Artist Lineup Announced for Rainbow Summer 2025

MILWAUKEE (May 12, 2025) – Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) and Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 announce seven nights of free live music as part of Rainbow Summer, taking place July 14-20. Each date will feature performances by regional artists, food trucks, activities, and more.

Artist Lineup includes:

Monday, July 14 – Kids from Wisconsin
Tuesday, July 15 – T he Brass Queens
Wednesday, July 16 – Digable Planets
Thursday, July 17 – Chicago Latin Groove
Friday, July 18 – Fool House – The Ultimate 90’s Party
Saturday, July 19 – Family Day: 4Stomp Circus: What’s Next and Kid Boogie Down Taylor Swift Dance Party
Sunday, July 20 – Milwaukee Police Band

“We’re excited to welcome the community back for another great line-up at Rainbow Summer said Director of Programming & Education John Hassig. “There’s truly something for everyone, and we look forward to celebrating beautiful summer weather with fantastic music and activities.”

Performances Monday through Friday will begin at 7:00pm; Saturday’s Family Day activities begin at 3:00pm and continue with performances at 3:15pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm. Sunday’s performance begins at 2:00pm. Additional nightly activities include bubble playtime by Michelle Hackett from 5:30-7:30pm and local food trucks as well as food and beverages by Sazama’s Fine Catering beginning at 4:30pm. A rainbow-colored piano will also be placed on the Outdoor Grounds each morning (weather permitting) to invite community members to play and make their own music. All events are free and open to the public and will take place alongside an immersive public art installation co-sponsored by Milwaukee Downtown, Bid #21which will be announced soon

A vendor marketplace will be open from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. On Thursday evening, the Mercadera Market, a Latina-owned market that supports female entrepreneurs, will be featured.

Family Day on Saturday, July 19 will include Soul Spin from 3:00-7:00pm; a Kid Boogie Down Taylor Swift Dance Party from 4:00-7:00pm, bubble playtime beginning at 4:00pm, and two performances by the Quebec based circus company 4Stomp: with their interactive show What’s Next? at 3:15pm and 7:00pm.

Rainbow Summer Artist Lineup Details:

Kids From Wisconsin
Kids From Wisconsin empowers Wisconsin’s youth through performance and music enrichment experiences. Since their founding in 1968 and first performance in 1969, the Kids From Wisconsin have performed to over 10 million audience members.
July 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM

The Brass Queens
July 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Hailing from Brooklyn, Brass Queens is a female-led brass band featuring an all-female horn section with a sound deeply inspired by the New Orleans tradition. They regularly tour across the country and internationally, appearing on festival stages that include the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Northlands Music Festival, MusikFest, Duck Jazz Festival, and Exit Zero Jazz Festival.

Digable Planets
July 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Digable Planets burst onto the music scene in 1993 with their Grammy-winning single, “Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”. Made up of Ishmael Butler (“Butterfly”), Craig Irving (“Doodlebug”) and Mary Ann Vieira (“Ladybug Mecca”), the trio carved out a unique style of jazz-informed Hip Hop.

The performance opens with Kid Cut Up at 7:00pm. Hailing from Milwaukee and now based in Los Angeles, Kid Cut Up is a globally recognized DJ, producer, and remix artist whose high-energy sets blend hip-hop, turntablism, and genre-crossing creativity. A true master of the mix, his dynamic performances have taken him from local clubs to international arenas—touring with music icons like P!NK and Cher.

This night is a crossover event with Summer of Soul which takes place every other Wednesday from July 2 – August 27. Summer of Soul events are hosted by Culture X Design.

Chicago Latin Groove
July 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Since 2012, Chicago Latin Groove (CLG) has been the heartbeat of Chicago’s tropical music scene, bringing the ultimate fusion of energy, rhythm, and passion to every stage they step on. Known for their electrifying, high-energy performances, CLG ignites crowds with music that’s impossible to resist—no matter the genre!

Fool House – The Ultimate 90’s Party
July 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
An epic evening of 90’s nostalgia awaits! Join us for a special 90s Video Music Awards themed show! Hear all your favorite 90s party classics plus VMA winning songs! Dress to impress as a photo op awaits you on our red carpet.

4Stomp: What’s Next
Kid Bogie Down Taylor Swift Dance Party
July 19, 2025 at 3:15, 4:00, 7:00 PM
Quebec based circus act 4Stomp presents WHAT’S NEXT? The show is a game of chance where the audience decides, by the roll of a giant dice, which acts will be part of the show! Will it be acrobatics, juggling, jump rope, fire, Rubik’s Cube or a crazy act in pink that only they could dream up? This is a one-of-a-kind performance where even the performers can’t predict the outcome! Between performances of 4Stomp, children of all ages can dance and sing along to their favorite Taylor Swift tunes. DJ Lukewarm will provide live music/video show complete with lights, bubbles, and more!

Milwaukee Police Band
July 20, 2025 at 2:00PM
Since 1969 the Marcus Center has been proud to be part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial, honoring all those who have bravely served our country. On this special day, the Milwaukee Police Band will provide live music as we celebrate and honor veterans, public service heroes, and essential workers in our community.

For more information on Rainbow Summer, visit https://www.marcuscenter.org/get-tickets/rainbow-summer/.

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.