From Nicki Minaj to Olivia Rodrigo to Luke Combs, 20 top spring 2024 concerts in Milwaukee

Some of the most anticipated music events of the year in Milwaukee are just around the corner.

The city's first two stadium concerts are happening in April. The first big outdoor concerts are a month later, as is the year's first multistage festival. The Milwaukee Bucks arena has 14 concerts this March through May, and the calendars are stacked for small venues like the Cactus Club, X-Ray Arcade, Shank Hall and the city's newest club, Vivarium.

Out of hundreds concerts in Milwaukee this March through May, these 20, in order of occurrence, top the list.

Aimee Mann

Mann's impeccable songwriting goes wherever the spirits move her, whether it's songs for one of the best-loved movie soundtracks of the '90s (Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia"), songs inspired by the book "Girl, Interrupted" (her latest album, "Queens of the Summer Hotel") or a song about Milwaukee written with Ted Leo. What she'll actually play in Milwaukee is anyone's guess, but it's bound to be special.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. March 4, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Phillips Ave. $45 to $145 at the door, the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.) and pabsttheater.com.

Juanes

The Colombian artist added to his already stuffed trophy case at the Grammys this year with his win for best Latin rock album for "Vida Cotidiana," his return to his rock roots. It's also a fine reason for a tour that includes an ultra-rare Milwaukee stop that should demonstrate why he's one of the best-selling and most beloved Latin musicians in the world.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. March 6, Eagles Ballroom, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $33.50 to $118.50 at the box office and therave.com.

Sam Hunt

Country music's pop-culture dominance has grown in recent years, as has Milwaukee's status as a must-play country concert market. Regarding the former, Sam Hunt has been an indispensable contributor, blending hip-hop sonics and sensibilities with emotional vulnerability that paved the way for Morgan Wallen and scores of other superstars. But unlike his peers, Hunt skipped over Milwaukee tour after tour, with one show called off because of the pandemic. After nine years, the wait, finally, is over.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. March 15, Fiserv Forum, 1111 N. Phillips Ave. $35.75 to $270.75 at the box office and fiservforum.com.

Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo's 10th show ever was in Milwaukee, in her mom's home state, with family cheering her on from the balcony, and every fan packed into the Eagles Ballroom leaving the show with a core memory. That show made clear that she would fulfill the artist-of-her-generation buzz generated by breakout ballad "Drivers License" and dynamic debut album "Guts." Her equally strong sophomore album "Sour," and another zeitgeist-seizing single "Vampire," have made Rodrigo one of the hottest live acts coming to town in years.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. March 16, Fiserv Forum. Sold out. Resale seats priced between $124 and $2,000 at vividseats.com.

Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan played a sold-out American Family Insurance Amphitheater for Summerfest in July. But Milwaukee, like much of America, can't get enough of him. The following month, he announced another Milwaukee show at Fiserv Forum — and that one was a faster seller, with very, very few tickets remaining for very high prices. That's no surprise for anyone who has seen Bryan perform his gut-wrenching Americana songs — the Milwaukee show was one of our favorites last year — and this return promises new songs from his phenomenon-securing self-titled debut album.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. March 20, Fiserv Forum. $290 to $471.

Fall Out Boy

When the "rock is dead" proclamations emerged in the early 2010s, Fall Out Boy, who emerged from a hiatus in 2013, managed to find radio success by embracing hip-hop-inspired production. This wasn't the Fall Out Boy that fans remembered — but now that pop punk and emo are back in vogue, the band (including Menomonee Falls native Andy Hurley on drums) smartly returned to their roots last year with the well-received album "So Much (for) Stardust."

When, where, prices: 6:30 p.m. April 2, Fiserv Forum. $95.50 to $444.

Herbie Hancock

From performing by Miles Davis' side in his quintet in 1963, Herbie Hancock went on to become a jazz great in his own right, with only the second jazz album to ever win a Grammy for album of the year Grammy. Now 83, this Pabst Theater performance marks a rare chance for Milwaukee fans to pay their respects and hear his timeless contributions.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. April 2, Pabst Theater. $49.50 to $299.

The Last Dinner Party

Adele, Sam Smith, 50 Cent, Haim and PinkPantheress were some of the future stars selected for BBC's annual ones-to-watch "Sound Of" poll. The latest recipient: British, all-female, baroque-pop-seasoned indie-rock band The Last Dinner Party, which has been getting lots of praise for debut album "Prelude to Ecstasy" and selling out its first headlining shows, including their upcoming Milwaukee debut.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. April 5, Turner Hall Ballroom. Sold out. Resale tickets start at $75 at stubhub.com.

Andrea Bocelli

When celebrated tenor Andrea Bocelli returned to touring for the first time after the pandemic began, Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum was the first stop. He's making his way back to the Milwaukee Bucks arena, where he'll be accompanied again by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, to commemorate the 30th year of his music career.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. April 6, Fiserv Forum. $190 to $1,500.

Luke Combs

If you think March is a great month for country concerts in Milwaukee with Hunt and Bryan, wait until April. A-listers Tim McGraw and Dan + Shay have Fiserv Forum shows, and rising star Breland is playing the city's newest venue, the intimate Vivarium, the same night as Dan + Shay. But the big country show — really, shows — belong to Luke Combs, who will kick off his 2024 stadium tour with two nights of concerts at American Family Field, each with different openers. (Cody Jinks, Charles Wesley Godwin and Wilder Blue play the first night; Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Drew Parker and Colby Alcuff are on the second.)

