By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published May 30, 2023 at 12:56 PM Photography: Dan Garcia

The Great Milwaukee Summer is HERE! Your guide to what you'll be doing, where you'll be drinking, who you'll be hearing and how you'll be getting a sweet tan this summer is on OnMilwaukee. The Great Milwaukee Summer guide is brought to you by Educators Credit Union and Harley-Davidson Museum

Good news, music fans: You can spend your entire summer budget down at Summerfest and still get your fill of live music all summer long. From jazz to rock and an array of local and national bands in between, Milwaukee's weekly concert series offer something for everyone – and for our favorite price: free. 

To help get you out, about and dancing, here's a guide to all of the free live music series scheduled for this summer, regularly updated and organized by the day of the week. So grab some food and some friends, and enjoy a great summer night with some great summer tunes!

Sundays

Cafe Sopra Mare
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, Mercury Courtyard, 2220 N. Terrace Ave.
(414) 271-3656

villaterrace.org
Gates open at 10 a.m.; music begins at 10:30 a.m.

June 4 – Don Linke (guitar, keys, jazz)
June 11 – Cole Heinrich (rock setup)
June 18 – Ben Dameron (guitar, vocals)
June 25 – Corey Klunk (multi-instrumental)
July 2 – Jorge Vallentine (indie)
July 9 – Neal Bardele (guitar, keys, jazz)
July 16 – Brett Lipshutz (Irish, Senegalese)
July 23 – Heinzel Kunsmann (piano, jazz)
July 30 – Marina Slawinski (flute duet)
Aug. 6 – Ellie Jackson (soloist, guitar)
Aug. 13 – Karen Delvecchio (guitar, violin, rock)
Aug. 20 – Vicki Beck (horn, trumpet)
Aug. 27 – Barbod Mehrbod (Persian Tar)
Sept. 3 – Eric Wruck (dance, guitar)
Sept. 10 – Anthony Deutsch (keys, vocal)
Sept. 17 – Irina Yanovskaya (violin, mandolin)
Sept. 24 – Linda Binder (Brazilian Choro)

Partner Pick

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Monday

Musical Mondays
Lake Park Summer Stage

lakeparkfriends.org
6:30-8 p.m.

July 10 – Black Cow
July 17 – Feufollet
July 24 – Jamie Breiwick Quintet
July 31 – Toty Ramos Sextet
Aug. 7 – R&B Cadets
Aug. 14 – JigJam
Aug. 21 – Bon Bon Vivant
Aug. 28 – Robbie Fulks

Tuesday

Chill on the Hill
Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave.

bayviewneighborhood.org
6:30 p.m.

June 6 – Shamewave and Collections of Colonies of Bees
June 13 – Pulpa de Guayaba and Joe Huber
June 20 – American Legion Band
June 27 – Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
July 4 – Fourth of July celebration
July 11 – Bella Brutto and Barb Stephan
July 18 – Lost Orange Cat and Elephonic
July 25 – Ben Harold & The Rising and Dope Music Crew
Aug. 1 – Scam Likely and The Grovelers
Aug. 8 – NilexNile and Cozy Danger
Aug. 15 – Smoke n Mirrors and Cosmic Endeavors
Aug. 22 – Ben Mulwana and WhiskeyBelles
Aug. 29 – Dick Satan Trio and Shonn Hinton

Riverwalk Commons Concert Series
423 N. Water St., across from the Milwaukee Public Market

milwaukeepublicmarket.org
6-8:30 p.m.

June 20 – The Panoptics
July 11 – Joe Wray
July 18 – Evan Christian
Aug. 1 – Learning to Fly
Aug. 15 – DJ Shawna
Aug. 29 – Rob Knapp and the Soul Patrol
Sept. 12 – Trapper Schoepp
Sept. 26 – Radio Radio

COA's Skyline Music Series
Kadish Park, 909 E. North Ave.

coa-yfc.org
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
July 11 through Aug. 22
Music TBA

Wednesday

Wednesday Concert Series
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St.
(414) 276-9814

stjohncathedral.org
12:15 p.m.

