Radio Milwaukee has announced that rapper Noname, Strand of Oaks and Milwaukee’s Field Report will headline the 88Nine Block Party, slated for Saturday, June 24 outside the station’s Walker’s Point headquarters at 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave.
The free, all-day concert celebration, which runs from 1:30 to 10 p.m., celebrates the station’s 10th year on the air. The station, officially WYMS 88.9 FM, launched on Feb. 26, 2007.
Also on tap onstage at the event – created in partnership with The Pabst Theater Group – are Milwaukee’s REYNA, D’Amato and Abby Jeanne.
Though the block party is free and open to all, VIP tickets will be available beginning May 1 for $100 ($88.90 for members of Educators Credit Union, the event’s sponsor, and Radio Milwaukee). These include two free food servings, access to two private, indoor bars, an after party from 10 p.m. until midnight, and special sessions and interviews with concert headliners.
In addition to the live music, block party guests can check out Studio 1, where they can have input on the block party playlist, play Milwaukee-themed games and more. There will also be interactive art installations designed by Workshop Architects and local food vendors selling their wares.
The musical lineup
3 p.m. – Abby Jeanne
4:15 p.m. – D'Amato
5:30 p.m. – REYNA
6:45 p.m. – Field Report
8 p.m. – Strand of Oaks
9:15 p.m. – Noname
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
