The Revivalists @ Miramar Theatre, July 10
Friday, July 10
South Shore Frolics @ South Shore Park
“Blow up the beach!” Usually that declaration would be cause for concern, but it’s a nightly rally at Bay View’s annual South Shore Frolics celebration, which ends each day with a large fireworks display from Bartolotta Fireworks. The event, now in its 66th year, captures the spirit of old Bay View with a variety of kids games, oldies music, a Friday fish fry and a classic car show on Sunday. (Through Sunday, July 12.)
Fish Fry & A Flick: Beetlejuice @ Discovery World, 5 p.m.
For its latest season, the Discovery World’s Fish Fry & A Flick film series splits the difference between cult comedies and recent blockbusters, kicking off with this screening of Tim Burton’s ghoulish farce Beetlejuice this week, followed by screenings of Wayne’s World on July 17 and Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max: Fury Road in August. The event begins at 5 p.m. each night, with the movie screenings starting around dusk. In addition to the usual Bartolotta fish fry, vendors will also be serving shrimp, poutine, hot dogs, brats and other snacks, as well as a selection of beer and spirits.
Johnette Napolitano w/ Laurie Sargent @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
With her unmistakably husky, ghostly voice and intensely poetic lyrics, Johnette Napolitano is best known as the frontwoman for the alternative group Concrete Blonde. Since reuniting after a six-year break in 2001, that group has performed off and on—gathering enough new material for a studio album in 2004, Mojave—but Napolitano has dedicated most of her creative energy lately to writing scores for film and television and releasing solo albums. Her new album, Naked, is as stripped down as its title implies.
The Revivalists w/ The Sharrows @ The Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m.
As their name suggests, The Revivalists pay homage to some storied musical traditions, borrowing heavily from the spirit of early soul, rootsy rock ’n’ roll and the many sounds of their native New Orleans. The seven-piece group, which colors its sounds with saxophone, trumpet and pedal steel guitars, had been a rising commodity in the jam music scene for years before reaching a wider audience with their latest album, last year’s City of Sound, their first for Wind-Up Records.
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Tink @ The Eight, 9 p.m.
Predicting whether a rising artist will break or not is usually a fool’s errand, but smart money is on Tink becoming a true star. The 20-year-old Chicago singer and rapper had been releasing sharp mixtapes for years before she caught the ear of super-producer Timbaland, who signed her to his Mosley Music Group label and produced her upcoming album Think Tink. Timbaland is so excited about the young artist that he even claimed one of his greatest protégés, the late Aaliyah, came to him in a dream to tell him that Tink was “the one.” Tink’s latest single, “Million,” doesn’t do anything to play down those Aaliyah comparisons. It’s built around a sample from the singer’s 1996 hit “One in a Million.”
Saturday, July 11
Asia Fest @ Veterans Park, 10 a.m.
Asian culture is so vast and varied that no festival could do justice to all of it in just one weekend, but Asian Fest gives it the old college try nonetheless, with a loaded entertainment lineup celebrating dozens of cultural heritages. Among the attractions are a martial arts village, fire performances, fashion shows, taiko drumming, Bollywood music, puppets, an illusionist and a humongous lineup of dance performances—Hawaiian dances, Tamarind dances, Bhangra dances, Denise dances, Bharat Natyam dances, Sri Lankan dances; the list goes on and on. Tickets are available at asiafestmlw.com. (Also Sunday, July 12.)
Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival @ Veterans Park, 8 a.m.
An ancient Chinese tradition, dragon boat racing traditionally takes place during the celebration of the Duanwu Festival. Boats bedecked with fierce dragon heads and intricate colorings are propelled through the water by teams of rowers following the beat of a drum. Milwaukee’s annual Dragon Boat Festival in Milwaukee features a rowing competition open to the public. Dragon boats are provided to participants as part of the registration fee, and both teams and individuals are welcome to sign up to race across the lagoon in Veterans Park. The day also features opera mask- and lantern-making stations, Chinese games and a dragon parade, and concludes with a 5 p.m. awards ceremony and celebration.
Milwaukee IndyFest @ Milwaukee Mile
A celebration of all things car racing, Milwaukee IndyFest returns to the Milwaukee Mile, the world’s oldest continually operating motor speedway, for a weekend of drag races, street parties, show cars and driver autograph sessions. Other events include a competitive cornhole tournament on Saturday night pitting fans against IndyCar drivers, a trackside tailgate, live music, freestyle motocross exhibitions, carnival rides and other family activities. (Also Sunday, July 12.)
Matthew Sweet w/ The Orange Peels @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
To a generation that discovered alternative rock through the Guitar Hero games, Matthew Sweet is best known for his 1991 hit “Girlfriend.” It’s a great track to be known for, built around the delectable interplay of Sweet’s melodious hook and his ripping guitars, but it’s just one of dozens of similarly infectious power-pop tracks the singer knocked out during the ’90s. Sweet’s profile has declined a bit since the turn of the century, but he’s continued to release wonderful, understated pop albums every few years or so, including 2011’s shimmering Modern Art (which featured a cameo on drums from Fred Armisen) and a trilogy of cover albums of Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs, the latest of which, Under The Covers, Vol. 3, tackles hits from The Smiths, XTC, The Go-Go’s and Echo and the Bunnymen.
Wednesday, July 15
Live at the Lakefront: Feufollet @ Discovery World, 5:30 p.m.
Each Wednesday through Sept. 2, the Discovery World showcases its new outdoor Rotary Amphitheater with its concert series Live at the Lakefront. The lineup features headliners pulled from all over the musical spectrum. This week’s is Feufollet, a Louisiana band that blends Cajun music with country and bluegrass, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album with their 2010 record En Couleurs. The event is held rain or shine, with 350 seats available on a first-come-first-served basis.
