Tuesday, July 2: Milwaukee American Legion Band @ Humboldt Park (Chill On The Hill), 6:30 p.m.

In this week’s installment of Chill On The Hill, local super-group The Milwaukee American Legion Band will be cranking out symphonic standards to make your patriotic, free-music-loving heart swell. It’s been doing that since 1920. That’s 90 years. We hope you’re taking notes, Eagles.

Photo courtesy of Wook

Wednesday, July 3: Wook @ Fire On Water, 9 p.m.

With a mix of spacey guitar riffs and crisp electro grooves, Wook hits a spot somewhere between jam rock and EDM that is heady but reassuringly groove-driven. The Madison band’s first album, Glowstick Sidewalks, goes between brooding electronica (“Mike’s House”) and breezy rock (“The Dweller”) for a scattered but fun debut. This show is a great alternative to Summerfest, unless, of course, you’re into Drowning Pool. (518 N. Water St., fireonwaterstreet.com)

Thursday, July 4: Mark Hubing with Lay Naked @ The Up & Under, 8 p.m.

Mark Hubing’s easygoing Americana evokes visions of two-lane highways, soaring eagles, and little American flags snapping in the breeze, so he’s not a bad Independence Day soundtrack. The Random Lake native will be joined by Lay Naked, a Milwaukee acoustic duo forged in the fires of the local open mic scene. (1216 E. Brady St., TheUpAndUnderPub.com)   

Friday, July 5: California Wives with My Gold Mask @ Cactus Club, 9:30 p.m.

California Wives is just the kind of up-and-coming, artsy indie act you won’t find at Summerfest this year. The Chicago band’s breathy, ’90s-gazing post-punk puts them next in line behind Pitchfork first-stringers like Yuck, Smith Westerns and Wild Nothings. So don’t be fooled by the sweeping title of its debut album: Art History goes down easy as anything else, whatever its broader ambitions might be. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclub.dostuff.info)

Also: Math The Band with Awkward Terrible and Economy Superstar @ Quarters, 9 p.m. (900 E. Center St.)

Saturday, July 6: Marielle Allschwang with My Name Is Nobody, Mark Trecka and The Pillow Snatchers @ Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m.

My Name Is Nobody, aka Vincent Dupas, will bring his heart-wrenching folk songs to the Public House all the way from Nantes, France. Also on the bill is Mark Trecka, the drummer of Minnesota’s Dark Dark Dark, and Marielle Allschwang of locals Hello Death and Group Of The Altos. Much like her other bands, Allschwang’s songs – and especially her voice – have a kind of pastoral elegance that feels mysterious and rare. (815 E. Locust St., riverwestpublichouse.wordpress.com)

Also: Teenager @ Quarters, 9 p.m. (900 E. Center St.)

Sunday, July 7: Minsk with Asatta and Subjugation @ Cactus Club, 9 p.m.

Things are gonna get gloomy Sunday at Cactus club, when Peoria doom metal outfit Minsk collide with Milwaukee’s Asatta and Subjugation for a night of pummeling riffs, obscure mythology and probably a lot of dudes with long hair. Notably, it will be one of Minsk’s first shows in years, featuring new songs and members. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclub.dostuff.info)

Although Summerfest dominates the Milwaukee music schedule between June 26 and July 7, a variety of other performers are taking the stage throughout town during this period. If metal bleacher standing isn’t your bag, check out some of these non-Summerfest shows.

Tuesday, June 25: 5 Card Studs at Chill On The Hill, 6:30 p.m. (FREE)
Practical joke turned viable novelty lounge act 5 Card Studs have the concept to get people in the seats and the musical chops to make people pay attention. The Studs make for prime hill chilling with lighthearted and well-executed renditions of Vegas strip classics that almost all ages can enjoy. (Humboldt Park, Bay View)

Also: Gospel Truth with Ultrathin, and Drugs Dragons at Quarter’s Rock ‘N Roll Palace, 9 p.m. – (900 E. Center St.)

