Copyright Billboard
Milwaukee’s newest live entertainment hub, The Argo, will officially open its doors next month inside the historic Fox Bay Theater in Whitefish Bay, anchoring a full-scale renovation of the 1949 Art Deco building and marking the debut of a new mid-size venue for the region’s touring circuit. The 700-capacity space — which includes a full bar and restaurant, ballroom, and flexible event areas for private rentals, weddings, and community programming — will host its first public concert on Dec. 5 with performances by local artists Chris Haise Band and Zach Pietrini alongside Nashville alt-pop trio VEAUX. The event doubles as a fundraiser benefiting Milwaukee music education programs. The following night (Dec. 6), Milwaukee rock favorites Goran and Morgan of The Gufs will headline The Argo’s grand-opening celebration, marking the 30th anniversary of their 1995 album Collide. More than 40 concerts are booked between December and spring 2026, with a mix of touring acts, regional artists and thematic dance parties. Highlights include Grateful Dead tribute act Another One, bluegrass veterans NewFound Road, Minnesota rock band Remo Drive, punk mainstays The Casualties and bluegrass singer Dan Tyminski. A rotating Wednesday swing-jazz residency will feature groups including The Flood, The Sazerac 5, Micro Brew Swing Band and Old Sam & The Teardrops. The Argo’s ownership group — Andrew J. Coate, Adam Powers and Josh Bryant — completed the venue build-out in under five months after receiving revitalization approval earlier this year. The team has instituted a permanent give-back model, pledging $1 from every ticket sold to support music-industry wellness, with an emphasis on mental health, sustainability and career longevity. “We’ve lived every angle of this industry — we’ve seen the best of it, we’ve felt the burnout,” Coate says. “The Argo is our way of tipping the scales back toward the good — for our peers, for our city, and for the next generation coming up behind us.” Talent buying for the venue will be handled exclusively by Knitting Factory Entertainment’s live division, Knitting Factory Presents, led by SVP James Irvine. “This is just the start for The Argo,” Irvine says. “The space is built the right way — production, hospitality, artist amenities — and it has the backbone to become a real destination for touring artists.” The venue’s bar and kitchen will be helmed by chef Dan Jacobs — a five-time James Beard semifinalist, 2024 nominee and co-owner of Milwaukee restaurants EsterEv and DanDan. The restaurant will soft-open Dec. 5 with a limited menu and will operate independently from ticketed events, allowing locals to dine without attending a show. Additional partners include exclusive ticketing provider Eventbrite, developer New Land Enterprises and design-build firm Three Sixty Design, whose past work includes Café Centraal and the Milwaukee Athletic Club. “After months perfecting this venue and the customer experience, we’re finally ready to show our faces to Milwaukee and the world,” Coate adds. “We’re looking to become a must-stop for local artists, prominent touring acts and fans of almost every kind of music.” A calendar of upcoming dates at Argo is below:
