Need one more reason to love this city? Look no farther than the music scene! I’ve found a ton of opportunities to take my kids to see some live and GOOD music here in town, and I wanted to share some of them with you.
Let me first say why I think music is important to kids and families. We have a vibrant scene here in Milwaukee, and by taking your kids to attend events/listen to their neighbors making music, you’re supporting your community. And making it stronger. The other reason I value music so much is because like all art, it’s a form of self expression. We all (kids included!) have emotions and ideas inside, and music is just one way to get those feelings out. When your kids see adults, teenagers, and even kids performing, it can be an encouraging way to tell your kids “Hey you’re important!” and that by expressing yourself you might even help other people get their feelings out.
We spend quite a few nights over the summer at our amazing Milwaukee County Parks for Concerts in the Parks. Almost every day of the week, you can find some free and family-friendly music around town. Most parks are busy with families and picnic dinners, kids running around, dancing, and adults sharing a drink. Check out MKE County Parks’ website for schedules (though I’m sure next summer’s lineups aren’t out quite yet).
88Nine Radio Milwaukee is constantly offering ways to see music, with kids and without. This summer they held a block party to celebrate their 10 year anniversary, and we were able to attend this fun free event! My kids had been hearing the band Reyna on the radio, so I did some Instagram stalking to introduce myself. After we saw this sister duo perform, we then got to say hi in person and snag a photo!
88Nine also offers 414 Music Live, one of my favorite perks of the radio station. At these sessions, you can watch musicians perform and chat with radio hosts. We’ve been lucky enough to see and meet Sonny Knight & The Lakers, Siren, Lex Allen, WebsterX, Grace Weber, Kaleo, The Bahamas, Sister Strings and Jack Garrett. Most of those performers are local…what a great way to support your community! Check their schedule here.
I don’t have any photos, but check out Free Space at the Jazz Gallery in Riverwest, and DJ Bizzon’s Scratch Sessions. Free Space is a community event held the third Wednesday of every month, and opens up its doors to youth who want to explore music. The Scratch Sessions offer free lessons on turntables for youth ages 12-19.
Anodyne Coffee Roasters has some interesting and free and family-friendly events as well! Last year I took the kids to see a jazz bass player and it was a really new and unique experience for them. They were a little out of their element, looking around with wide eyes as if to ask “is this music, Mom?” But I feel very strongly that exposure to new and different things creates appreciation for the arts. As much as I hated being dragged to classical music performances as a kid, I’m so happy to have that as a foundation in my life. Thanks Mom!
Colectivo hosts Gospel Sundays, MSO Mondays and more chances to see some great music. Check out the schedules and get yourself to one of the events, if just to say you tried it once.
And then there’s the Festival city Symphony’s Pajama Jamborees. If your kids can hang a little later in the evening, get them in their pjs and head to see some lovely music. It’s a free event held a few times a year, and the concerts typically surround a theme like holidays or classic stories.
Fox and Branch know how to bring down the house. They’re a local duo who play bluegrass when they’re not entertaining kids. Check out their schedule for chances to see them (like at Anodyne Coffee and this event at the Washington Park Library).
I commend the Milwaukee Public Library for offering such a fun and out-of-the-ordinary event…Library Out Loud Days! It’s a fun way to explore our libraries, by being loud. They’ve hosted shows (we saw New Age Narcissism this past summer, where adults got to drink a beer while kids danced and played and explored), and this month they have what looks like a really fun event. Haunted Central will be alive with “haunted-themed” events and activities for two days this weekend. Check it out!
The Milwaukee Art Museum has free days (first Thursday of every month) and great weekend events, many of which offer music. Kids under age 12 are always free at the museum, so if you get a chance to attend one of the special events, please take advantage of it!
And my last tip for introducing your kids to music is to have some instruments lying around your house. Ours are all second hand from rummage sales, and the microphone we have doesn’t even work. But kids get curious and want to explore things hands-on, so when they have the chance to pick/pluck/strike/sing, I say let them. I’ve also enjoyed seeing my kids be able to play some music, whether on our Fisher Price cassette player from the 80’s, or putting on their favorite album on the record player.
Thanks for stopping by and reading! If you have suggestions for other ways to get your family involved in live and or local music, please drop a line!
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