When, where, prices: 5:45 p.m. April 12 and 13, American Family Field, One Brewers Way. $109 to $230 for April 12, $99 to $319 for April 13, at the box office and brewers.com.

Nicki Minaj

Since 2010, Nicki Minaj has released five albums, sold more than 100 million records, appeared on 22 Top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned her reputation as the "Queen of Rap." What she hasn't done, however, is headline a concert in Milwaukee, but it's finally happening on the heels of her Billboard 200 chart-topping album "Pink Friday 2."

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. April 13, Fiserv Forum. $74.50 to $695.

Indigo Girls

Nicki Minaj got some of the "Barbie" shine with her hit Ice Spice collaboration "Barbie World" — and so did the long-running folk duo Indigo Girls, whose signature song "Closer to Fine" played a major part in the blockbuster film. Expect to hear a superpowered version of that song and others at this collaborative concert with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. April 20, Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Sold out. Resale seats start at $111 at seatgeek.com.

Alvvays

The Canadian band drew plenty of praise for its jangle-pop-meets-shoegaze sound on its first two albums. But its latest full-length "Blue Rev," appearing after a three-year hiatus in 2022, revved up the accolades, landing on several best-album lists, leading to this long-awaited return to Milwaukee five years after the band's last time in town.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. April 22, Pabst Theater. $30 to $35.

Mike

Maybe Mike just doesn’t sleep? In less than a decade’s time, the rapper born Michael Bonema has released 24 albums, mixtapes and EPs. More impressive than the quantity is the quality. His releases routinely draw critical praise for his experimentation and storytelling, making Mike a cult hero for hip-hop heads seeking adventurous artists beyond the mainstream.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. April 26, Vivarium, 1818 N. Farwell Ave. $20 to $24 at the door and through the Pabst.

Sum 41

History has proven it's smart to be skeptical of farewell tours, and considering most of the guys in Sum 41 are in their early 40s, it’s unlikely this run of shows is really the end. But in the wake of an ambitious “final” double album — one half pop-punk, the other metal — this is a good time for fans to say so long (or so long for now).

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. April 27, Eagles Ballroom, the Rave. $49.50 to $249.50.

Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service

Twenty-one years ago, electronic emo-pop band the Postal Service played their lone Milwaukee concert two months after releasing their one and only album, the seminal "Give Up." Also 21 years ago, Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard released what would become the signature album for his primary alt-rock band Death Cab for Cutie, "Transatlanticism." Flash forward to 2024, and Milwaukee will get to see the Postal Service again, and see them share a bill with Death Cab, with the bands playing front-to-back performances of "Give Up" and "Transatlanticism," respectively. Arrive early to see Chicago-via-Madison indie-rockers Slow Pulp.

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. May 6, Miller High Life Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. $59.50 to $312.50 at the door and through the Pabst.

Laura Jane Grace

A pioneering transgender advocate who came out over a decade ago, the Against Me! frontwoman explored their transition on the fearless, in-your-face "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" 10 years ago. That was the second to final Against Me! album (for now), but Grace has remained an incredibly active, invigorating and openhearted songwriter, branching out into folk and other styles across a couple of solo albums (which included a song inspired by the Rave's empty swimming pool). Her latest solo release "Hole in My Head" confirms her rock chops are as blistering as ever.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. May 10, Vivarium. $29.50.

Milwaukee Metal Fest

Sixteen years after its last installment, Milwaukee Metal Fest — a celebrated showcase for thrash, death metal and other styles from 1987 to 2004 (and a 2007 edition) — returned to its primary home base the Rave in 2023, under the guidance of new owner and Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta. It wasn't going to be another one-off. Year 2 of the fest has an especially impressive lineup, including the first Milwaukee show in 24 years by main headliner Mr. Bungle. There'll be 73 bands in total, with four of them (Autopsy, Death to All, Terrorizer, I Am Morbid) giving rare front-to-back album performances just for this occasion.

When, where, prices: 2 p.m. May 17 to 19, the Rave. $99 to $383 for single-day tickets. $178 to $307 for two-day passes. $267 to $1,262 for three-day passes.

Willie Nelson

Evidently, Willie Nelson really can't wait to get on the road again. The country legend will celebrate his 91st birthday on April 29, and less than a month later, he will be on stage at the BMO Pavilion, a concert that comes less than a year after Nelson led Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and others through the Outlaw Music Festival at Alpine Valley.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. May 18, BMO Pavilion, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Dr. $44.94 to $336.77 at the box office and bmopavilion.com.

Peso Pluma

Thanks to the pandemic, music fans are used to shows getting postponed and extra-long waits to see their favorite stars. But even in that context, Peso Pluma fans have been especially patient. The primary figure responsible for infusing regional Mexican music with modern cool (making it the second fastest-growing genre in America last year), Peso Pluma was set to play Fiserv Forum last September following his breakthrough album "Genesis." That show was postponed to November, then postponed again, finally settling for May 30, the early days of what's being touted as his most ambitious tour.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. May 30, Fiserv Forum. $54.50 to $1,445.

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and more: 20 top Milwaukee spring concerts