Gather your family and friends, pack your lawn chairs and picnic baskets, and find your perfect spot in the Wilson Center's beautiful Gerlach/Haack Outdoor Theater! One of the most popular Wilson Center summertime traditions, Starry Nights outdoor concerts are great Friday night fun for audiences of all ages.
Although Jordan Kroeger (bass) and Ryan Ogburn (mandolin) began their musical relationship in the Wisconsin jamband scene, Chicken Wire Empire began as a 4 piece traditional bluegrass band in Milwaukee. The band honed its traditional sound, encapsulating it in 2014 with their debut album Chicken Wire Empire. With half of the group rooted in bluegrass, and the other half steeped in jamband music, a change occurred when CWE performed an Old & In The Way tribute show. With the addition of Jon Peik (banjo), Ernest Brusubardis IV (fiddle), and Greg Brundage (guitar), a new sound was found in Milwaukee, and Chicken Wire Empire joined the roster of high energy jamgrass. Chicken Wire Empire has been blessed with opportunities to share the stage with renowned musicians (Yonder Mountain String Band, 30db, The Travelin' McCourys, The Big Wu, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) and performing in many regional festivals (Blue Ox and Boats & Bluegrass). With support from their local scene, friends, and families, Chicken Wire Empire looks to the future, with a goal to strengthen Wisconsin’s bluegrass scene, and further the appreciation of acoustic music.
"They seem to have taken on some wonderfully exciting elements of modern progressive bluegrass while also retaining their original character, born of their greater Milwaukee town roots." (Adam Greuel, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades)
Starry Nights concerts are free and open to the public. Please consider making a donation of $10/person when you arrive to help support this wonderful Friday night summer music tradition!
A limited number of picnic tables are available to rent at each performance; click here to learn more and reserve your picnic table in advance!
The Gerlach/Haack Outdoor Theater offers lawn seating only. Guests who would like chairs may bring their own, and we ask all guests to be mindful of physical distancing for the comfort of fellow concertgoers. To ensure good sightlines for all audience members, pop-up tents are not allowed. Audiences are welcome to pack their picnic baskets. Food and beverage vendors will also be available onsite, and this summer, we are excited to have Wahlburgers with us for all six Starry Nights concerts! Concerts take place rain or shine; in the event of extreme weather, concerts may move indoors to The Harris Theater. Please call our Box Office at 262-781-9520 with any questions.