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NIVA ’25 Registration Now Open For Milwaukee Indie Conclave

NIVAPARKER1
NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker addresses full house at NIVA ’24 in New Orleans. This year’s gathering takes place in Milwaukee June 22-25.
Photo by Taylor Mickal

Get ready to belly up to the bar in Polka City. Registration for the National Independent Venue Association’s NIVA’25 in Milwaukee is now open.

The fourth annual conference, which is presented by Eventbrite, takes place June 22-25 across Milwaukee’s array of historic and modern venues. This year’s highlights include: a special tribute to notable tour agent Frank Riley and High Road Touring, Summerfest 2025 access for conference attendees and speakers from Meta, Snapchat, YouTube Music, Eventbrite, Wasserman, Riot Fest, Bandsintown and more.

“Each year of this conference, I am inspired by the vision, resilience, and talent within our community,” said Andre Perry, NIVA Board President and Executive Director of the University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium in a release. “We gather under one roof to share our best ideas, embrace each other, and drive the industry forward. Bringing NIVA ’25 to Milwaukee is a dream. This city is independent, it’s vibrant, and it’s real. That’s what NIVA is about.”

Milwaukee’s selection as the host city underscores its rich history of live entertainment including NIVA ‘25’s featured members Cactus Club, The Rave/Eagles Club, Falcon Bowl, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Marcus Performing Arts Center, Miller High Life Theatre, Pabst Theater, Riverside Theater, The Cooperage, The Fitzgerald, Turner Hall Ballroom, Vivarium, Shank Hall, Baird Center, 4 Villa Theater, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and new member Summerfest.

NIVA ‘25 is scheduled during the first two weekends of Summerfest, a city staple and artist must play since it was founded in 1968. The outdoor event takes place at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and the BMO Pavilion at Henry Maier Festival Park and in 2024 welcomed 556K visitors. NIVA ’25 attendees will have access to tours of the permanent festival grounds as well as complimentary admission.

NIVA is currently undertaking a State of Live Survey, the first national economic research study of the independent live entertainment sector and is seeking participation from both for-profit and non-profit entities including independent venues, promoters, performing arts centers and festivals. The survey is open through Feb. 18 and the collected data will inform a national report and 50 state-by-state reports, which are scheduled for release on June 23 during NIVA ’25.

As an incentive to take part, all independent venues, promoters, performing arts centers and festivals who complete the State of Live Survey, will receive an added 20 percent off badge registration.

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