May 31 – Agnieszka Kosmecka (organ)
June 7 – Blue Violet Duo (Kate Carter and Louise Chan, violin and piano)
June 14 – Steven Betancourt (organ)
June 21 – Nicki Roman (saxophone)
June 28 – Johanna Brahm (piano)
July 5 – NO CONCERT
July 12 – Alexander Wier (percussion)
July 19 – Wenlin Cheng (piano)
July 26 – Meggie Moyer and Rachel Levison (soprano and clarinet)
Aug. 2 – Mark Valenti (piano)
Aug. 9 – Betsy Waldon and Craig Felde (organ and timpani)
Aug. 16 – Alexei Romanenko (cello)
Aug. 23 – John Burgermeister and James Grzadzinski (baritone and organ/piano)
Aug. 30 – Anthony Padilla (piano)
Sept. 6 – Delano Kahlstorf (harpsichord)
Sept. 13 – Kirstin Roble and TBD (mezzo soprano and piano)
Sept. 20 – Simone Gheller (organ)
Sept. 27 – Elizabeth Vasilijevic and James Grzadzinski (mezzo soprano and organ/piano)

Music in the Glen
Richard E. Maslowski Community Park, 2200 W. Bender Rd.

musicintheglen.org
6:30 p.m.

June 21 – Veterans Salute with High Country
June 28 – Kids Concert with Randy Peterson
July 5 – NO CONCERT
July 12 – Latin Night with Latin Sound System
July 19 – '80s/'90s Night with Mixtape MKE
July 26 – North Shore Night with Shorewood School of Rock
Aug. 2 – Jazz/R&B Night with The Stephen Hull Experience
Aug. 9 – Rain date

Waterfront Wednesdays
Lakefront Park, 222 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee
(262) 691-0770

positivelypewaukee.com
6-8:30 p.m.

June 7 – Andrea and the Mods
June 14 – Fat Side Up
June 21 – Fender Bender
June 28 – American Grafetti
July 5 – NO CONCERT
July 12 – Scotch + Soda
July 19 – 4 on the Floor
July 26 – TNTS Project

Washington Park Wednesdays
4599 W. Lloyd St.
(414) 342-0215

washingtonparkneighbors.com
6-8 p.m.

July 12 – Venus Rising – bdwthr, Dora Diamond and You Win!!!
July 19 – Viva! Washington Park – Latin Sound System with Septeto Charambo
July 26 – Old School – Concord Chamber Orchestra and Wisconsin Conservatory Orchestra
Aug. 2 – Live! Art – V Funk and B. Wyzdom & The Prophets of Soul
Aug. 9 – Ride On – Florentine Opera and Cullah
Aug. 16 – Carnival of the Shell – Paradise Jazz Band and Shuga Blu with Professor Pinkerton's Live Circus Acts
Aug. 23 – Farm to Park – Midnight Purchase and Peter Thomas
Aug. 30 – Back 2 School – DuPont Brass with Scam Likely

Wonderful Wednesdays
Lake Park Summer Stage

lakeparkfriends.org
6:30 p.m

July 12 – Main Street Song & Dance Troupe
July 19 – Duke Otherwise
July 26 – Little Miss Ann
Aug. 2 – Fox and Branch
Aug. 9 – Susan Salidor
Aug. 16 – Ms. Jen and the Jellyfish

Wednesday Night Live
Budweiser Music Pavilion, Wisconsin State Fair Park, 8100 W. Greenfield Ave.
(414) 266-7000

budpavilion.com
Gates open 6 p.m., music from 7-10 p.m.

May 31 – The Cheap Shots with Brew City Horns
June 7 – Cherry Pie
June 14 – The Glam Band
June 21 – The Toys: Revisited
June 28 – Almighty Vinyl
July 5 – NO CONCERT
July 12 – Generation Z
July 19 – The LoveMonkeys
Aug. 23 – Rebel Grace
Aug. 30 – Bella Cain

Tosa Tonight
Hart Park Rotary Performance Pavilion, 68th and State Street
(414) 395-0293

tosatonight.com
6 p.m., with main acts taking the stage at 7:30 p.m.

June 21 – Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts with Wire & Nail
June 28 – The People Brothers Band with Genevieve Heyward Band
Tuesday, July 4 – Britishmania with Jackson Park Orchestra
July 12 – Willy Porter Band with Hayward Williams
July 19 – Platinum with Respect! A Tribute to the Queen of Soul
July 26 – The Astronomers with Tigera
Aug. 2 – Welshly Arms with Me Like Bees
Aug. 9 – De La Buena with Juan Carlos Munguia
Aug. 16 – Doolin' with Cassie and Maggie 
Aug. 23 – Rain date

Heart(beats) of the City
Red Arrow Park
milwaukeedowntown.com

Noon

June 7 – Amileigha and Jeremy of Rebel Grace
June 14 – MetroFern
June 21 – Betsy Ade and the Well Known Strangers
June 28 – Zach Pietrini Band
July 5 – NO CONCERT
July 12 – Alyssia Dominguez
July 19 – Jenny Thiel Group
July 26 – Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise
Aug. 2 – Brewtown Beat
Aug. 9 – Extra Crispy Brass Band
Monday, Aug. 14 – Rob Knapp and the Soul Patrol
Aug. 23 – Failure to Launch
Aug. 30 – Donna Woodall Group

Mayfair Collection Summer Concert Series
Keady Plaza in The Mayfair Collection, 11200 W. Burleigh St.
(414) 386-5150

mayfaircollection.net
6:30 p.m.

