benevolentcreative

Milwaukee has Craigslist to thank for MkeUltra, a venerated performance venue on the city’s South Side that welcomes celebrated DIY local and touring talent. From its early days as a religious gathering place to its later incarnation as a biker gang’s clubhouse, the building has lived many lives. If the walls could talk, they’d probably write an album.

Part 1: @brianjhospital of @mke_ultra

Brian Hospital, a drummer and former UWM math teacher, inadvertently turned a band practice space into a event venue alongside bandmates Andy Worzella and Dave Pacifico. Collectively, they had a bunch of gear, an enduring enthusiasm for live music, and thought, why not?

The campy walls of fake brick, real brick, and stone create a rock-solid foundation for this venue reverberating with character. They’re adorned with delightfully kitsch decor, featuring everything from standout vintage lamps to mounted taxidermy spectacles.

April 11, 2025 marked the first show at the location Brian described as off the beaten path, open to any kind of event, and “scrappy.”

Since then, MkeUltra has hosted 265+ shows, 575+ unique performances, and 821+ total performances (i.e., counting bands who returned).

And this isn’t even counting the private events.

MkeUltra is also the only venue (as far as we know) that’s out here cooking rice and beans before every show so the musicians have something to eat.

Make sure to check out their website to see the lineup of upcoming shows and visit them soon: mke-ultra.com 💫

Benevolent Creative is a marketing firm that uses our page to highlight the positive, impactful nature of creative work, featuring skilled artists, artisans, musicians, changemakers, and thought leaders in the arts.

#milwaukee #milwaukeemusic #mkemusic #milwaukeeevents #mke