze Fonz" (RiverWalk at 117 E. Wells St.)

  • Noon – MC Smith and John Minard, Americana/country
  • 2 p.m. – Jacob Slade, acoustic originals
  • 5 p.m. – Dream City Strings, orchestral quartet

Milwaukee Public Market

  • Noon – The Sunkin Suns, indie jam band
  • 2 p.m. – Matthew Davies, acoustic originals/guitar
  • 5 p.m. – Paul and Nathan Williams, alternative/rock covers

Historic Third Ward mid-block park (100 block of N. Broadway)

  • Noon – Harold and the Doby Effects, guitar
  • 5 p.m. – Mike Plaisted, acoustic originals

"Hand Heart" (Catalano Square)

  • 1 p.m. – The Pecatonica String Quartet, orchestral quartet
  • 7 p.m. – Donna Woodall Group, jazz

Sunday, Aug. 8

"Apollo/Poll" (Wisconsin Center at 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • 5 p.m. – Vybrancy, indie jam band
  • 7 p.m. – Keshena Armon, soul/funk

"After Harry" (Pocket Park at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.)

  • Noon – Gothic Milwaukee, interactive street performances/ghost stories
  • 2 p.m. – Around the World with Pocket Lady, interactive family-friendly street performances
  • 5 p.m. – Jackie Oakes, cello
  • 7 p.m. – Ricky Price, jazz

"Bronze Fonz" (RiverWalk at 117 E. Wells St.)

  • Noon – Next Paperback Hero, original music by songwriter Nathan Honore
  • 2 p.m. – Canary Reeds, orchestral
  • 5 p.m. – Hoppers Luck, indie jam band
  • 7 p.m. – Bruce Humphries, Americana/rockabilly

Milwaukee Public Market

  • Noon – String Theory, guitar duet
  • 2 p.m. – Maynie Bradley, violin

Historic Third Ward mid-block park (100 block of N. Broadway)

  • Noon – Lapulele, Hawaiian steel guitar

"Hand Heart" (Catalano Square)

  • 5 p.m. – God's Outlaw, Johnny Cash covers

"Hop Summer Nights" on The Hop

  • 4-6 p.m. – Don Linke Trio, jazz

For more information on Buskerfest, visit Milwaukee Downtown's website – and for more information on the rest of the live music coming to Brew City the rest of this summer, check out our free summer music series guide as well as our overall festivals guide.  

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.