Musical Variety Takes Center Stage at Lake Park Musical Mondays
Fun lineup also announced for Wonderful Wednesdays shows for kids and families
Image courtesy of Lake Park Friends.
Milwaukee, Wis. (May 5, 2026) – Variety takes center stage this summer at Lake Park Musical Mondays, with eight evenings of different musical genres including Zydeco, bluegrass, Detroit soul, New Orleans funk, different styles of jazz, a mix of danceable originals and obscure covers, and a tribute to songwriter John Prine.
The free shows run on eight Mondays at the Lake Park Summer Stage from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. July 6 through Aug. 24.
Lake Park Friends presents Lake Park Musical Mondays in cooperation with Milwaukee County Parks and with generous support from the Coles Family Foundation, Potawatomi Casino Hotel, Radio Milwaukee, WMSE Radio 91.7FM, OnMilwaukee, Milwaukee Record and park volunteers.
Lake Park Friends also announced the lineup for its other free summer series, Lake Park Wonderful Wednesdays, aimed at children and families. Those shows run Wednesdays on the Lake Park Summer Stage from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. July 15 through Aug. 19.
Lake Park Friends Board President Joanne Barndt said Lake Park Musical Mondays, now in its 28th season, and Wonderful Wednesdays are among the many ways the non-profit group helps bring people into and improve one of Milwaukee’s most beloved parks. “In addition to presenting free concerts, Lake Park Friends is proud to fund park improvements, organize volunteer-led weeding and planting, promote bird walks, and offer tennis lessons and free ice skating,” she said.
Here are the 2026 Lake Park Musical Mondays and Wonderful Wednesdays lineups:
LAKE PARK MUSICAL MONDAYS
Shows are 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The series is for music lovers of all ages.
July 6, 2026: De La Buena
A powerful 10-piece band, Milwaukee’s De La Buena electrifies audiences with its own brand of Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz. De La Buena is ever conscious of the influence and necessary respect for tradition yet is willing to inject sophisticated, psychedelic sensibilities into an aggressive, expansive framework.
July 13, 2026: Flow Tribe
New Orleans’s Flow Tribe brings the fire to audiences through genres of music ranging from soul, funk, blues, rock and more. At the heart of each tune is their passion for the beautiful music of the Crescent City, and the melting pot of influences can be heard in their music and performance.
July 20, 2026: The R&B Cadets
Milwaukee’s most popular and longest-running supergroup, The R&B Cadets play a unique signature mix of danceable originals and obscure covers, fronted by some of the city’s most cherished voices – Paul Cebar, Robin Pluer and John Sieger.
July 27, 2026: Laura Rain and the Caesars
A proud product of the Motor City, hard-driving singer Laura Rain and her hot band pump out soul, R&B and funk originals worthy of the many greats hailing from Detroit, with fearless emotion and excitement.
Aug. 3, 2026: Buckets of Prine: The Songs of John Prine
With its pitch-perfect harmonies and varied orchestrations, this Door County supergroup has created one of the peninsula’s most popular concert traditions. After performing Bob Dylan’s songs to full houses since 2011, the group is now also covering the beloved songs of legendary songwriter John Prine.
Aug. 10, 2026: Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band
From Lafayette, Louisiana, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. carries forward the Grammy-winning legacy of his father, zydeco pioneer Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Sr. A dynamic multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, with his dad’s band, he has shared the stage with legends like Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, and Buddy Guy.
Aug. 17, 2026: The Kal Bergendahl Project Featuring Faith Hatch
The Kal Bergendahl Project is a six-piece instrumental jazz-funk band powered by a three-piece horn section. This top Milwaukee-based group will perform originals as well as jazz standards featuring up-and-coming vocalist Faith Hatch.
Aug. 24, 2026: Mama Said String Band
Delivering a refreshing reinvention of sounds once forgotten, Mama Said String Band has been impacting the bluegrass scene and beyond since its 2016 debut. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the band’s four songwriters and players feature exquisite vocal harmonies and contemporary instrumentation.
LAKE PARK WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS
Shows are 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The series is aimed at children and their families.
July 15, 2026: The Last Bees
Wisconsin-based Ian Ash was inspired by the Led Zeppelin throwback of Greta Van Fleet and the 60’s throwback of artists like Megan Trainor and Pokey LaFarge. The result: positive, uplifting, nostalgia-inspired melodies, as sweet as honey, with vocals and instruments with an edge that stings like a bee.
July 22, 2026: Branch & Co.
Will Branch is a musician with over 35 years of experience who has performed around the US and his original songs have been played on folk radio around the world. Lil Rev is an award-winning, Wisconsin-based multi-instrumentalist and folk artist. He is the 1996 National Blues Harmonica Champ and was voted 2004 Best Folksinger in Wisconsin by The WAMI board.
July 29, 2026: Main Street Dance
High-energy show choir performance featuring pop hits, choreography & young local talent. Main Street Song & Dance Troupe develops character and talent in its community of young performers through education and exceptional performing experiences.
Aug. 5, 2026: Frogwater
Renowned for their virtuosity and exuberant live performances, the repertoire of this musical pair spans from Celtic to Delta blues, from classical to pop with a healthy dose of unique original material filling out the mix.
Aug. 12, 2026: Jen & The Jellyfish
Featuring the sounds of David Weinstone’s Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals music along with other family friendly tunes.
Aug. 19, 2026: Little Miss Ann
Nationally-touring Chicago based Filipina American kids’ musician who has made 9 award winning albums that span different genres with fun, interactive, upbeat songs that inspire kids to sing, jump, dance and let their own lights shine.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase in the park at Lake Park Musical Mondays on July 6 and July 13 at Milwaukee County’s Traveling Beer Garden, near the Summer Stage.
For more info and updates about the series, visit https://lakeparkfriends.org/visit/events/music-in-the-park/ and follow Lake Park Friends on Facebook and Instagram.
Lake Park Friends is a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation and enjoyment of Lake Park; sponsors educational, recreational and cultural events; and raises funds for restoring and enhancing the park in the spirit of its designer, renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
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.
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