From Drake to Post Malone to Willie Nelson, here are 17 top Milwaukee concerts this summer

Milwaukee is missing out on the two biggest tours of the year: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

But the summer concert season in the city is still huge.

One of pop’s most impactful A-listers will play Milwaukee for the first time. Another will make their way to the area just 10 months after their last show. And one living legend is making his way back fresh from celebrating his 90th birthday.

Here are 17 must-see concerts to check out from June to August, but this hardly covers all of the top concerts of the season. Look for top show picks for Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair later this summer.

More: From Summerfest to Country Thunder, the 6 best music festivals in Wisconsin this summer

More: When and where the Milwaukee area's summer festivals and fairs are happening in 2023

George Strait

It’s a big year for country concerts in Milwaukee, so naturally the King of Country had to come to town. Milwaukee will be one of just seven cities Strait is playing on his summer stadium tour, and his first Milwaukee show since 2009. Sweetening the bill are Chris Stapleton, marking his third Milwaukee concert in as many years, and Little Big Town.

When, where, prices: 5:45 p.m. June 3, American Family Field, One Brewers Way. $125 to $1,103 at brewers.com/strait.

Chance The Rapper

There’s no better assemblage of hip-hop and R&B at a state music festival this summer than Escape From Wiscansin Fest, including curator T-Pain, veteran Afroman and fast-rising star Chloe Bailey. But the real get is Chance The Rapper, who’ll be warming up with an intimate set ahead of some arena shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of his breakout mixtape “Acid Rap.”

When, where, prices: Time to be announced, June 10, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $68 to $350 at the box office and therave.com.

The Flaming Lips

“Do you realize” the Flaming Lips’ inspired psych-rock opus “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” is 21 years old? Imaginative, dreamy and unusual, the album was a natural continuation of Wayne Coyne and company’s experimental nature, while upping their grandeur. It’ll be played in full this summer, complemented by the Lips’ bizarro, one-of-a-kind circus of a live show.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. June 13, Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. $49.50 to $150 at the door, the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.) and pabsttheater.org.

Outlaw Music Festival

Just a couple of months after his 90th birthday, Willie Nelson is embarking on another extensive summer tour headlining the traveling Outlaw Music Festival. The fest, at Alpine Valley for the first time, includes a joint performance with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss — who reunited for a new album “Raise the Roof” 14 years after their Grammy winner “Raising Sand.” Bluegrass acts Trampled by Turtles and Molly Tuttle, plus Nelson’s son Micah (stage name Particle Kid) round out the lineup.

When, where, prices: 4:45 p.m. June 24, Alpine Valley Music Theatre, 2699 County Road D, East Troy. $35 to $424 at the door and livenation.com.

Sparks

Five decades after embarking on their singular art pop journey, brothers Ron and Russell Mael received greater recognition as the subject of filmmaker Edgar Wright’s acclaimed documentary “The Sparks Brothers.” They’re building off that momentum with their 25th studio album, “The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte,” and their biggest headlining tour ever.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. July 6, Pabst Theater. $39.50 to $218.40.

Foo Fighters

The Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival — celebrating the motorcycle company’s 120th anniversary — also made our top Wisconsin festivals list this year. And while there’s a lot to love about the lineup — from Green Day to rock pioneer Joan Jett — Foo Fighters is the highlight. The performance comes about 18 months after the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, but Dave Grohl and company, processing the loss on a new album, are bound to turn their Milwaukee set into a touching tribute.

When, where, prices: Time TBA, July 15, Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. $120 for July 15 general admission; $205 for general-admission pass for July 14 and 15.

Post Malone

It’s been decades since a central pop superstar has played Alpine Valley. But that’s just one reason why Post Malone’s booking at the East Troy amphitheater, coming a couple of weeks before the release of new album “Austin,” is so surprising. Another reason: Malone just played Milwaukee 10 months earlier, after bypassing the market his entire career.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. July 15, Alpine Valley Music Theatre. $45 to $675.

Tedeschi Trucks Band

If you relish reserved seating and want to take in a big outdoor concert — but not amphitheater or stadium big — the BMO Pavilion on the Summerfest grounds is the place for you. There’s plenty of good stuff on that stage during Summerfest (Earth, Wind & Fire! Elvis Costello!), but there’ll be shows there happening well into September, too, with the bursting blues sounds of husband and wife group the Tedeschi Trucks Band being the best of the bunch.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. July 20, BMO Pavilion, Maier Festival Park. $27.70 to $299 at the box office and bmopavilion.com.

