Read on for some lesser-known music hotspots.
Circle A Café
932 E. Chambers St., (414) 562-5927
With framed punk posters on the walls and a black and white TV with a fuzzy picture, Riverwest establishment Circle A Café brings to mind no-frills independent rock clubs of the 1970s. Circle A showcases music from a variety of local artists, from folk to rock to African music.
Club Timbuktu
520 E. Center St., (414) 265-7000
Both restaurant (with a West African menu featuring dishes such as Mogadishu fish soup and worala) and nightclub with a spacious, red-lit dance floor, Club Timbuktu hosts DJs playing reggae, dancehall and hip-hop Friday nights. The club also features live punk, hardcore and African music.
Frank’s Power Plant
2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 763-1177
Now under new ownership, Frank’s Power Plant, a biker-friendly Bay View corner bar decorated with plenty of motorcycle and vintage Milwaukee memorabilia, serves up lots of cold beer and fun. Frank’s regularly hosts live performances by singer-songwriters, rock bands and country music artists.
Gold in the Fridge
2525 E. Crawford Ave., St. Francis
Milwaukee artists Bucko Crooks and Lulu Rader, along with engineers William Pariso and Michael Francis Cook, opened Gold in the Fridge in January 2019, in a former St. Francis business. With colorful rugs, bowls of snacks and a comfortable, basement-like atmosphere, the DIY venue hosts rock, experimental and electronic musical acts, along with exhibits by local artists.
High Dive MKE
701 E. Center St., (414) 763-0729
Riverwest’s former Impala Lounge and Riverhorse Tavern hosts local, regional and national indie, rock and punk bands several times a week. With a retro-cool vibe, complete with arcade games like Ms. Pac Man and Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machines, High Dive boasts a wide beer selection and cocktails (mojitos!) made with organic and locally-sourced ingredients.
Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall
1920 S. 37th St., (414) 837-6552
Milwaukee staple Kochanski’s has been hosting polka, rock and heavy metal bands for more than four decades. The bar, which still boasts the same nostalgic vibe it has for the last 40 years, proudly embraces Polish culture with a variety of Polish beers (along with local and domestic brews), a weekly Wednesday polka open mic, and events such as the annual Polish Pileup, a summer party featuring a classic car show, pinup pageant, food and live music. According to owner Andy Kochanski, the establishment also features the only Bonzini foosball table in Milwaukee, possibly Wisconsin. One note: The bar is not air-conditioned and can get a bit overheated in warmer months. However, Kochanski’s does offer guests a spacious patio.
Mamie’s Bar and Grill
3300 W. National Ave., (414) 643-1673
Located in Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood, Mamie’s, an unassuming and quintessential corner bar, hosts an open jam for local musicians every Tuesday night, and live blues music every Friday night. Mamie’s offers daily drink specials, as well as dollar hot dogs on Mondays and $1.75 burritos and $1.50 tacos Wednesdays. Note: Mamie’s is a cash-only bar, with an ATM on the premises.
The Miramar Theatre
2844 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 239-8039
This intimate venue and bar, located just down the street from UW-Milwaukee, offers live music by hip-hop and EDM artists, singer-songwriters and rock and heavy metal bands. The theater also hosts a number of special events, including Dead Man’s Carnival, a group of circus-inspired performers.
Up & Under Pub
1216 E. Brady St., (414) 276-2677
Brady Street mainstay Up & Under Pub showcases a wide variety of music by local blues and reggae musicians, rock bands and more. Up & Under hosts an Open Mic night every Monday, and Karaoke Night every Wednesday. The bar’s atmosphere is casual and sporty, with large TVs and neon Schlitz signs.
Walker’s Point Music Hall
538 W. National Ave., (414) 573-0614
This DIY space with a chill warehouse vibe opened in November 2018, with a focus on supporting local artists and musicians in Milwaukee. Point Hall presents all genres of live music, open mic nights and game nights and donates a percentage of its proceeds to a different community cause each month.