And: Evangelicals with Companion at Mad Planet, 8 p.m. ($10, half goes to Red Cross) – (533 E. Center St, mad-planet.net)

Wednesday, June 26: The Delta Routine at River Rhythms, 6:30 p.m. (FREE)
Milwaukee garage rock outfit The Delta Routine has been on the receiving end of its fair share of good local fortune. The perennial WAMI nominee is a mainstay on the main stage of numerous Milwaukee festivals. Hell, the band even serves as the audio accompaniment for Packers and Brewers tailgating-themed TV commercials. Though things seem to be going better for The Delta Routine with each year, that undeniable local success isn’t undeserved. While it’s not without its issues, the band’s latest – 2012’s Cigarettes & Caffeine Nightmares – is flush with hooks, catchy guitar licks and toe-tapping bluesy goodness. (Pere Marquette Park)

Also: Tristan Royalty Squad at The Hotel Foster, 7 p.m. – (2028 E. North Ave., thehotelfoster.com)

And: Nude Beach with Midnight Reruns at Quarter’s Rock ‘N Roll Palace, 9 p.m. – (900 E. Center St.)

Thursday, June 27: Natty Nation at Jazz In The Park, 6 p.m. (FREE)
The pride of Madison, Natty Nation totes its established catalog of easy-going reggae jams to Cathedral Square to provide breezy audio accompaniment to outdoor wine consumption. (Cathedral Square Park)

Also: Trolley with Liv Mueller at Circle-A Café, 8 p.m. (932 E. Chambers St., circle-a-café.org)

And: Brian Lynch Quartet at The Jazz Estate, 9:30 p.m. – (2423 N. Murray Ave., JazzEstate.com)

MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Friday, June 28: She & Him with The Chapin Sisters at Riverside Theater, 7 p.m.
Zooey Deschanel can do it all. “The New Girl” leading lady and inquisitive Siri pitchwoman also fancies herself something of a musician. With the help of Portland legend M. Ward, Deschanel’s patented warbly voice shines in their sideband She & Him. The group makes its return to Milwaukee for the first time since playing the first (and only, to date) Verge Music Festival in 2010. The Chapin Sisters open. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., pabsttheater.org)

Also: Dudestorm with Ahab’s Ghost and Drumlins at Cactus Club, 10 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)

And: Ivy Spokes with Isle Of Rhodes, and Fossils at Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. ($5) –  (815 E. Locust St., riverwestpublichouse.wordpress.com)

Saturday, June 29: 6th Annual Burnhearts/Pabst Street Party (with Braid, Mama Digtown’s Brass Band, The Championship, Fable & The World Flat, and DJ Why B), noon (FREE)
Remember the ’90s? Oh, the hyper-color shirts, the garish hairstyles and popularity of the TV show Coach… what were we thinking?!? But one ’90s sensation that still holds up is the newly re-united – well, re-re-united – Braid. The Midwestern band was a seminal entity in emo’s second wave. Now back in full swing and writing new material, Braid makes its first trip to Milwaukee since its under-attended December show. Also enriching the already-great block party is the likes of Mama Digtown’s Brass Band, The Championship and Fable & The World Flat. (Corner of Logan and Potter in Bay View, event listing)

Also: Breadfest Day 1 (with D’Amato, Awkward Terrible, Animals In Human Attire, Victor Shores, Temple, Moaded, Kyle Thomas Smith, Fahri, The Reptilian, Gauss, Alta) at Jackpot Gallery, Cocoon Room and Stonefly Brewery from 3 p.m. to midnight ($5 per show, $10 for all three shows, $15 weekend pass) – (event listing)

And: Scarring Party with Hello Death, and Jon Mueller at Riverwest Public House, 9 p.m. ($5) – (815 E. Locust St., riverwestpublichouse.wordpress.com)

Sunday, June 30: Breadfest Day 2 (with Absolutely, Old Earth, YLLA, Lord Brain, Outside, Soul Low, Calliope, Like Like The The The Death, Midwest Death Rattle and Outside Lions) at Jackpot Gallery, Cocoon Room and Quarter’s Rock ‘N Roll Palace, 3 p.m. to midnight ($5 per show, $10 for all three shows, $15 weekend pass)
If you seek a weekend escape from Summerfest, but still want a heavy dose of quality live music, be sure to check out the inaugural Breadfest. This Fest – the pet project of Breadking collective – takes place at four Riverwest venues and focuses on the local, DIY punk scene. While Alice Cooper is scaring up fun across town, Milwaukee heavy hitters such Absolutely, Old Earth, Calliope and Midwest Death Rattle cap off the second day of what looks to be a great Summerfest alternative. (event listing)

Also: Caveman at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., cactusclubmilwaukee.com)