June 14 – Donna Woodall Group
June 21 – Ben Mulwana
June 28 – Dave Schoepke Band
July 5 – Jesse Stratton Band
July 12 – Cullah
July 19 – John Justus & 7000apart
July 26 – MaJiK
Aug. 2 – Erin Krebs Trio
Aug. 9 – Carmen Nickerson Trio
Aug. 16 – Reilly 

Thursday

Jazz in the Park
Cathedral Square Park

easttown.com/jazz-in-the-park/
6-9 p.m.

June 1 – The Group with Kavon Cortez Jones & The Next Paperback Hero
June 8 – B.D. Greer & the Gents
June 15 – Altered Five Blues Band
June 22 – Urban Empress and the Urbanites
June 29 – Christopher's Project
July 6 – CNJ Latin Jazz
July 27 – Bill Bonifas and Friends
Aug. 3 – Fresh Coast Jazz featuring The Jazz Men
Aug. 10 – Funk Club Wagon
Aug. 17 – Milwaukee Jazz Institute: WE SIX
Aug. 24 – Cache Mke. featuring Salsabrositas Rumba Caliente
Aug. 31 – The Kal Bergendahl Project and "Come Together" (The Beatles Soulfully Reimagined)

Concerts in the Gardens
Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Dr., Hales Corners
(414) 257-7275

wimmercommunities.com
6:30 p.m.

June 22 – Trapper Schoepp
June 29 – Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band
July 6 – Adam Greuel and the Space Burritos
July 13 – Dan Lepien
July 20 – Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers
July 27 – Concord Chamber Orchestra
Aug. 3 – Another One
Aug. 10 – Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts
Aug. 17 – Icons of Country
Aug. 24 – TBA
Aug. 31 – TBA

Tunes @ Noon
411 East Wisconsin Center., 411 E. Wisconsin Ave.
milwaukeedowntown.com

Noon 

June 1 – Zach Pietrini
June 8 – Allison Mahal
June 15 – Alyssia Dominguez
June 22 – Jon Hintz
June 29 – Donna Woodall Group
July 6 – Catelyn Picco
July 13 – MetroFern
July 20 – Navy Band Great Lakes
July 27 – Frogwater
Aug. 3 – The Hintz Brothers
Aug. 10 – Marr'Lo Parada
Aug. 17 – Joe Wray
Aug. 24 – Dirty Boogie
Aug. 31 – Donna Woodall Group

Music at the Market
South Milwaukee Downtown Market, 11th Avenue & Milwaukee Avenue
(414) 436-5771
smmarket.org

5-7 p.m.

June 1 – Reverend Raven
June 8 – Dog House Charlie
June 15 – Buckshot
June 22 – Bergendiahl
June 29 – Bath
July 6 – Bluegrass All Stars
July 13 – Sonic Boomers
July 20 – Hankerins
July 27 – Radiation
Aug. 3 – Sawdust Symphony
Aug. 10 – Guitars 4 Vets
Aug. 17 – Jim Nami Show
Aug. 24 – American Graffiti Band
Aug. 31 – Val Sigal
Sept. 7 – Reverend Jerry K
Sept. 14 – WhiskeyBelles
Sept. 21 – Andy Braun
Sept. 28 – All the Kings Men

Bike Nights
H-D Museum Motorcycle Plaza, 400 W. Canal St.
(877) 436-8738

harley-davidson.com
5 - 9 p.m.

June 1 – UnXpected
June 8 – Midnight Train
June 15 – Coyote Fire
June 22 – Local Legends, Avenues and Devil's Teeth
June 29 – The Hankerins
July 6 – Altered State
July 13 – Hairball
July 20 – The Verdict
July 27 – Ten Feet Tall
Aug. 3 – The Playlist
Aug. 10 – The Gleasons
Aug. 17 – JP Cyr and The Ramblin' Kind
Aug. 24 – The Blacktop Kings
Aug. 31 – Screamin' Cucumbers
Sept. 7 – Rock-A-Diles
Sept. 14 – Driftwood
Sept. 21 – The WhiskeyBelles
Sept. 28 – Mixtape

Jazz at the Vine
The Vine Humboldt, 3000 S. Howell Ave.
(414) 257-7275

thevinehumboldt.com
6-8:30 p.m.

