Milwaukee County Announces Over 100 Free Park Concerts

Wednesday, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Parks Director John Dargle, Jr. announced the lineup for the “Summer’s Best” concert series. From June 2 to September 14, the public can listen to more than 100 live performances in a variety of genres, at no charge, at 22 park venues throughout Milwaukee County.

“With music as ‘the universal language of mankind,’ our concerts in the Parks bring together people of all walks of life,” said County Executive Abele. “We offer amazing cultural experiences to families, friends in the community, and visitors. Our free concerts give everyone the opportunity for a summer evening out—with views that can’t be beat."

Concert-goers are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics. 

The Parks Department will sell food and beverage items, including adult beverages, at Chill on the Hill at Humboldt Park.

At Boerner Botanical Gardens, visitors arriving after 6:00 PM on concert nights will receive free admission to the Botanical Gardens. Zilli Hospitality Group will sell food and beverage items at Concerts in the Gardens

Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square is produced by a non-profit organization asking patrons to leave adult beverages at home. Wine, beer and cocktails are available for purchase at various Jazz in the Park beverage tents. All proceeds help offset the costs of the concert series.

Below is the full current list of shows, but for updated schedules click here. All shows go on weather permitting with no rain dates.

Boerner Botanical Gardens

Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners

Concerts in the Gardens Sponsored by Wimmer Communities

THURSDAYS 6:30-8:30 PM  (Special hours are noted)

Admission to the Gardens is free on concert nights after 6:00 PM.
http://www.wimmercommunities.com/about-us/concerts-in-the-gardens

June 30*    Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra             *Special hours: 7:30-8:30 PM
July 7         Naima Adedapo
July 14       Harmonic Maneuvers
July 21       Brewtown Brew Grass  /  Chicken Wire Empire
July 28       The Jimmys
Aug 4         Daryl Stuermer
Aug 11       Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Aug 18       Bella Cain
Aug 25       Generation - Sixties Experience
Sept 1        Greg Koch   *Special hours: 6:30-9:30 PM

Cathedral Square

520 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee

Jazz in the Park By East Town Association

THURSDAYS 5:00 -9:00 PM, Happy Hour at 5pm, Music starts at 6pm
http://www.easttown.com/events/jazz-in-the-park

June 2        Milwaukee Soul
June 9        Sonny Knight & The Lakers
June 16      The People Brothers Band
June 23      Jose Valdes & The Mambo Allstars
June 30      Leroy Airmaster with Junior Brantley
July 7         In Black N White
July 14-17  Bastille Days Programming
July 21       Blair Crimmins & The Hookers
July 28       Leftover Cuties
Aug. 4        Kelli & The Soulmates
Aug. 11      The Jimmys
Aug. 18      Chicago Tribute Anthology
Aug. 25      Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Sept. 1       Charles Walker Band

Columbus Park

7301 W. Courtland Avenue, Milwaukee
Wednesday, July 20: 6:30-8:30 PM

KIC Keep’n It Clean (K.I.C.)

Dineen Park

6901 W. Vienna Avenue, Milwaukee
Wednesday, Aug. 17: 6:30-8:30 PM

Cigarette Break

Gordon Park 

2828 N. Humboldt Boulevard, Milwaukee
Thursday, June 16: 6:30-8:30 PM  

Eddie Butts Band

Grant Park

100 E. Hawthorne Avenue (Picnic Area 5A), South Milwaukee - During Traveling Beer Garden™
Saturday, June 25: 6:30-8:30 PM

Well-Known Strangers

Humboldt Park

3000 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee

Chill on the Hill By Bay View Neighborhood Association
TUESDAYS 6:00-8:30 PM,  Opening Acts: 6:00 PM, Main Acts: 6:30 PM

http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/Chill-on-the-Hill-Schedule-2016

June 7        The Mosleys
June 14      Foreign Goods
June 21      Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Presented by Habush Habush & Rottier)
June 28      AUTOmatic  /  Evan Christian and the Stinkies
July 5         American Legion Band
July 12       Soul Low & Paper Holland
July 19       Tigernite & Faux Fiction
July 26       Rocket Paloma  /  Atomic Spins   
                  (Run for the Parks in partnership with the Park People of Milwaukee)
Aug. 2        Cavewives
Aug. 9        Thriftones  /  Cactus Brothers
Aug. 16      Jokers Henchman & Jon Burk’s Band
Aug. 23      Trolley & Indonesian Junk
Aug. 30      Midnight Reruns

Jackson Park

3500 W. Forest Home (Picnic Area 2), Milwaukee
August Nights Sponsored By North Shore Bank

THURSDAYS 6:30-8:30 PM 

Aug. 4           Cache & the Pueblo Latino Orchestra
Aug. 11         Saturday June Band
Aug. 18         Mariachi Zamora
Aug. 25         Leahys Luck

Johnsons Park
Park Grand Opening Celebration 
1919 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee

Thursday, June 23,  6:30-8:30 pm

Tony TNT Washington and his Explosive Divas - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm

Juneau Park

Poetry in the Park
near the Solomon Juneau statue overlooking Lake Michigan

An outdoor reading series celebrating the written and spoken word.
2nd Tuesday, June–September, 6:30-8 pm

