WMSE 91.7FM: 2024 Year in Review
POSTED:: December 25, 2024
FILED UNDER:: General
With the unwavering support of our community, WMSE 91.7FM made 2024 a year to remember. From exhilarating live broadcasts to impactful cultural collaborations, the station brought Milwaukee together through the power of music and community engagement.
This was only possible because WMSE is community-powered. Start your monthly gift today to keep the Mighty 91 strong in 2025!
Here are some of the year’s standout moments:
JAN
Sponsored Event – N/A Day at The Cooperage
Friday Night Freak Show – Zoolander with DJ Von Munz at Times Cinema
Local/Live In-Studio – Zang
Local/Live In-Studio – DUIs
Local/Live In-Studio – Hatchets
Local/Live In-Studio – Hannah Simone
Sponsored – Music Go Round x Volta Records Present: Tollbooth, Cult of Lip, Bad Crime, Winona Driver at Cactus Club
WMSE Presents – Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration – Starring The Blue Note Quintet at Turner Hall Ballroom
Sponsored Series – 1984 at Company Brewing
Sponsored – Present Music – Cello Cello at Jan Serr Studio
FEB
WMSE Event – 7th Annual WMSE Art & Music
Sponsored Event – Mittenfest at Boone & Crockett
Sponsored Event – Flatout Friday / Mama Tried
Sponsored Event – Laugh Track Cinema: A Celebratory Riffing of Wisconsin-Made Cinema at The Laughing Tap
WMSE Member Event – Annual Belated WMSE Holiday Party at Enlightened Brewery
Friday Night Freak Show – Krush Groove with DJ Barry at Times Cinema
Local/Live – Fight Dice
Local/Live In-Studio – Toadskin
Local/Live In-Studio – Exit Statement
Sponsored – Inside A Dream: A Music Tribute To David Lynch at Turner Hall Ballroom
Sponsored – The KILLS at The Rave/ Eagles Club
WMSE Presents – Matthew Sweet at Shank Hall
WMSE Presents – Graham Hunt & Rustbelt Record Release Show at Cactus Club
Sponsored Series – 1984 at Company Brewing
MARCH
Friday Night Freak Show – Goodfellas with Terry Havel at Times Cinema
Local/Live at Anodyne – Something To Do
Local/Live In-Studio – Gold Steps
Local/Live In-Studio – Barely Civil
WMSE’s Orgullo Latino Presents – Gilberto Santa Rosa at Pabst Theater
WMSE Presents – JJ Grey & Mofro at The Riverside Theater
Sponsored – KMFDM at The Rave/ Eagles Club
Sponsored Series – 1984 at Company Brewing
APRIL
WMSE Event – 22nd Annual WMSE Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser at MSOE Kern Center
WMSE Radio Event – International Jazz Day
Sponsored Event – Milwaukee Film Festival
Sponsored Event – Milwaukee Film Opening Night Party at Villa Terrace DJ’d by Tony Myers
Sponsored Event – American Science and Surplus Solar Eclipse Viewing Party + Live Broadcast
Sponsored Event – Thrashnetic: The Josh Russo Memorial Benefit for Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention at X-Ray Arcade
Sponsored Event – Oak Leaf Discovery Tour Spring Kickoff Party at Third Space Brewing
Friday Night Freak Show – Crybaby with DJ Buzz at Times Cinema
Local/Live at Anodyne – The Exotics
Local/Live In-Studio – Cozy Danger
Local/Live In-Studio – Garden Home
Local/Live In-Studio – Diamond Life
Local/Live In-Studio – Schneck, Peplin, Kuzniar Organ Trio
WMSE Presents – The Mountain Goats at Turner Hall Ballroom
WMSE Presents – Marc Ribot : The Jazz Bins at Vivarium
WMSE Presents – I Don’t Know How TheyFound Me at The Rave
Sponsored Series – 1984 at Company Brewing
MAY
Sponsored Event – Bay View Gallery Night
Sponsored Event – Psych Fest IX
Sponsored Event – Radio Radio 15th Anniversary
Sponsored Event – Milwaukee Metal Fest at The Rave / Eagles Ballroom
Sponsored Event – Milwaukee County Parks Weed-Out/Trash-Out Celebration at Doctor’s Park
Sponsored Event – Art vs. Food: A Feast for the Senses at Arts At Large
WMSE Member Event – Thank You Gift Pick-Up Party at Falcon Bowl
Friday Night Freak Show – Best in Show with DJ Faux Eyes at Times Cinema
Local/Live – Jinksie
Local/Live In-Studio – Convoy
Local/Live In-Studio – Ladybird
Local/Live In-Studio – 5 O’Clock Charlie
