Milwaukee’s East Side Extends Black Cat Rising Concert Series Through the Fall

Milwaukee’s East Side residents can look forward to an exciting fall season as the East Side’s Black Cat Rising Concert Series, presented by Crossroads Collective, has been extended due to its immense popularity.

The concert series showcases the talents of emerging local musicians and takes place every Thursday at 7:00 PM in the unique and artistic Black Cat Alley. To ensure guests' comfort during chilly weather, the food hall will provide outdoor warming stations. Admission is free and the concert series will conclude on November 16th.

This popular concert series is known for its diverse range of musical genres, includingindie, house music, pop, rock, rap, R&B, and hip-hop. The series provides a platform for artists to showcase their talents, and the alley provides a unique and engaging atmosphere for concertgoers. “The Black Cat Rising concerts are reminiscent of underground basement shows that we all know and love," says Hannah Gulledge, the Assistant General Manager of Crossroads Collective, responsible for curating the music inside the alley, "but instead of a basement, people are able to experience that same energy in an alley turned open-air art gallery.”

In addition to the musical performances, Black Cat Alley also features an outdoor bar option from The Pharmacy, located within Crossroads Collective Food Hall. The bar offers an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as high-top tables, where patrons can order food from the food hall and have it served to them in the alley during the concerts. As a special treat for college students, Crossroads Collective is collaborating with the series to offer student specials every Thursday before the concert. "We are thrilled to be hosting the Black Cat Rising concert series," says David Smulyan, Executive Director of the East Side BID. "One of our main programmatic goals this year was to activate Black Cat Alley on a regular basis, and this concert series has enabled us to do just that! We are fortunate to have the folks at Crossroads Collective, with all their creative energy, as active members of the East Side BID."

Black Cat Alley is a premier art destination in Milwaukee, boasting an impressive collection of 21 murals created by talented muralists from all around the world. It is a public space that is available free of charge, seven days a week, located between Ivanhoe Place and Kenilworth Boulevard. Along with the Black Cat Rising concert series, Black Cat Alley also hosts the free Sound SYSTEM DJ Series, which will take place on September 30th, October 28th, and November 25th from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Visitors can also look forward to a new mural by Ruben Alcantar that will soon be added to the alley's impressive collection.

Additionally, the pedestrianized Ivanhoe Plaza hosts Tea Leaves Open Mic Night every Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. With all these exciting events in one area, the East Side of Milwaukee is the place to be.

For more information, please contact Paige Hammond at paige@nlehospitality.com.