Thursdays in August
“Tacos and Tunes with Jack and Jill”
Daily Taco and Cantina, Thiensville
Aside from delicious Mexican food whose recipes originate in Guadalajara (and great margaritas), the Daily Taco offers a weekly concert by the Milwaukee duo of Jack Grassel and Jill Jensen. They perform from an eclectic knapsack of songs, Jensen singing and Grassel playing his patented triple-neck guitar, a single instrument that can play the role of electric guitar, bass and mandolin as his hand goes freely between instruments. Performances take place on the Daily Taco’s patio, weather permitting, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Through October 17
“Carey Watters—Tiny Cuts”
Museum of Wisconsin Art
Most artists bridle when their masterpieces are referred to as “craft,” while craftspeople shrug and smile when their work is called “art.” Carey Watters stands at the crossroads of both disciplines, embracing the art references while knowing that her technique draws equally from the school of craft. Watters, an associate professor of art at the UW-Parkside, specializes in cut-paper art and mixed-media collages, a blend rare among contemporary creators.
August 7
Lynden Sculpture Garden
Home Fashion Day: Culture-Identity-Fashion
This year’s Home series is a sequence of dispersed events spanning the summer. They remain smaller than in past years to allow for social distancing and will take place outdoors on Lynden’s grounds. “Home Fashion Day” is a fashion show featuring traditional cultural wear, contemporary wear and high fashion from refugee designers. As MC, Biak Hlawn will present and share the individual and cultural meanings behind each garment worn and the diversity of refugee communities in Milwaukee.
August 13
Sleepersound Idle Voices Release
X-Ray Arcade
The return of live music to Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade is a welcome sight for all, and three components of Milwaukee’s next indie rock generation will take their (very famous) stage on Friday, August 13. Post-rock quartet Sleepersound headlines the night, celebrating the release of their new album, Idle Voices, and the band will be supported by shoegazers Shamewave and atmospheric rockers Cassini Echoes.
August 20-22
Milwaukee Irish Fest
Henry Maier Festival Grounds
Milwaukee, one of many cities in the U.S. that attracted Irish immigrants, has been home since 1981 to Irish Fest, the largest Irish music and cultural festival outside of Ireland and, perhaps, the world. The annual event was cancelled last year due to COVID but returns in 2021 with the theme “The Spirit of Irish America,” showcasing the music and traditions brought to the U.S. from Ireland and other Celtic nations. Among the acts at this year’s festival are Gaelic Storm, JigJam, Runa and The Murphy Beds.
August 21
Ayre in the Square
Catalano Square
The Friends of Catalano Square present a truncated version of their Ayre in the Square concert series this summer, with two dates instead of their usual four. The August edition will take place 4-8 p.m. Saturday August 21, featuring Caley Conway, Weird Storm, Fellow Kinsman and more. These events are free to attend. Take in a great afternoon of music in the heart of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.
August 29
El Shirota & Oginalii
Cactus Club
A pair of touring acts will make a stop in Bay View as Mexico City’s El Shirota and Nashville alternative rockers Oginalii play Cactus Club for a 6 p.m. show. With a ‘90s-inspired sound, El Shirota is touring behind their debut record, Tiempos Raros, while Oginalii is supporting their 2020 release, Pendulum. The Sunday evening show features an earlier-than-usual start time for those looking to close out their weekend with live music.
August 30
Bully with Pom Pom Squad
The Back Room @ Colectivo
Buzzing Nashville indie rock act Bully are no strangers to Milwaukee, having repeatedly sold-out club events around the city in the past. The band is quickly ascending to indie rock stardom, and their August 30 Colectivo date may be one of their last shows in a venue of that capacity. There’s a bright future for Bully, who are touring behind Sugaregg, their latest record. Catch them while you can at the East Side venue.
August 31
King Crimson
Miller High Life Theater
In 1969, “21st Century Schizoid Man” was like nothing heard before. And yet, the mastermind of that manic-paced recording, guitarist Robert Fripp, wasn’t content to break ground only once. Whether as a soloist or with King Crimson, Fripp continued to move forward, reinventing himself as the decades scrolled past. Regrouping King Crimson in the ‘90s, he continues to record and tour with a morphing lineup of top musicians. The current incarnation includes Tony Levin, Jakko Jakszyk, Mel Collins, Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto and Jeremy Stacey. Several have been with Fripp for decades. Their set list will encompass King Crimson recordings from across the band’s half century.
Through January 16, 2022
“American Memory: Commemoration, Nostalgia, and Revision”
Milwaukee Art Museum
Spanning the 19th century through the present, “American Memory: Commemoration, Nostalgia, and Revision” explores the selective editing of American history through drawings, prints, and paintings from the museum’s collection with an emphasis on overlooked events that have impacted women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ people.
“American Memory” spans the 19th century through the present day and will be rolled out in three “chapters” (Chapter I, July 15-Oct. 31; Chapter II, July 15-Dec. 5; Chapter III, Oct. 1-Jan. 16). “This exhibition series embraces the call for institutions to be held accountable for what they put on the walls and returns agency to community members to unpack, expand, and reclaim their cultural histories,” says curator Phoenix Brown.