Friday, June 2 –Bay View Jazz Fest
June 29 – Sam Steffke Trio
July 13 – CNJ Latin Jazz
July 27 – Lesser Lakes Trio
Aug. 10 – Milwaukee Jazz Institute Night
Aug. 31 – The Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken

West Allis Summer Concert Series
Veterans Memorial Park, 6900 W. National Ave.
westalliswi.gov

6 p.m. (food and drink begins at 5 p.m.)

June 22 – Cactus Bros. 
July 20 – De La Buena
Aug. 24 – Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective
Sept. 7 – Sweet Sheiks

Backyard Summer Concert Series
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown, 1230 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr Drive
marriott.com/en-us/hotels

4-7 p.m.

June 1 – Ricky Orta
June 8 – Jake Williams
June 15 – Gabriel Sanchez
June 22 – Roxie Beane
June 29 – Matthew Haeffel
July 6 – Jesse Voelker
July 13 – Erich Von Klassen
July 20 – Ethan Keller
July 27 – Tori Yocum Trio

Música del Lago
Colectivo - Lakefront, 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
(414) 223-4551

colectivocoffee.com
6 p.m.

June 22 – Cache Mke featuring Samba Da Vida
July 27 – De La Buena
Aug. 24 – Bahia
Aug. 31 – RAIN DATE

Third Space Presents
Third Space Brewing, 1505 W. St. Paul Ave.
(414) 909-2337

thirdspacebrewing.com
7 p.m.

June 8 – Listening Party
June 15 – As Oak
June 22 – Tae & The Neighborly
June 29 – Moonglow
July 6 – Wire and Nail
July 13 – Zach Pietrini
July 20 – The Belle Weather
July 27 – Horace Greene
Aug. 3 – Genesis Renji
Aug. 10 – Andii with special guest Valley Fox
Aug. 17 – Bug Moment
Aug. 24 – Steph Lippert Project
Aug. 31 – The Keystones
Sept. 7 – Ben Mulwana
Sept. 14 – Hosts

Friday

Sounds of Summer
The Yard at Bayshore, 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale
(414) 963-8780

thebayshorelife.com
6-9 p.m.

June 9 – Motown & Legends of Soul with Christopher's Project
June 16 – The Liam Ford Band
June 23 – Five Card Studs
June 30 – The Rhythm Kings
July 7 – Unity the Band
July 14 – Radio Radio
July 21 – Eddie Butts Band
July 28 – The LoveMonkeys
Aug. 4 – 52nd Street
Aug. 11 – Banana Wind
Aug. 18 – Whole Yachta Love
Aug. 25 – De La Buena

Starry Nights Series
Wilson Center for the Performing Art, 19805 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield
(262) 781-9520

wilson-center.com
6:30 p.m.

July 7 – Wisconsin Philharmonic
July 14 – Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets
July 21 – Rockin' Robins
July 28 – Tonight Only
Aug. 4 – Chicken Wire Empire
Aug. 11 – Tallymore

Saturday

Rock Complex Concert Series
Umbrella Bar, 7900 Crystal Ridge Rd., Franklin
(414) 529-7676

mke.theumbrellabar.com
6:30 p.m.

June 3 – The Now
June 10 – The Cheap Shots
June 17 – Rebel Grace
June 24 – Stetsin & Lace
July 1 – Radio Radio
July 8 – Almighty Vinyl
July 15 – The Toys
July 22 – Cherry Pie
July 29 – The First Wave
Aug. 5 – Heart of Black
Aug. 12 – Detour
Aug. 19 – The LoveMonkeys
Aug. 26 – Failure to Launch
Sept. 2 – 33 RPM
Sept. 9 – Mt. Olive
Sept. 16 – Five Card Studs

Ayre in the Square
Catalano Square, Historic Third Ward
(414) 763-8548

catalanosquare.com
4-8 p.m.

June 17 – Okay Omen, Clementine, Erin Krebs and Ben Wagner
July 22 – Colorblind Chameleon, Chris Haise Band, Mark Waldoch and Mark Soriano
Aug. 26 – Funk Summit Bass Team, The Aimless Blades and Conscious Congress

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.