September. A month of new beginnings. The end of the summer, the beginning of a new school year; the end of the baseball calendar (the regular season, anyway), the beginning of the performing arts season.
It’s a month where life slows into a steady rhythm, and the city’s stages fill with performances ranging from the esoteric stylings of Jim E. Brown to the Broadway blockbuster “Mama Mia!,” Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves to a comedic clash of ideas between Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng.
These are 23 of the best concerts and shows to see in Milwaukee this September.
On the Bay Milwaukee
September 1 | Cactus Club
We start the month with a local showcase for a good cause at the Cactus Club, with On the Bay of Milwaukee 2026. Starting at 6 p.m., seven local hip-hop and rock artists will take the stage, including Nonamejames, Lil Jul, Tsuki40k, Charlotte Court, Floryence, Woraz and Spill. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and all proceeds will go to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ+ suicide prevention and intervention and World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides meals in places of humanitarian, climate or community crises.
It’s Alive with Blacktop
September 3 | Milwaukee County Historical Society
It’s about the time on the It’s Alive calendar where rubber meets the road, and that’s where Blacktop comes in. The Riverwalk busking series is winding down for the year, and this show at the Milwaukee County Historical Society is one of your last chances to catch it before it goes into hibernation. It’s the kind of music you want to hear on a peaceful day along the river, a blend of folk and surf rock reminiscent of the ‘60s and ‘70s with soft vocals, washed-out guitars and acoustic percussion.
Brad Paisley
September 4 | BMO Harris Pavilion
Here you are, a cold beer in hand, a view of sailboats drifting along Lake Michigan as the sun sets and a three-time Grammy winner takes the stage. There’s really no better way to close out summer. For over 20 years, Brad Paisley has earned his reputation as one of country music’s best, and this month he’s coming to BMO Harris Pavilion. Fresh off the release of “Tacklebox” in July, the country music icon will bring a little bit of country to the Henry Maier Festival Park Grounds with new songs like “Without You” and “Out of the Picture” along with classics like “Whiskey Lullaby,” “She’s Everything,” and so much more.
Jo Jo Herman of Widespread Panic
September 6 | The Cooperage
At the end of October, Widespread Panic will take over downtown Milwaukee. It’s a three-day run for a legendary band that’s as much a street festival as it is a concert. The band’s die-hard fanbase makes it a sell-out, and if you can get your hands on a three-day pass, you hang on with both hands. If you want a little preview, you can go see Jo Jo Herman at The Cooperage. He’s been with the band for over 34 years, keeping the archetype of the American jam band alive and well, with a little Southern rock flair. Herman has a catalog of his own that winds its way through those jam band roots and into blues and New Orleans-style jazz and funk, too.
Kacey Musgraves
September 11 | Fiserv Forum
A week after Brad Paisley leaves town, another country music icon is rolling into town. With eight Grammys to her name, the Kacey Musgraves hype is real and it’s taking over Fiserv Forum in September. With a career of more than a decade and recent collabs with Miranda Lambert, Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan and Leon Bridges, it’s safe to say her talent transcends the country genre. She arrives in Milwaukee to tour her latest album, “Middle of Nowhere,” which was released in May, with instant hits like “Mexico Honey,” “Dry Spell,” “Loneliest Girl” and “Middle of Nowhere,” but she’ll also perform the songs that made her into the star she is today, with songs like “Slow Burn,” “Butterflies” and “Follow Your Arrow.”
Margaret Glaspy
September 12 | Vivarium
It’s been a while since singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy has visited Milwaukee. She last played here three years ago at the late Back Room @ Colectivo. Now, she’s coming to the Pabst Theater Group’s newest venue, Vivarium, just down the road. She’ll be in town touring her August release, “I Am Both,” that showcases the direct vocals, intricate guitarwork and interdimensionality that have made her a quiet favorite among folk fans.
