These are some of the best concerts in Milwaukee in fall 2024
From Noah Kahan to Pink, these are some of the top acts to see in the Milwaukee area from September to November.
After a concert season full of highlights – from Summerfest to the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival to stadium shows – it’s time for Milwaukee’s clubs and theaters to really shine.
Not that they didn’t put on some cool shows this summer, and the big venues won’t be dark this fall either. In the Milwaukee area, there will even be some big outdoor concerts at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and the Alpine Valley Music Theater.
But we’re especially excited about the upcoming concert schedule at the Cactus Club, X-Ray Arcade, Shank Hall, Turner Hall Ballroom, Rave and other smaller independent venues in Milwaukee. Here are 16 top concert picks for September through November, listed in order of appearance.
Review aggregator Metacritic has declared Britt Daniels Band the most acclaimed act of the 2000s, but what’s even more impressive is that the indie rockers haven’t hit a lull. Spoon has consistently earned praise for their smart, catchy and subtly daring albums, including some of the best reviews of their acclaimed career with 2022’s liberating “Lucifer on the Sofa.” Come early to see another beloved band from Austin, Texas: punk group A Giant Dog.
When, Where, Prices: Sept. 8, 8 p.m., The Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $39 to $49 at the box office and www.therave.com.
The most exciting artist at Summerfest 2022 wasn’t technically a headliner. It was Avril Lavigne, who outshone headliner Machine Gun Kelly at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater—and virtually everyone else we saw at the festival this year—with an exuberant performance. The groundbreaking pop-punk artist returns for the headlining show she deserves, with Simple Plan and Girlfriends as opening acts.
When, Where, Prices: Sept. 9, 7 p.m., American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive. $44.94 to $355.21 at the box office and amfamamp.com.
The folk-pop phenomenon was set to perform his catchy and vulnerable songs at the biggest show of his career on July 13 at the Alpine Valley Music Theater. But Mother Nature had other plans: violent storms swept through the East Troy Amphitheater, preventing Kahan from taking the stage. Kahan will try again in September, and hopefully this time there will be no rain or lightning.
When, Where, Prices: September 11, 8 p.m., Alpine Valley Music Theatre, 2699 County Road D, East Troy. $359.50 to $491.40 at the box office and www.livenation.com.
Songs from Charly Bliss’ first two albums often live up to the Brooklyn band’s middle name, with some grunge body enhancing the sweet, catchy hooks. And on their latest album, Forever, frontwoman Eva Hendricks, her brother Sam on drums, former child actor Spencer Fox and bassist Dan Shure go full throttle on power pop, resulting in some of their most joyful and infectious songs yet.
When, Where, Prices: September 14, 8 p.m., X-Ray Arcade, 5036 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy. $20 presale at xrayarcade.com. $25 on the day of the show.
Esperanza Spalding will be remembered by some for “stealing” Justin Bieber’s Grammy for Best New Artist. But the Recording Academy made the right decision; Spalding has evolved into one of the most innovative and compelling jazz artists of her generation, from the funk-rock spirit of “Emily’s D+Evolution” to the off-kilter experimentation of “12 Little Spells” to her inspired new collaboration with 81-year-old Brazilian music legend Milton Nascimento.
When, Where, Prices: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Uihlein Hall, Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. $50 to $70 at the box office and marcuscenter.org.
A protégé (and later collaborator) of esteemed producer Brian Eno, and a songwriter and producer for Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, and others, London-born Frederick John Philip Gibson has become a surprise sensation in the world of electronic dance music—hence not one, but two shows at one of Wisconsin’s biggest venues on his state debut.
When, Where, Prices: September 28 and 29, 8 p.m., Alpine Valley Music Theatre. $68.20-$123, $114 for two-day lawn pass.
The British band’s ultra-cool dance-rock album ‘Where’s My Utopia’ has rightly received some of the best reviews of the year. Hearing these songs live in the US is a treat, but hearing them in a tiny venue is a real treasure.
When, Where, Prices: Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., X-Ray Arcade. $22 presale, $25 day of show.
The Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra” sparked a new wave of recognition when Eminem used an interpolation from the song on his new hit single “Houdini.” Miller, however, has no need for a comeback. His long-admired songbook has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which should go down especially well in Miller’s hometown of Milwaukee.
When, Where, Prices: October 11, 8 p.m., Miller High Life Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. $69.50-$250 at the box office, at the Riverside Theatre box office (116 W. Wisconsin Ave.) and pabsttheater.org.
Wisconsin native Will Anderson now lives in New York City. His shoegaze band Hotline TNT is enthusiastically supported by Pitchfork and other hot music outlets, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots and is playing several venues in Wisconsin this fall. He’s bringing Madison’s dynamic Disq as his opening act, and they’re not to be missed.
When, Where, Prices: October 12, 8:30 p.m., Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave. $16 presale at cactusclubmilwaukee.com. $20 on the day of the show.
New Orleans funk band Tank and the Bangas and soul artist Jamila Woods have received a ton of awards for their albums and live shows in recent years. The fact that they’re teaming up for a tour makes the double bill a real highlight.
When, Where, Prices: Oct. 18, 8 p.m., Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Phillips Ave. $29.50 at the box office, at the Riverside Theater box office and pabsttheater.org.
Honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if Packers superfan Lil Wayne booked this show just to make it easier for him to catch a noon game in Lambeau the next day. Even if that’s true, the hip-hop legend puts on a great show, and having rising star Saweetie as the opening act makes his return to Milwaukee all the sweeter.
When, Where, Prices: October 19, 7 p.m., Fiserv Forum, 1111 N. Phillips Ave. $65 to $490 at the box office and www.fiservforum.com.
The influences of the D’Addario brothers Brian and Michael are clear, but their homages to the pop and rock of the ’60s and ’70s are so heartfelt and inspired that they have created a body of work that is in turn worthy of emulation.
When, Where, Prices: October 21, 8 p.m., Shank Hall, 1434 N. Farwell Ave. $25 at the box office and shankhall.com.
Just last year, Pink broke an attendance record at American Family Field, where she became the first artist to bring a headlining stadium tour to Wisconsin. But considering that this show, like all of her Milwaukee shows we’ve reviewed, landed on our best year-end concerts list, we won’t protest her return anytime soon.
When, Where, Prices: Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., Fiserv Forum. $199.95 to $799.95.
Marco Antonio Solís made music history in Milwaukee last year when Los Bukis, Mexico’s answer to the Beatles, played one of their first shows since reuniting after a 25-year hiatus in front of the largest audience ever for a Spanish-language concert in Milwaukee on the eve of the Mexican Fiesta’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but Solís will be no stranger to it and will return this fall to play his own solo hits and probably some Bukis gems.
When, Where, Prices: Oct. 25, 8 p.m., Miller High Life Theater. $54.75-$1,104.75.
The Southern rockers continue to release albums of such high quality that they don’t feel the need to do what many long-standing bands have done and become a nostalgia act. Still, long-time fans should enjoy hearing their 2001 album “Southern Rock Opera” in its entirety alongside great newer songs.
When, Where, Prices: October 30, 8 p.m., Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St., $34.75 to $175.87 at the box office, at the Riverside Theater box office and pabsttheater.org.
Milwaukee has never seen Sugarland reunited since Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush had to cancel a planned 2020 tour and show due to the pandemic. It will finally happen in November, and it will be a better deal for fans, with Little Big Town sharing headlining duties and both country groups expected to share the stage for their collaboration “Take Me Home.”
When, Where, Prices: Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Fiserv Forum. $34.50 to $615.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or on Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
