WMSE 91.7FM Announces 15th Annual Backyard BBQ Featuring Midwest Emo Icons Braid

Milwaukee, WI – May 7, 2025 – WMSE 91.7FM is proud to announce the return of its beloved Backyard BBQ on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Humboldt Park in Bay View. The free, family-friendly music festival, now in its 15th year, is presented by Lakefront Brewery and Gruber Law Offices, LLC. This year’s headliner is Braid, the Illinois (with strong local ties) band credited with shaping the sound and spirit of Midwest emo and post-punk indie music.

Braid has played more than 600 shows worldwide and remains a powerhouse on stage, bringing decades of emotionally resonant and high-energy performances to loyal fans and new audiences alike.

The full-day lineup starts with The R&B Cadets, featuring Milwaukee legends John Sieger, Robin Pluer, and Paul Cebar. They’ll be followed by the soulful sounds of Moonglow, the always-electrifying Voodoo Honey Brass Band assembled by Jay Anderson, and the experimental instrumental stylings of Collections of Colonies of Bees. WMSE DJs will spin throughout the day.

“The Backyard BBQ is our way of thanking the community that makes WMSE possible,” said Tom Crawford, station manager at WMSE. “Bringing a powerhouse band like Braid to Bay View—and combining them with incredible local talent—embodies what listener-supported radio is all about.”

The event will also feature food trucks, activities for all ages, local craft beer, and more, all set in the relaxed summer setting of Humboldt Park.

WMSE’s Backyard BBQ is possible thanks to generous listener donations and community partnerships.

About WMSE
“Anti-established” in 1981, WMSE 91.7 FM – Frontier Radio has grown into Milwaukee’s truest and longest-standing music radio institution. A financially independent department of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), WMSE – with a 24-hour free-form format representing every musical genre – has been primarily funded by listening supporters and community partners since 1997. The station’s vision is to educate the listening community by providing a wide selection of musical programming not heard anywhere else in the market. WMSE is Milwaukee’s champion for the city’s diverse community of musicians and artists. For more information, visit www.wmse.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.