Summer technically arrived today, but the welcoming party must wait until this Saturday. That’s when the East Side Business Improvement District throws its annual Summer Soulstice street festival on North Avenue. The event, now in its 19th year, features an array of activities, including an opening yoga session at North Point Water Tower Park at 10 a.m., BMX bike stunt performances starting at noon, an all-ages rock wall opening at noon, a dodgeball tournament at 1 p.m., an egg roll eating contest at 4 p.m. and multiple children activity areas.
But even though Summer Soulstice offers a unique blend of entertainment not available at other street festivals, the real draw remains the impressive all-local line-up. It used to be that the yearly bill would feature one burned out rock band as headliner—Von Bondies, Local H—but over the past few years, those spots have been given to Milwaukee-area musicians. This year Brothers By Choice, Space Raft and Foreign Goods headline the three stages. The complete list of stages and performers is available below:
West Stage
- Girls Rock, 2:30 p.m.
- Eagle Trace, 3:45 p.m.
- Queen Tut / Zed Kenzo, 5 p.m.
- Lex Allen, 6:15 p.m.
- D’Amato, 7:30 p.m.
- Soul Low, 8:45 p.m.
- Brothers By Choice 10 p.m.
Murray Stage
- Ruth B8r Ginsburg, 1:30 p.m.
- The Grasping At Straws, 2:15 p.m.
- Cree Myles, 3:30 p.m.
- Brett Newski 4:45 p.m.
- New Boyz Club 6 p.m.
- Cavewives 7:15 p.m.
- Bo Triplex, 8:30 p.m.
- Space Raft, 9:45 p.m.
East Stage
- School of Rock, 2 p.m.
- Airo Kwil, 3:15 p.m.
- NO/NO, 4:30 p.m.
- Klassik, 5:45 p.m.
- No No Yeah Okay, 7 p.m.
- The Rusty Pelicans, 8:15 p.m.
- Foreign Goods, 9:45 p.m.
Book discussion and guitar shredding
Steven Hyden, the former editor of the now-defunct AV Club Milwaukee, returns to talk about his new book Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me at Cactus Club on Saturday at 7 p.m. The pop culture tome dissects pop music rivalries like The Beatles vs. The Stones, Biggie vs. Tupac and Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift and what they tell us about our current culture. Milwaukee Record’s Matt Wild (and Hyden’s successor at AV Club Milwaukee) moderates the hour-long discussion, which will be recorded as a live podcast for the website. There is no cover charge.
Afterwards, the direction turns abruptly from books to guitars, as Screaming Females headline a show with openers DUSK, Holy Shit! and New Boyz Club. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and here.
Direct Hit!
Pop-punk band Direct Hit! celebrates its debut album, Wasted Minds, on Fat Wreck Chords with a release party at the Metal Grill on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.. A limited number of special release vinyl edition will be available at the show. The bill also includes Midnight Reruns, The Hussy and Jetty Boys. Advance tickets are available here.
This Week in Live Music
Monday, June 20: Pure Bathing Culture at The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee, 8 p.m. ($10) – (2211 N. Prospect Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Also: The Travel Guide with NeoCaveman and Brat Sounds at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($7) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Tuesday, June 21: Steve Gunn & the Outliners with Promised Land Sound and Dryhouse Ruins at Cactus Club, 8 p.m. (SHOW CANCELLED) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Chill on the Hill featuring Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra with Daley Debutantes Baton and Drum Corp at Humboldt Park, 6 p.m. (FREE) – (3000 S. Howell Ave., http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/chill_on_the_hill)
Wednesday, June 22: Motion City Soundtrack with Have Mercy and Light Year at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($26.50-$33.50) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: Blue October at Turner Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. ($29.50) – (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Thursday, June 23: Black Milk & Nat Turner with Lorde Fred33 and D’Amato at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($10 advance; $12 door) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Friday, June 24: Screaming Females with DUSK, Holy Shit! and New Boyz Club at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($10 advance; $12 door) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
Also: Bright Black at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
Saturday, June 25: Summer Soulstice featuring Space Raft, Foreign Goods, Brothers By Choice, Soul Low and The Rusty Pelicans on North Avenue between Oakland and Prospect avenues, 10 a.m. (FREE) – (theeastside.org/happenings/summer-soulstice)
Also: Direct Hit! (album release) with Midnight Reruns, The Hussy and Jetty Boys at The Metal Grill, 7:30 p.m. ($10) – (5036 S Packard Ave, Cudahy, TheMetalGrill.com)
And: Mike Regal (album release) at The Miramar Theatre, 9 p.m. ($10-$15) – (2844 N. Oakland Ave., TheMiramarTheatre.com)
And: David Bazan with Laura Gibson at The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee, 8 p.m. ($15) – (2211 N. Prospect Ave., PabstTheater.org)
And: Shickey with Miles Burden and Lifetime Achievement Award at Mad Planet, 9 p.m. ($5) – (533 E. Center St, Mad-Planet.net)