Regina Spektor

Armed with ceaseless creativity, sublime piano skills, a piercing voice and deep studies of a vast array of genres, Regina Spektor has amassed a body of work that’s all her own. Prolific as she is, a Spektor show in Milwaukee is rare, and a true treat.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. July 28, Riverside Theater. $45 to $179.

Paramore

OK, so we didn’t get Swift, but we’ll gladly welcome Paramore, one of her “Eras Tour” openers. The band added a late Milwaukee date after it seemed they, too, would skip the city on their own comeback tour. Frontwoman Hayley Williams is a joy on stage, and Paramore’s heart-bursting catalog is influencing a new generation with emo back in vogue, including their must-see opening act, viral all-women teen band the Linda Lindas.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Aug. 1, Fiserv Forum, 1111 N. Phillips Ave. $35.50 to $229 at the box office and fiservforum.com.

Drake

Drake didn’t just slight Milwaukee his entire career. He became the city’s No. 1 enemy for his antics during the Bucks NBA Eastern Conference finals against his hometown Toronto Raptors in 2019. It alI worked out: Toronto won the NBA championship that year, the Bucks won it two years later, and Drake even did a Giannis shout-out in a track. And now Milwaukee fans will finally get to hear his barrage of blockbuster singles live, and, as a bonus, fellow hip-hop hitmaker and frequent Drake collaborator 21 Savage will be there, too.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Aug. 3, Fiserv Forum. $294.50 to $875.

Stevie Nicks

Kicking off the second leg of her North American arena headlining tour in Milwaukee, Stevie Nicks will treat Milwaukee fans to her first solo show in town in 11 years, although you can expect to still hear some Fleetwood Mac gems in her set.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Aug. 8, Fiserv Forum. $94.50 to $995.

Ghost

In a two-week span starting in late July, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater will be the place to be for hard-rock lovers and metalheads, with shows from a resurrected Pantera, Nickelback, and Godsmack with Staind. But if you had to pick just one, we'd have to vouch for Swedish rockers Ghost, who will have the most elaborate stage show of the group, but also some of the best new rock songs, via their widely acclaimed, politically charged 2022 album "Impera."

When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Maier Festival Park. $42.50 to $269 at the box office and amfamamp.com.

Pink

Across several decades of stadium concerts in Milwaukee, not one has been headlined by a solo female artist. It's hard to imagine another artist more fit to hold that long overdue honor than Pink. With knockout vocals, a deep catalog of uplifting anthem, and staggering displays of physicality and acrobatic daring, she has become one of the greatest live performers of all time.

When, where, prices: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, American Family Field. $79.95 to $1,000 at brewers.com/pink.

Jelly Roll

Overcoming tremendous struggles, Jelly Roll has become country music's unexpected success story, building a fan base through hip-hop and hard rock before shaking up Music Row with the smash hit ballad "Son of a Sinner" in 2021 and becoming the toast of the CMT Music Awards ahead of a new album, "Whitsitt Chapel," that's practically guaranteed to make him an even bigger star.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Aug. 18, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. $32.75 to $488. Includes admission to Milwaukee Irish Fest Aug. 18.

Lil Baby

Lil Baby's become a big name in hip-hop, with three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 the last three years, and 2020 release "My Turn" becoming the most consumed album that year. That makes Baby's first Milwaukee arena show an event in its own right, but we're just as excited for the loaded lineup of openers he's put together, including viral sensation GloRilla.

When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Aug. 18, Fiserv Forum. $54.50 to $570.

Los Bukis

On the list of all-time, most accomplished Mexican bands, Los Bukis belongs right at the top, selling out stadiums for their first shows in a quarter-century in 2021. There have been fewer than 20 of them so far, and this summer, in a booking coup, the band's only show in the Midwest will be in Milwaukee, kicking off the 50th anniversary of Mexican Fiesta.

When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Aug. 24, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. $52.50 to $326.50. Includes admission to Mexican Fiesta Aug. 25.

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

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: From Drake to Post Malone, 17 top Milwaukee concerts for summer 2023