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This Month in Milwaukee
EIGHT THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY
BY ALLEN HALAS, BARRY HOULEHEN AND DAVID LUHRSSEN
Photo by jdwfoto/Getty Images.
THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS Irish Music Sessions at Paddy’s Pub and County Clare
Milwaukee Irish pubs County Clare and Paddy’s Pub offer weekly Irish music open mics, commonly known as “sessions,” where musicians gather to play instrumental tunes together. Musicians are invited to bring their acoustic instruments and join in on jigs, reels, and other types of Irish and Scottish tunes. The Paddy’s Pub session begins at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in their upstairs room. The County Clare session begins at 9 p.m. on Fridays. County Clare is a smaller space and tends to attract more advanced players, while Paddy’s space is larger and is open to musicians of all ability levels, including beginners. Bring your instrument and sit in, or just grab a pint and enjoy the tunes
SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS Ice Skating at the Lynden Sculpture Garden
In January, the Lynden Sculpture Garden is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Thursdays). Thanks to the generosity of donors, admission is free all month long. Weather permitting, ice skating will be offered on one of ponds in the Lynden’s 40 acres of park and woodland. For updates, visit lyndensculpturegarden.org.
JANUARY 6 An Evening With Guerrilla Ghost and Spoy at Best Place Pabst Brewery
Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery provides a picturesque venue for local musicians to host a concert, and a pair of bands are going to test the structural integrity of the longstanding building on Jan. 6. Noise-rap hybrid Guerrilla Ghost will headline the evening, with support from experimental post-hardcore act Spoy. Guerrilla Ghost will also be celebrating their fifth anniversary of politically charged musical chaos at that show.
JANUARY 16 A Night Of Consciousness: Roy Washington, Atheists and Airplanes, BeautyAndTheBeast, Chico Manolo Cactus Club
A mixed-bill, all-ages show will take place at Cactus Club starting at 6:30 p.m. Gospel rapper Roy Washington will hit the stage, along with indie band Atheists and Airplanes, hip hop duo BeautyAndTheBeast, and rapper Chico Manolo will provide for a unique evening of diverse music offerings.
JANUARY 18 Nick Petrie Boswell Books
For the seventh novel in his fast-paced Peter Ash series, Milwaukee author Nick Petrie packs his war veteran protagonist off to Nebraska. In The Runaway, Ash rescues a pregnant woman stranded on a roadside, only to be embroiled in a desperate clash with her ex-cop husband. The prestigious Kirkus book review journal calls The Runaway “Downright frightening fun” and “one hellacious ride for crime fiction fans.” Ash’s talk will be held at 6:30 p.m. in-person and virtually via Zoom. Registration is required.
JANUARY 20 Courtney Barnett Pabst Theater
Aussie indie rocker Courtney Barnett will visit Milwaukee, bringing an always-energetic live show to the Pabst. A one-woman powerhouse on stage, Barnett is touring behind her fourth album, Things Take Time, Take Time, which was released this past November. Hits like “Pedestrian At Best” and “Nameless Faceless” will feel familiar to indie rock fans, with the newer material featuring more of Barnett at her best.
JANUARY 29 The Regrettes The Rave
Indie rock darlings The Regrettes have turned heads for the past few years, making appearances at Summerfest, Lollapalooza and Riot Fest all by the time they would be graduating high school. Frontwoman Lydia Knight and co. will make their first appearance at The Rave with an allages headlining show. You’ve likely heard songs like “Hey Now” and “Come Through” in various commercial placements, but the young band’s catalogue only gets stronger as they mature.