Milwaukee, WI
Baby Keem hits the jackpot at ‘Ca$ino’ tour stop in Milwaukee
Your guide to the top summer concerts in Milwaukee in 2026
From Benson Boone to Bryan Adams, here are 15 of the best concerts happening in Milwaukee this June through August.
You know a performer’s made it big when they barely have to move a muscle to get a huge reaction.
Deep into his 70-minute set at the Eagles Ballroom at the Rave on May 22, after naturally triggering mosh pits on the floor following “Moshpit,” Grammy-winning rapper Baby Keem took a moment to just stand and stare at his capacity Milwaukee crowd.
Then, ever so slightly, he started turning his head to the right, then the left, then the right, then the left. With every tiny turn, the fans directly in front of him began to cheer, the roars becoming louder and louder, until dropping to quiet murmurs as Keem covered his eyes. When he moved his hand and opened them, the place went nuts.
It wasn’t the only time Keem had incredible audience command with little effort.
Near the end of “Booman,” Keem did two small jumps, inspiring thousands of fans to bounce with all their might. In the middle of subsequent song, “Vent,” Keem unraveled a guttural, drawn-out “louder,” prompting mighty roars and rap-alongs in response. Then for “Circus Circus Freestyle,” Keem ever so calmly faced the crowd, his palms facing the ceiling, and gently flicked his fingers, sparking electrifying energy from the masses.
Sure, Keem’s career and following received a significant boost by association: His cousin, and frequent collaborator, is hip-hop GOAT contender Kendrick Lamar. And Keem was supported by engrossing stage production for his “Ca$ino Tour,” named after his sophomore album that dropped in February.
Keem frequently performed atop a seedy-looking “Ca$ino” marquee with digital screens and lights projecting below it; to his right behind him was a “billboard” that projected different images and videos throughout the night, from a silhouette and flashes of a cartoon clown for “Circus Circus,” to home movies for “I Am Not A Lyricist.”
But even with his famous family connection and flashy production, Keem has earned his credibility, and the crazy commotion in Milwaukee, through his own towering talent and captivating catalog.
Take the title track off “Ca$ino” that kicked off Keem’s 19-song set. As soon as the sound effects of the slot machine piped through the speakers, the crowd was explosive – even though Keem himself was barely audible rapping through the song, his mic drowned out by the bass. Even the chants of the crowd were more audible. But everyone was having a blast anyway.
Chest-puffing bangers like “Ca$ino” have cultivated a devout crowd; in Milwaukee, it was made up largely of young men eager to blow off some steam. But Keem’s also a versatile rapper who expresses himself through a variety of cadences and tones – just like his cousin – and his songs can get quite deep and personal.
In Milwaukee, that aspect of his art was manifested for the surprising finale for this party: “No Blame,” off of “Ca$ino.” It was preceded by more home movies on the billboard, depicting an actual baby Baby Keem in the arms of Sharon Govan, his grandmother who primarily raised him, and passed away last year. When her name appeared at the end of that string of home movies, the crowd offered heartfelt cheers and applause in her honor.
And then Keem poignantly began to rap, and what he offered was raw and resonant, as he directly addressed his mother, the hurt she caused, and the hurt she had.
“I don’t blame you, Mama,” Keem rapped quietly. “You was walking the streets alone/You couldn’t shake the trauma … I cry and blame myself for all the [expletive] that fell upon us.”
He continued, and didn’t hold back, revisiting haunting memories of being 7, in his pajamas, waiting for his mother, a promise she couldn’t keep; and of his mother and grandmother fighting for him, with Child Protective Services at the door.
Baby Keem has generated so much goodwill he could easily coast in concert. But at the end of his Eagles Ballroom performance in Milwaukee, he gave his heart and soul.
Three takeaways from Baby Keem’s Milwaukee concert
- There were signs all over the Rave warning that crowd surfers would be ejected immediately, and fans took them seriously, with no one taking the chance. Well, almost no one. After an elongated, fan-baiting pause ahead of one Keem’s biggest hits, his Kendrick Lamar collaboration “Family Ties,” one of his friends was so swept up by the energy he ran off the stage and dived on top of fans on the floor.
- Keem also took a few minutes in the middle of his set to sign autographs for fans near the stage.
- Mosh pits frequently formed during the set, but they were never aggressive. At one point, the bros (many shirtless) let a couple of women occupy the space in the center of a circle to dance together. And when the symphonic strings of “16” began to play, the jumping and playful pushing transformed into elegant swaying, as if the bros had been transported from a Baby Keem concert to a Victorian ball.
Baby Keem’s Eagles Ballroom setlist
- “Ca$ino”
- “Stats”
- “Good Flirts”
- “I Am Not A Lyricist”
- “Booman”
- “Vent”
- “Circus Circus Freestyle”
- “Orange Soda”
- “Trademark USA”
- “Lost Souls”
- “House Money”
- “Honest”
- “$ex Appeal”
- “Dramatic Girl”
- “Moshpit”
- “Family Ties”
- “Birds & the Bees”
- “16”
- “No Blame”
Contact Piet Levy at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
MILWAUKEE – The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Milwaukee and all of southeastern Wisconsin from noon Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, with heat index values expected to reach the upper 90s to around 100 degrees.
