Wally Cleaver Reunion Concert
WALLY CLEAVER RETURNS FOR ENCORE PERFORMANCE AFTER TRIUMPHANT SOLD-OUT REUNION
Midwest Power Pop Legends Announce October 10, 2026 Concert at Route 20 in Sturtevant
STURTEVANT, WI — After a sold-out reunion concert that reignited decades of memories and proved their music still resonates with fans, legendary Racine power pop band Wally Cleaver has announced an encore performance on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Route 20, 14001 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Tickets are on sale now.
Wally Cleaver first burst onto the Midwest music scene in the early 1980s, combining infectious power pop melodies with a high-energy stage show that quickly earned them a devoted following. Originating in Racine, Wisconsin, the band became a dominant force on the Midwest club and university circuit, performing nearly 2,000 shows between 1981 and 1987 and establishing a reputation as one of the region's most exciting live acts.
The band's impressive resume includes:
• Formation in 1980, with their first performance at the original Secrets nightclub in Racine.
• Winners of Milwaukee's prestigious WQFM Battle of the Bands in 1981.
• Featured on Milwaukee's QFM Hometown Album with "Betty A."
• Featured on Fantasy Records' Best of Fantasy's hometown album with "Waiting for the Weekend."
• Cover story and feature article in the Milwaukee Journal's "Let's Go" section in 1982.
• Opening performances for nationally recognized acts including The Romantics, R.E.M., Violent Femmes, Plasmatics, Huey Lewis and the News, Off Broadway, Tony Carey & Planet P, and Tesla.
• Multiple appearances at Summerfest and major street festivals, drawing crowds of up to 10,000 people.
• A 1984 trip to Frankfurt, Germany, to record a demo for MCA Records at Hotline Studio.
Their final performance took place at a fraternity party in Madison in the fall of 1987, closing the book on one of southeastern Wisconsin's most beloved bands.
Over the years, several attempts were made to reunite Wally Cleaver, but none materialized. Beginning in 2009, band members and friends periodically discussed the possibility and occasionally gathered to jam at guitarist Gary Seitz's rehearsal studio.
Everything changed in June 2024.
While lead vocalist Steve Leger was making a guest appearance with Racine band Untrained Laymen, Seitz attended the show and experienced a moment of inspiration. Watching the performance, he realized that Wally Cleaver could reunite and deliver a show worthy of the band's legacy. He immediately reached out to bassist Kurt Frederickson, who was courageously battling complications from a twenty-year fight against cancer.
Kurt's response was simple and immediate:
"Yes, we should do it."
Original Wally Cleaver members Steve Leger, Grant Feest, and Rick Shepard quickly agreed, and plans for a reunion began to take shape.
Tragically, on November 1, 2024, just five months later, Kurt passed away. As the band mourned the loss of their friend and longtime bandmate, his determination, encouragement, and spirit became the driving force behind the reunion effort.
Original bassist Dale Celmer stepped forward to honor Kurt's legacy, joining the band for eight months of intensive rehearsals leading up to their long-awaited return.
On November 1, 2025—exactly one year after Kurt's passing—Wally Cleaver took the stage for the first time in 38 years. The reunion concert sold out in just two weeks, demonstrating that the band's music, energy, and legacy had never been forgotten.
"The overwhelming response to our reunion show was beyond anything we expected," said the band. "The support from, friends, and the Wisconsin music community reminded us how special these songs and memories still are. We couldn't be more excited to do it again."
The band's return also serves as a tribute to Fredrickson, whose enthusiasm and encouragement helped make the reunion possible.
Wally Cleaver's legendary live reputation remains part of Wisconsin music history. In June 1983, Jon Cannariato & John Linder from The Milwaukee Journal wrote:
"The Cleaver Boys drove the capacity crowd squeezed into the (Pirates) Den into a joyous frenzy, the likes of which is not often seen in Milwaukee."
Summerfest coverage from The Milwaukee Journal added:
"Wally Cleaver got the crowd hopping more than anyone during the weekend. Live, the energy crackled..."
Fans can expect an evening packed with the songs, energy, and unforgettable performances that made Wally Cleaver a Midwest favorite throughout the 1980s.
EVENT DETAILS
Wally Cleaver Encore Reunion Concert
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Venue: Route 20
Address: 14001 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, WI
Tickets: On sale now at ticketweb.com
For longtime fans and first-time listeners alike, this encore performance offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Wisconsin's most celebrated live bands as they continue a remarkable second chapter nearly four decades after their final show.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3693807-0
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/3693807-2