Sponsored – Echo & The Bunnymen: Songs to Learn to Sing at Pabst Theater
Sponsored – Caterwaul MKE at Garibaldi’s
Sponsored – The Decemberists at Riverside Theater
Sponsored – Social Distortion and Bad Religion at The Rave
WMSE Presents Los Straightjackets 30th Anniversary Tour at Shank Hall
Sponsored Series – 1984 at Company Brewing
Sponsored – Present Music – Honest Music at The Milwaukee Art Museum
JUNE
Sponsored Event – Qwertyfest MKE
Sponsored Event – Sippin’ and Strummin’ with the Chicken Shack at Great Lakes Distillery
Sponsored Event – Brewtown Rumble at The Cooperage
Sponsored Event – Eastside Summer Soulstice
Sponsored Event – Turf Skatepark Benefit
Sponsored Event – Pridefest
Sponsored Event – Locust Street Festival
Friday Night Freak Show – The Birdcage with DJ Jayx at Times Cinema
Local/Live In-Studio – Vanity Plates
Local/Live In-Studio – Def Harmonic
Local/Live In-Studio – Blue Jets
Local/Live In-Studio – Kyndal J
In-Studio Performance – They Might Be Giants
WMSE Presents – Pallbearer at Vivarium
Sponsored – They Might Be Giants at Pabst Theater Group
WMSE Presents – Wobblyhead 25 Year Anniversary Showcase! at Cactus Club
WMSE Presents – WILCO at Riverside Theater
WMSE Presents – Collections of Colonies of Bees w/ Immortal Girlfriend and Exit Statement at Vivarium
WMSE Presents – 5 O’Clock Charlie at X-Ray Arcade
Sponsored Series – Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square Park
Sponsored Series – Jazz on the Vine at Humboldt Park
JULY
Sponsored Event – Bastille Days
Sponsored Event – RW24 + 24 hour Live Broadcast
Sponsored Event – Villa Terrace Centennial Drone Show – Simulcast on 91.7FM
Sponsored Event – Direct Supply Senior Fest at Summerfest
WMSE Member Event – Guitar Smasher gathering on the Grohmann Museum rooftop
Local/Live In-Studio – November Criminals
Local/Live In-Studio – Hot Science
Local/Live In-Studio – Guerrilla Ghost
Local/Live In-Studio – The Demix
Local/Live In-Studio – Tourist in the Basement
WMSE Presents – The Pretenders at Riverside Theater
WMSE Presents – Lambrini Girls at Vivarium
WMSE Presents – X – Smoke & Fiction Tour
Sponsored Series – Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square Park
Sponsored Series – Jazz on the Vine at Humboldt Park
Sponsored Series – Washington Park Wednesdays at Washington Park
Sponsored Series – Musical Mondays at Lake Park
Sponsored Series – Concerts on the Green at Enderis Park
Sponsored Series – Chill on the Hill at Humboldt Park
AUG
WMSE Event – 14th Annual WMSE Backyard BBQ
Sponsored Event – TrueSkool Summer Park Jam + Live Broadcast
Sponsored Event – Waukesha Rotary Bluesfest
Sponsored Event – International Blues Day Celebration at the Cudahy Family Library
Sponsored Event – Strummerfest at Club G’s
Local/Live In-Studio – Mike Mangione
Local/Live In-Studio – Blax
Local/Live In-Studio – Mighty Deerlick
In-Studio – Abby Jeanne and the Shadowband – Interview & Performance
In-Studio – Elephant Sessions – Interview & Performance
WMSE Presents – Bikini Kill at The Pabst Theater
WMSE Presents – Devils Teeth Record Release Show at Promises
WMSE Presents – Built To Spill at Turner Hall Ballroom
WMSE Presents – Buddy Guy at Riverside Theater
Sponsored Series – Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square Park
Sponsored Series – Jazz on the Vine at Humboldt Park
Sponsored Series – Washington Park Wednesdays at Washington Park
Sponsored Series – Musical Mondays at Lake Park
Sponsored Series – Concerts on the Green at Enderis Park
Sponsored Series – Chill on the Hill at Humboldt Park
SEPT
Sponsored Event – Wildflowers on the Water
Sponsored Event – Riverwest Argren Faire
Sponsored Event – Bay View Bash
Sponsored Event – Bay VIew Gallery Night
WMSE Member Event – Happy Hour at Sugar Maple
WMSE Event – 917 Day at The Wiggle Room – WMSE DJ Spin
Friday Night Freak Show – Reservoir Dogs with Jonny Z at The Oriental Theatre
FNFS Pre-screening Happy Hour at 3 Sheeps Triple Taproom
Local/Live at Anodyne – Graham Hunt