Jim E. Brown
September 16 | Falcon Bowl
This one’s as wild and weird a show as you’re likely to see. You may have seen him on social media, chewing a frankfurter in the Frankfurt airport or sipping wine straight from the cask in wine country. Now, Jim E. Brown is bringing his unique sense of humor and his oddball catalog of songs to the Cream City. There’s no real knowing what to expect from this show, whether it’s bemoaning the line at Greggs convenience store, processing why Ryan Adams unfollowed him on Instagram or spreading the word about his anxious-avoidant attachment style. Why wouldn’t you go?
“Trayf”
September 16 – October 4 | Next Act Theatre
The season opener of the 2026-27 Next Act Theatre calendar brings us a road-trip bromance. The play is set in 1990s New York, as two Orthodox Jewish teens, Zalmy and Shmuel, lifelong friends, hop behind the wheel of the “Mitzvah Tank,” a van that unlocks a world of possibilities. When an outsider introduces Zalmy to rock ‘n roll and roller skates, Shmuel has to act to keep Zalmy’s dreams intact. It’s a heartwarming coming-of-age story that tackles themes of faith, belonging and the friends that see us through.
$uicideboy$
September 18 | American Family Insurance Amphitheater
If you missed them the last time around at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, you lucked out, because $uicideboy$ are bringing their Grey Day Tour 2026 to Milwaukee. Throughout their career, the New Orleans-based hip-hop outfit has carved out a genre of their own, blending hip-hop beats, punk intensity and lyrics that dig light out of the darkness. With one platinum- and three gold-certified records and a collection of hits, “…And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around,” “Antarctica” and “Avalon” that have racked up over 15 billion streams on Spotify, this is one you can’t miss.
Tom Morello
September 18 | The Rave / Eagles Club
When it comes to the most influential voices in modern hard rock, punk and metal, Tom Morello has to be near the top of the list. He’s been a central figure in both Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave as lead guitarist for the genre-defining bands, earning him a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod and a spot on Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list. Since 2007, his catalog of solo albums has continued to pound out guitar solos with an emotional urgency and intensity that underscores the lyrical social commentary.
The Fatty Acids
September 18 & 19 | Linneman’s
For the first time in a decade, The Fatty Acids are back in action, and they’re bringing a new album with them to Linneman’s. Known for their self-described “scramble-pop,” the Riverwest-based band blends rock and pop music into a fast-paced, playful sound that has made their live shows a spectacle all their own. This duo of shows also marks the live debut of their latest album, which adds a little extra excitement.
Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan
September 19 | The Riverside Theater
Two comedians enter, one comedian leaves (victorious, probably). It’s a humorous heavyweight bout, a debate to the death, as Hasan Minhaj takes on Ronny Chieng for the title of funniest arguer alive. You’ve seen them on Netflix specials and TV shows, and you know both Hasan and Ronny have some serious opinions, from politics and culture to the smallest details of everyday life. Now, you can see them go head-to-head in a unique standup show where each comedian makes his case and tries to outwit the other. Unpredictable and unscripted, the show blends standup and improv, guaranteeing it really is 1/1.
Tom Jones
September 20 | Miller High Life Theatre
It’s not unusual to go out at any time, but it is unusual for the legendary Tom Jones to make an appearance in Milwaukee. The last time he played Milwaukee was in 2009, so this is a rare chance to catch songs like “It’s Not Unusual,” “She’s A Lady,” “What’s New Pussycat,” and so many more. With a career spanning over six decades, Jones’ music has been passed down through generations, his rich voice immediately recognizable whether you hear it on a soundtrack, a playlist or over the airwaves.
Mamma Mia!
September 22-27 | Marcus Performing Arts Center
Here we go again. ABBA hits and a classic Broadway show have made audiences fall in love with the characters, the story and the music that have kept “Mamma Mia!” on stages for more than 25 years. On the eve of her daughter’s wedding, Donna Sheridan must revisit her past as Sophie searches for the father she’s never known, all set to the unmistakable music of ABBA.