While the advisory is expected to end Wednesday evening, hot and humid conditions are forecast to continue through the remainder of the week.
Forecast conditions can change, so everyone is encouraged to monitor local forecasts and follow guidance from the National Weather Service.
Milwaukee County cooling sites
What we know:
Cooling sites are available throughout Milwaukee County.
For an updated list of cooling locations, heat safety information, and resources on preventing heat-related illness, visit the City of Milwaukee website or call 211.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Staying safe during extreme heat
What you can do:
Stay cool
- Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest part of the day.
- Spend time in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible such as libraries, shopping centers, or community centers.
- If you have an air conditioner, make sure it is installed and working properly.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Take cool showers or baths, or use cool, wet towels to lower body temperature.
- Fans may provide comfort but should not be relied upon as the primary cooling method during extreme heat.
Stay hydrated
- Drink water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, which can contribute to dehydration.
- Encourage children, older adults, and others at higher risk to drink fluids throughout the day.
Protect yourself and others
- Never leave children, older adults, or pets unattended in vehicles. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle can become deadly within minutes.
- Check on older neighbors, family members, and others who may need assistance staying cool.
- Many public cooling sites are located along Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) routes. Visit RideMCTS.com for transit information.
Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illness
Heat exhaustion may include:
- Heavy sweating
- Weakness or fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fainting
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms may include:
- High body temperature
- Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
- Confusion
- Rapid pulse
- Loss of consciousness
Call 911 immediately if someone is experiencing signs of heat stroke.
For additional hot weather safety information, visit the City of Milwaukee website.
The Source: City of Milwaukee Health Department sent FOX6 the information.
Milwaukee, WI
Squire Robinson leads a new generation of Milwaukee artists with his distinctly bold style
In a cavernous attic studio stands Squire Robinson.
Next to him on the ground is an unfinished painting of his. Hung above him are numerous paintings that he’s finished in the past year.
The walls are filled with works of art, crafted by the various artists who also call 100% MKE, a nonprofit arts studio and workspace at 217 N. Broadway, home.
Robinson’s art doesn’t just stand among them – it stands out.
Maybe it’s the saturated reds that prevail in each of his pieces.
Maybe it’s the bold strokes that create the even bolder figures that call his paintings home.
Either way, Robinson’s art has a tangible effect for those with the eyes to see.
“Sometimes the most important piece of art is that you feel. His art makes you feel,” Richard Badger Jr. said. Badger, who goes by the artist name Coyote Rich, is also an artist in residence at 100% MKE.
Robinson first fell in love with art through his grandfather, who painted signs for corner stores. Early memories of drawing contests with his grandfather enchanted Squire into the art world.
Later, Robinson drew comics and superhero characters, foreshadowing the powerful figures he paints today.
“My style has always been there, it’s just evolution, it grows and changes,” Robinson said.
Robinson, a 2024 graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, has always had a certain fascination with Renaissance-era paintings.
Yet despite his appreciation of the style, something was missing.
“I appreciated the technique and skill, but I just couldn’t really relate to it,” Robinson said.
For him, the lack of diversity made the style feel distant.
Black culture in art
Now, Robinson’s style flows through the powerful Black people he paints.
“I took some of that flavor and remixed it to something that is more me,” Robinson said. “My inspiration comes from Black culture, music and my dreams.”
Robinson’s own personality is vehemently present in each of his pieces.
“His art has a very strong personality behind it,” said Nelle Speerschneider, a co-founding board member of 100% MKE.
By the end of a lengthy creative process, Robinson’s pieces are saturated with color and shapes that make viewers stop and stare. For Robinson, that’s the goal.
“To me, good art is when you can just stare at it and sit with it and think,” Robinson said. “If you see my work and walk right past it, then I didn’t do something right.”
Music and the flow state
Robinson said when he is met with a blank canvas, he doesn’t begin with a person or a setting; he starts with the mood. Then, with the help of music, he lets his art flow.
“I don’t try to contain the style, it’s just all me,” Robinson said.
Music is a big deal for Robinson. So much so that he can’t paint without it. Robinson’s taste in music, from classical and jazz to his love for Kendrick Lamar, seeps into his art.
“Squire’s art makes me feel like music,” Badger said.
Robinson said music helps him loosen up and get out of a funk.
“It helps me escape and enter that flow state,” Robinson said.
He said music supports his ethereal creative process.
“Sometimes when I paint, I feel like I’m being guided by something higher than me,” Robinson said.
Milwaukee made
As a young figure in the Milwaukee art scene, Robinson wears the city on his sleeve.
“Growing up in Milwaukee made me hard in the sense of staying true to myself,” Robinson said.
At 100% MKE, Robinson offers a unique voice. “It’s nice to have his youthful and urban take in the studio,” Speerschneider said.
Badger said young artists like Robinson are vital for pushing the scene forward.
“They’re the driving force of what Milwaukee looks and feels like,” he said.
Future goals
Going forward, Robinson wants to become an art therapist, someone who uses the medium of art to process emotional challenges.
“Art has always been a way to self-express and get my own feelings out,” Robinson said. “That’s why the tone of my paintings matters the most, because those feelings are what I’m trying to evoke.”
As for his art career, Robinson says his finest work is yet to come.
“I haven’t created my best one yet.”
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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Milwaukee, WI
Post From Community: Laughing Liberally Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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