MILWAUKEE, November 4, 2024 – The Milwaukee PBS production of the Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary in partnership with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra received an Emmy at the Regional Midwest/Chicago National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards ceremony on November, 2, 2024.
The program will air nationally on PBS stations across the country on Friday, December 13, 2024. (check local listings) This concert is a celebration of the Violent Femmes iconic debut self-titled album and greatest hits including “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up” and “Gone Daddy Gone.”
The Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band who began playing acoustic punk on the streets of Milwaukee. They were discovered in 1981 while busking outside the Oriental Theatre where the Pretenders were playing later that evening. The lead singer, Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act.
Gordon Gano, the lead vocalist & guitar player was still in high school when he wrote all of the songs for the Violent Femmes’ first album. Today, the Violent Femmes consist of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and drummer John Sparrow.
“We’re so excited to share this incredible concert with our audience as well as PBS stations around the country. And we’re thrilled to have won an Emmy at the recent awards ceremony in Chicago” said Debbie Hamlett, General Manager of Milwaukee PBS. “Listening to this amazing music paired with the band’s world-class hometown symphony is an experience I hope you’ll never forget!”
This concert with the Violent Femmes and the Milwaukee Symphony was produced and recorded by Milwaukee PBS at the Bradley Symphony Center on October 3, 2023. It will air on Milwaukee PBS on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 8pm, with an encore broadcast the same evening at 9:15pm on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10.