The best live music venues in Milwaukee

From historically-designated theaters to sleek, modern concert halls, there’s a live music venue in Milwaukee for everyone. Here are a few of our favorite places to catch a show in Cream City.

Cactus Club

2496 S. Wentworth Ave.

Located in the heart of Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood, Cactus Club is a local hidden gem. The building that now hosts one of the spunkiest venues in the Milwaukee area has a long and storied history – dating back to the late 19th century. The club has previously served as a grocery store and a prohibition-era tavern before converting to a live music venue in 1996. Since then, it’s served as a launching pad for both local and nationally touring acts, as well as hosting various community-oriented events such as artist markets, book clubs, and training workshops for local musicians.

Notable shows: The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Death Cab for Cutie, Interpol, Bright Eyes

Fiserv Forum

1111 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.

The home of the Milwaukee Bucks is also one of the state’s premiere concert venues, taking the place of the multi-purpose BMO Harris Bradley Center. Officially opened in 2018, the arena seats 18,000 and spans 714,000 square feet. Because of its large capacity, the Fiserv has attracted some of the biggest national tours in recent memory – Olivia Rodrigo, Childish Gambino, Nicki Minaj, and Travis Scott have all made stops this year.

Notable shows: Ariana Grande, Drake, Elton John, Harry Styles, Bruce Springsteen

The Pabst Theater

144 E. Wells St.

An essential for history buffs, Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater is the fourth-oldest operating theater in the country. Opening in 1895, the venue was constructed to mimic the architecture of the German Renaissance revival movement and European opera houses. Although it has undergone numerous renovations in the century since, it continues to stand as one of the most visually stunning venues in the entire state. With an opulent and extravagant charm, the theater still hosts over a hundred events annually and seats nearly 1,400.

Notable shows: Black Sabbath, Louis Armstrong, Ed Sheeran, Backstreet Boys, Bon Iver

The Rave/Eagles Club

2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Perhaps the most iconic rock club in the city, The Rave/Eagles Club is a multi-level complex that houses seven unique venues. A prime destination for nationally touring acts, you can catch notable artists from many different genres on any given weekend. Originally constructed in 1927 for Milwaukee’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, live music began to be hosted in the building’s ballroom from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Under new management, the venue rebranded as The Rave in 1991 and converted fully to a concert space. The historic venue is no stranger to urban legends – the pool in the building’s basement is often believed to be haunted, with many visiting artists reporting ghost sightings and unusual sensations. Guided tours of the facility (including the pool and boiler room) are offered periodically around the holidays.

Notable shows: Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Eminem, Rihanna, Green Day

The Riverside Theater

116 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Another theater with no shortage of history, the Riverside Theater opened along the Milwaukee River nearly a century ago in 1928. Designed by Charles Kirchhoff and Thomas Rose – the architects of New York’s famous Palace Theatre – the theater is modeled after French Baroque architecture. The Riverside has historically hosted vaudeville shows, big bands, and movie premieres, but now serves as one of the most popular destinations for nationally touring artists in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

Notable shows: Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters

Turner Hall Ballroom

1040 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.

Today, Turner Hall Ballroom is one of the best places in Milwaukee to catch exciting bands during their rises to popularity – but it wasn’t always like that. One of the oldest venues on this list, the building broke ground in 1882 as a meeting space for the Turners, a political and athletic movement of German-Americans. After being designated as a national landmark in 1996, the building’s upper level was converted to a concert hall in order to preserve its legacy. In recent years, the venue has developed a rich history of hosting notable indie rock and alternative groups in the midst of their heydays. 

Notable shows: Vampire Weekend, Sonic Youth, The Black Keys, Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens

Vivarium

1818 N. Farwell Ave.

The newest addition to Milwaukee’s live music scene, Vivarium opened its doors in February 2024 on the city’s East Side. The venue has a smaller capacity of 450, primarily hosting independent artists on tour. Replacing iconic East Side venue The Back Room at Colectivo, Vivarium captures a uniquely organic and intimate atmosphere – the walls are fashioned from 100-year-old northern Wisconsin trees, and the entire venue is adorned with artificial greenery. Although the space is still in its infancy, the vibe is immaculate and the future is bright.

Notable shows: Real Estate, Slaughter Beach Dog, MIKE, Laura Jane Grace, Sun June

X-Ray Arcade

5036 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy

Although it’s a bit out of the way, Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade is an unmissable venue in the Milwaukee area. Catering more towards the emo and punk crowd, the space is D.I.Y. to its core and consistently offers a strong lineup of boundary-pushing acts and local openers. The venue’s calling card is their selection of refurbished arcade machines available to play – titles include Pac-Man, Galaga, and Mortal Kombat 4. 

Notable shows: Remo Drive, Show Me the Body, Origami Angel, Tiny Moving Parts, Loathe