IT’S SHOWTIME!
10 top Milwaukee concerts this fall, from Guns N’ Roses to Janet Jackson
10 top Milwaukee concerts this fall, from Guns N’ Roses to Janet Jackson
The year’s concert offerings have already included Summerfest’s 50th edition; the first local shows in decades for such seminal acts as Patti Smith, Lauryn Hill and Beck; and major arena shows with Roger Waters, Maroon 5 and Eric Church. ♦ How much bigger can it get? ♦ How about the world’s largest tour? ♦ The return of Guns N’ Roses, currently holding the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s top-grossing tours list, is playing Milwaukee Nov. 7, the band’s first time in the area since two Alpine Valley appearances in 1991. ♦ The show tops a busy fall for music that already includes sold-out returns from Kesha and Queens of the Stone Age; a rescheduled appearance by Janet Jackson; the local debut for exciting up-and-comer Mura Masa; and more.
Indian Summer Festival winds up the lakefront ethnic festival season Friday through Sunday at Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive. The theme this year is “Language Is Culture,” highlighting the language groups represented among Wisconsin’s native Americans. There are performances on more than four stages, with grand entries daily. Info: indiansummer.org
Tosa Fest returns Friday and Saturday with food, kids stuff and music on three stages in the neighborhood surrounding N. 76th and W. State streets. The fest runs 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is a suggested donation of $2 or two nonperishable food items to Tosa Cares.
Info: tosafest.org
Celebrate the cultural richness of Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood at the sixth annual Silver City Inter National Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday along W. National Ave. between S. 33rd and S. 35th St. The music and dance lineup includes the Squeezettes, Escamilla Entertainment, Lao Youth Dancers, Fox Valley Filipino Dance Group and Nefertari African Dance Group, along with art activities, food and more. Admission is free. Info: lbwn.org/internationalfestival
Sculpture Milwaukee, the outdoor sculpture exhibit that’s been adding color along Wisconsin Ave. all summer, is hosting Shoreline Picnic Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in O’Donnell Park, 910 E. Michigan St. Self-guided tours of the Sculpture Milwaukee works start at 1 p.m. The BYO picnic begins at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., the event moves to the Green Gallery East, 1500 N. Farwell Ave., with music performances by DJ Shawna, Zed Kenzo, Margaret Noodin, Matt Cook and Bamm Bamm. Admission at each phase is free. Info: sculpturemilwaukee.com
A Mexican Independence Parade & Festival starts at 10 am. Sunday with a parade, kicking off at S. 20th St. and W. Oklahoma Ave., heading east on Oklahoma to S. 6th St., then north to Rosedale Ave. and ending at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave. From noon to 8 p.m. at UMOS, there’ll be food and music, including an el grito performance. Admission to the festival is free. Info: umos.org
An unlikely couple of favorite Milwaukee pop-culture sons — music maven Sigmund Snopek III and filmmaker Mark Borchardt — headline a benefit concert for Riverwest Radio, the community radio station, at The Coffee House, 1905 W. Wisconsin Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Borchardt will stage his new play, “What’s in the Box?” Admission is a free-will offering. Info: riverwestradio.com
Here are our picks for 10 top concerts in Milwaukee through November (excluding shows that are already sold out).
1. Rakim: After appearing at the private “Lampapalooza” festival at the Red Dot in Wauwatosa last fall, Rakim returns to town for a Turner Hall Ballroom show. Making the return even sweeter for one of the most consistently praised MCs of all time: He’ll perform his seminal album “Paid in Full” in its entirety. 8 p.m. Sept. 15, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. 4th St. $25 in advance at the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.), the Riverside Theater box office (116 W. Wisconsin Ave.), (414) 286-3663 and pabsttheater.org. $30 day of show.
2. The Flaming Lips and Mac DeMarco: The Lips hit a slump with the band’s recent meandering discography, but its psychedelic circus concerts remain a dazzling DIY experience. The accompaniment of fellow endearingly oddball rocker DeMarco sweetens the circumstances. 7 p.m. Sept. 18, Eagles Ballroom, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $42 to $52 at the box office, (414) 342-7283 and therave.com.
3. Angel Olsen: Slyly retro folk-rocker Olsen has become more ambitious and assured with each passing album, with the interchangeably aching and blistering “My Woman” ending up on No. 12 on review aggregator Metacritic’s most praised albums list for 2016. 8 p.m. Oct. 1, Pabst Theater. $22.50.
4. A$AP Mob: The hiphop collective has been through major highs and lows, from the breakout solo careers for A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg, to the death of founder A$AP Yams in 2015. The collective has become a stronger unit in the wake of Yams’ passing, with the release of two albums over the past two years, and this fall, a tour featuring Rocky and Ferg, plus A$AP members Twelvvy, Nast and Ant. 8 p.m. Oct. 12, Eagles Ballroom, the Rave. $39.50.
5. Janet Jackson: The stage was all set for Jackson’s comeback, with acclaimed 2015 album “Unbreakable” reuniting her with key collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, followed by an ambitious world tour. That tour, including a Milwaukee show, was scrapped so Jackson could start a family, but she vowed to be back on the road, and this year, is staying true to her word. 8 p.m. Oct. 22, BMO Harris Bradley Center, 1001 N. 4th St. $26.95 to $122 at the box office, (800) 745-3000 and ticketmaster.com.
6. Craig Finn: Best known for his work with witty, heart-on-the-sleeve bar band the Hold Steady, frontman Finn is swiftly amassing a sharp catalog as a solo artist, releasing three albums under his name within the past five years. Joining him for this extra intimate Cactus Club is fellow esteemed indie rock songwriter John K. Samson, best known for his work with the Weakerthans. 9 p.m. Oct. 22, Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave. $25 at the door and in advance at cactusclubmilwaukee- .com.
7. Guns N’ Roses: Aside from the fact that Roses is returning to the area for the first time in 26 years, there’s more reason for fans to be excited: The current tour sees the return of guitar great Slash after an ugly falling out with frontman Axl Rose in 1996 — hence the tour’s name, “Not In This Lifetime.” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, BMO Harris Bradley Center. $59.50 to $250.
8. Kamasi Washington: The tenor saxophonist has been doing fine work for years, collaborating with the likes of Flying Lotus, PJ Morton, George Duke and Snoop Dogg. But after he contributed to Kendrick Lamar’s phenomenal “To Pimp a Butterfly” album, and released his own ambitious nearly three-hour triple album, “The Epic,” Washington cemented his standing among the most exciting emerging jazz artists in the country. 8 p.m. Nov. 7, Turner Hall Ballroom. $35.
9. Mura Masa: A slick album from an electronic producer doesn’t inherently guarantee a strong live show. Fortunately for Mura Masa, who’s been amassing major acclaim for this summer’s debut album, he has a boisterous frontwoman, Fliss, by his side. 8 p.m. Nov. 14, Turner Hall Ballroom. $20.
10. St. Vincent: St. Vincent’s come a long way from promising but awkward early career gigs to confident, baroque, guitar-spiked set pieces. Her forthcoming tour looks to be her most grandiose yet, if the cinematic, tearjerking new single “New York,” produced by Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff, is any indication. 8 p.m. Nov. 17, Riverside Theater. $35.50 to $45.50.