June 14: John Koethe, Ann-Marie Blanchard, Nick Demske, Mikey Murry

July 12: Brenda Cardenas, KJ Prodigy/Kavon Jones, Glenn Shaheen, Peter Burzynski

August 9: Chuck Stebelton, Timothy Yu, Carina Gia Farrero, Freesia McKee

September 13: Renaissance Theaterworks' BR!NK (play-reading and Q&A) 

Kosciuszko Park

National Night Out Celebration
At The Community Center, 2201 S. 7th Street, Milwaukee

Tuesday, Aug. 2: 4:00-8:00 pm

Maracujaz Brazilian & American Jazz - 6:00-8:00 pm - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm

King Park

Back to School Celebration 

At The Community Center, 1531 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee

Saturday, Aug. 13: 11am- 6pm

Valerie B. & the Boyz Band - 2:00-4:00pm

Lincoln Park

National Night Out Celebration
1301 W. Hampton Ave., Milwaukee

Tuesday, Aug. 2: 5:00-9:00 pm

KIC Keep’n It Clean (K.I.C.) - 6:30-8:30 pm

Lake Park

At The Summer Stage, 2975 North Lake Park Road, Milwaukee
http://lakeparkfriends.org/visit/events/music-in-the-park/

Musical Mondays

By Lake Park Friends

MONDAYS: 6:30-8:00 pm

July 11   Avec Le Bois
July 18   Tim Burr
July 25   Betti Xiang
Aug. 1   Harmonious Wail
Aug. 8   Collegium Ladyes
Aug. 15 Patrick Ball
Aug. 22 Grandsons Of The Pioneers With The Vintage Mix Quartet
Aug. 29 The New South Rampart Street Paraders With Lisa Edgar

Wonderful Wednesdays - Concerts for Kids & Families

By Lake Park Friends

WEDNESDAYS: 6:30-7:30 pm

July 6     Extra Crispy Brass Band
July 13   Ms. Jen and the Jellyfish
July 20   The Tritonics
July 27   Altered Five Blues Band
Aug. 3   The Mood Swing Orchestra
Aug. 10 Charles Walker Band
Aug. 17 Fox and Branch

Lindbergh Park

3629 N. 16th Street, Milwaukee
Thursday, July 14: 6:30-8:30 pm

AhVantSoul with Jon Pierre Gee and Kat Webb - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm

Mitchell Park / The Domes

524 S. Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee
THURSDAYS 6:30-8:30 PM 

Sponsored By Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative

July 7             Abraxes - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
July 14           Eddie Butts Band
July 21           UIC Latin Orchestra
July 28           The Differentials

Mitchell Boulevard Park

5115 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee
6:30-8:30 PM 

Supported By Story Hill Neighborhood Association

Thur., July 21      SHAG
Thur., Aug. 18    Saturday June Band
Wed., Sept. 14    Milwaukee Metropolitan Voices

Moody Park

2200 W Burleigh Street, Milwaukee
Thursday, Aug. 25: 6:30-8:30 pm

Christopher’s Project - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm

Pere Marquette Park

900 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee
River Rhythms By Westown Association

WEDNESDAYS 6:00 -9:00 PM
Happy Hour at 5pm, Music starts at 6pm
http://www.westown.org/neighborhood-events/river-rhythms-2/

June 8        Shonn Hinton & Shotgun
June 15      Soul Low
June 22      King Solomon
June 29      The Rad Trads
July 6         Dave McElroy
July 13       New Age Narcissism
July 20       52nd Street
July 27       Cajun Strangers
Aug. 3        5 Card Studs
Aug. 10      Liam Ford Band
Aug. 17      Cache
Aug. 24      Justin Adams
Aug. 31      Pay the Devil

Sheridan Park

4800 S. Lake Drive (Picnic Area 1), Milwaukee
Thursday, August 11: 6:30-8:30 pm

Supported By Sheridan Park Friends

The Bluegrass All Stars 

Smith Park

5462 N. 33rd Street, Milwaukee
Thursday, August 4: 6:30-8:30 pm

Christopher’s Project

Washington Park

1859 N. 40th Street , Milwaukee

Wednesdays at the Shell

WEDNESDAYS: 6:30-8:30 PM,  Opening Acts: 6:00 pm

Supported by: Washington Park Partners, Neighborhoods United for Washington Park,

Washington Heights Neighborhood Association, and Washington Heights Rainbow Association

July 6             Kids From Wisconsin
July 13           Groove Therapy - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
                       – with Brewcity Brusiers Community Picnic
July 20           Nabori
July 27           KT's Universal Love Band - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
Aug. 3           Terry Sims Band
Aug. 10         Extra Crispy Brass Band - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
Aug. 17         Kelli and the Soulmates - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
Aug. 24         The Davis Family Band - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm
Aug. 31         Peter Mulvey - WITH A.W.E. TRUCK STUDIO 6-8pm

Wedgewood Park

National Night Out Celebration 

7201 W. Wedgewood, Milwaukee
Supported by: Friends of Wedgewood Park

Monday, Aug. 1: 6:30-8:30 pm

Our House

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