Local/Live In-Studio – Hello Face
Local/Live In-Studio – El Sebas
Local/Live In-Studio – Bowvee
Sponsored – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield Tour at Miller High Life
Sponsored – Buena Vista Social Orchestra at Pabst Theater
Sponsored – Spoon w/ A Giant Dog at The Rave
Sponsored – Diet Lite, Modern Joey, The Keystones, Chapped Lips at The Rave
Sponsored – Milwaukee Polka Riot at Last Rites
WMSE Presents – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Miller High Life Theater
OCT
Sponsored Event – Beet Street + DJ Spin inside of Cactus Club
Sponsored Event – Empty Bowls at MSOE Kern Center
Sponsored Event – Flannel Fest at Boone & Crockett with Boogie Bang Live Remote Broadcast
Sponsored Event – IOB Monster Bash at The Milwaukee Youth Art Center
Sponsored Event – Goth Barge Halloween Spooktacular 3 at X-ray Arcade
Sponsored Event – Midwest Vert Ramp Barn Bash
WMSE Event – Buzz’s Haunted Garage Live Broadcast from Foggy Dew
WMSE Member Event – Guitar Smasher gathering at Pabst Best Place
Friday Night Freak Show – Return of the Living Dead with DJ Von Munz at The Oriental Theatre
Local/Live at Anodyne – Devils Teeth
Local/Live In-Studio – Dak DuBois
Local/Live In-Studio – Shorelining
Local/Live In-Studio – Caley Conway
Local/Live In-Studio – Participants
Sponsored – Stevie Wonder – “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour at Fiserv Forum
WMSE Presents – The Lemon Twigs at Shank Hall
WMSE Presents – KMFDM’s 40th Anniversary Tour at The Rave
Sponsored – The Psychedelic Furs & Jesus and Mary Chain at Riverside Theater
WMSE Presents – The DB’s at Shank Hall
WMSE Presents – Gorilla Biscuits w/ Instil, Get Rad, and Big Laugh at Vivarium
WMSE Presents – Boris “Amplifier Worship Tour” at Vivarium
Sponsored – Present Music – Underground in the Miller Caves
NOV
Sponsored Event – Cream City Creative Market at Turner Hall Ballroom
Sponsored Event – New Wave Fest at The Cooperage
Sponsored Event – Black Friday Retro Dance Party at Turner Hall Ballroom
WMSE Event – Hip Hop Hooray! Boogie Bang Live Remote Broadcast from the Hop Streetcar
WMSE Member Event – Volunteer Thank You Party at The Magnet Factory
WMSE Event – Fall Drive Pick-up Party at Anodyne + Dewey Gill Big Band Live Remote Broadcast
Friday Night Freak Show – Saturday Night Fever with Andre Alien at The Oriental Theatre
Local/Live In-Studio – Smoke and Mirrors
Local/Live In-Studio – Body Futures
Local/Live In-Studio – Max & The Fellow Travelers
Sponsored – 3rd Annual Black Friday Retro Dance Party at Turner Hall Ballroom
WMSE Presents – Dickies and The Queers at X-Ray Arcade
Sponsored – King Diamond: The Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920 at Riverside Theater
Sponsored – Present Music – Concert for Peace at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
DEC
WMSE Event – 10th Annual WMSE Big Band Grandstand at Turner Hall Ballroom
Sponsored Event – Krampusnact in the Brewery District
Sponsored Event – Hovercraft at The Pritzlaff Building
Sponsored Event – Punk Rock Saves Lives Pictures with Santa at X-Ray Arcade
Sponsored Event – Merry & Bright Holiday Market at Anodyne
Friday Night Freak Show – In Bruges with DJ Ascot at The Oriental Theatre
Local/Live at Anodyne – A Very Country Local/Live Holiday Special with The Whiskey Belles
Local/Live In-Studio – Jon Henry
Local/Live In-Studio – Dark Psychic
WMSE Presents – Collections of Colonies of Bees + Astral Hand + Known Moons at The Cooperage
Sponsored – Present Music – Unsilent Night
From jazz nights and rock anthems to cultural celebrations and community fundraisers, WMSE 91.7FM became Milwaukee’s constant soundtrack. This year’s success is a testament to the station’s deep connection with its listeners, volunteers, and partners. Thank you so very much to WMSE’s supporters for making this year possible. Start your monthly gift today to keep the Mighty 91 strong!
Here’s to another year of incredible music, community, and connection in 2025!