Author: Staff

On the occasion of June being African-American Music Appreciation Month, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey felt it was time to honor a major jazz figure from the city. The late Al Jarreau was born as Alwin Lopez Jarreau in Milwaukee on March 12, 1940 and honed his musical talents at Lincoln High School. His father was a minister with a fine singing voice, and his mother a piano teacher and accompanist to the church choir. Jarreau continued to perform in local groups during his years as a psychology student at Ripon College, Wisconsin. He went on to tour around the...

The popular Bus Shelter Art Project from the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) kicked off its second season recently, coinciding with a secret mural painted by the internationally acclaimed street artist, MTO. Eight new pieces of artwork on bus shelters are in the process of being installed around Milwaukee. The first location, at the intersection of 27th Street and North Avenue, features artwork by Tyler “Tystarr” Copes. Seasons 414 is a colorful illustration that depicts a diverse group of individuals enjoying Wisconsin’s summer, spring, fall and winter months. “Growing up in Brooklyn, I was basically raised on public transportation...

Milwaukee Film will welcome Milwaukee Brewers Founder Allan H. “Bud” Selig to the Oriental Theatre for a special screening of “The Spy Behind Home Plate,” a documentary about enigmatic ballplayer Morris “Moe” Berg. The Spy Behind Home Plate opens at the Oriental Theatre on June 14 for a full theatrical run. The director of the film, Aviva Kempner, will join Selig for a post-film discussion on June 15 at 3:30 p.m. “One could not make up all the feats Berg pulled off in his life as a spy, nor can we say with certainty when he first started spying....

As a grant and educational initiative designed to help Milwaukee-area musicians break out in their creative career, Backline announced the selection of the first group for its two accelerator programs this year on May 29. A collaboration between the non-commercial station 88Nine Radio Milwaukee (WYMS-FM 88.9) and nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor, Backline launched last year to help Milwaukee musicians succeed, improve Milwaukee’s recognition as one of the country’s most vibrant music cities, and assist companies in attracting the young employees they need. The Backline artists selected for Spring 2019 are Kaylee Crossfire, Klassik, and REYNA. They are provided...

PrideFest Milwaukee 2019 kicks off the summer festival season with a four-day weekend celebration of LGBTQ history and heritage from June 6 to 9 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. This year’s line-up includes Kim Petras, Greyson Chance, Dragapalooza! featuring Trixie Mattel, and over 100 LGBTQ artists on eight stages. To eliminate economic barriers for LGBTQ youth, the festival is donating 1,000 tickets to Wisconsin Gay-Straight Alliances. “Our 2019 schedule allows for increased tourism to Milwaukee, while supporting the work and growth that’s happening year-round outside our festival gates,” said Wes Shaver, president of Milwaukee Pride, Inc. The 2019...