CELEBRATING THE VIOLENT FEMMES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

MILWAUKEE; October 2, 2023 – Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announce
they are partnering on bringing the music of the Violent Femmes to PBS viewers for a future broadcast.
On October 3rd at 7:30 pm, the Bradley Symphony Center will feature the Violent Femmes celebrating
the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut album with the band playing it cover to cover with the
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a one-night event. Ryan Tani will conduct the concert. Songs from
the 1983 album include “Blister in the Sun”, “Kiss Off”, “Add It Up” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” This
became the Violent Femmes biggest selling album and eventually certified platinum.
The Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band who began playing acoustic punk on the streets
of Milwaukee. The band was discovered after busking outside The Pretenders concert. The Pretenders
lead singer Chrissie Hynde asked them to open for that nights’ show. The Violent Femmes consists of
founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and
drummer John Sparrow.
“We’re thrilled to be able to collaborate with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Violent
Femmes,” said Milwaukee PBS VP and General Manager Debbie Hamlett. “The Violent Femmes were
the soundtrack for so many young people including myself. We’re looking forward to presenting this
celebration of the 40th anniversary of some of the Violent Femmes’ greatest hits.”
The program will be distributed to PBS stations nationally. Two years ago, PBS broadcast nationwide
the Milwaukee PBS production of the opening concert of the Milwaukee Symphony at the new Bradley
Symphony Center.