They Might Be Giants
September 24 & 25 | Riverside Theater
Istanbul, Constantinople and now Milwaukee. They Might Be Giants (TMBG) have been described in so many ways it’s actually kind of mind-boggling. Avant-garde, whimsical and quirky alt-rock seems to be the general consensus, but whatever words you use to describe the band, they’ve been packing venues for over 40 years. This tour, though, is special. Each evening features two sets of TMBG, spotlighting a different album each night before diving into fan favorites, rarities and selections from their latest album, “The World Is to Dig.”
“Gypsy”
September 25 – October 18 | Skylight Music Theatre
Stardom, vaudeville and the glow of the burlesque stage set the scene for this production at Skylight Music Theatre. Inspired by the autobiography of Gypsy Rose Lee, the theater’s season opener takes you to the final years of American vaudeville as Momma Rose pushes her daughters toward stardom. As vaudeville fades, shy daughter Louise finds fame in an unexpected place, the burlesque stage, as she transforms from an unknown newcomer into legend Gypsy Rose Lee. At its heart, the play explores ambition, family and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters.
Big Richard
September 26 | The Argo
If a bluegrass band that “makes music for the 21st century’s twisted cultural unease” doesn’t pique your interest, what can? There’s “Pet Sounds,” then there’s sounds from “Pet,” the group’s live-to-tape album that was never meant to be domesticated. “Pet” belongs in the wild, a bluegrass album that shines a light on society’s shortcomings with an infectious energy that’ll have you tapping your foot.
Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines
September 26 | Shank Hall
After this show, Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines may just become your Holy Roman Empire. Like the fallen empire, this New Jersey-based folk rock group was built around—and inspired by—the notion that life can be rebuilt after collapse, that survival, reinvention and renewal are all possible, even in dire moments. It’s a band that’s made it back from the brink, complete with fragile, story-based lyricism that captures the haunting nature of the past and the hope that always returns at the start of something new.
Kota The Friend
September 26 | The Rave / Eagles Club
There’s little information on the World Wide Web tracking just how many hip-hop artists got their stage name from a Disney movie, but Kota the Friend did. He drew inspiration from “Brother Bear,” adopting the Native American word Kota, meaning “friend,” to kickstart his music career. Ever since, the Brooklyn-based rapper has been an independent artist, turning down major record labels in favor of a do-it-yourself mentality that has earned him a fast-growing fanbase for his rich instrumentals and surreal lyrics.
Kings of Soul
September 26 | Bradley Symphony Center
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its 2026-27 season with some soul. Conductor Byron Stripling and the orchestra are giving a rich tribute to the kings and queens of soul music inside the Bradley Symphony Center with selections from Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Al Green, Barry White, Curtis Mayfield and more.
Somewhere in the Between
September 26 | Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel
Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. This piece of immersive theater turns the audience’s lives into 75 minutes of theater that’s funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming at once. It’s a curious crossroads of the performing arts that’s part mind-reading show, part improv comedy and part community storytelling session. At its heart, this one is all about the seemingly ordinary moments that change our lives forever.
Bleachers
September 27 | Landmark Credit Union Live
The Jack Antonoff project is back in Milwaukee this September, playing one of its biggest local venues yet. It’s the first time Bleachers have been back in the Cream City since 2023, and in that time, the band has released two new studio albums, “everyone for ten minutes” and “Bleachers,” three new live albums and an expanded reimagining of “Strange Desire,” “A Stranger Desire.” It’s safe to say there’s a lot to catch up on, and Landmark Credit Union Live is the place to do it this month.
Amigo the Devil
September 28 | The Rave / Eagles Club
“He’s all heart, with reckless abandon,” reads the artist bio, and it just might be the best description of Amigo the Devil’s music. Sure, it’s folk rock, but his songs shrug off any flowery ornamentation in favor of an earnest directness that pairs alarming honesty with personal realizations, crystallizing in lyrical storytelling soaked in wisdom and wit. You can see and feel the raw nerves on songs like “Hell and You” and “One Kind of People,” and now, you can feel it for yourself at The Rave / Eagles Club.
It's always showtime in the Milwaukee Theater District! Be here when the curtain drops to catch Broadway shows, once-in-a-lifetime performances and world-renowned performing arts groups like you've never seen before. Punch your ticket to an entertaining experience today!
