Milwaukee is a city known for many things. We’re home to the first working typewriter, “The Late Night Show” personality Tom Snyder and Oscar-winning actor Spencer Tracy. We’re a city familiar with the words “brat,” “cheese head” and “bubbler.”

But most of all, Milwaukee is a city of festivals and beer. With festivals and beer also comes music.

Milwaukee’s musicians have gained local fame through the various taverns, restaurants and events in which local music is supported in the area. As the weather continues to warm up, music fans will have the opportunity to experience our area talent through venues like Summerfest, Jazz in the Park, River Rhythms in Pere Marquette Park and local farmers markets.

In the spirit of local tradition, it’s time to shed some light on a few of the many musical talents within the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee community.

Band: Chinese Fingertrap

Genre: “Garage-funk”

UWM Connection: Vocalist, drummer and keyboardist Eric Frank is a student at UWM

Influences: Medeski Martin & Wood, Soulive, Pink Floyd, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

Band facts: Their album “The Ball, The Chain and The Margarine Fly” is near completion and will be available to the public in the next few weeks.

Where to see them next: Chinese Fingertrap plays regularly at the Mirimar Theatre and will kick off their out-of-state tour this summer. They will be performing at The Hat Trick Lounge in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday, May 19, and the Iowa City Yacht Club on Saturday, May 20.

Web site: fingertrapmusic.com

Band: Ice Cap Fortune

Genre: Pop-rock, with a self-described sound similar to rock groups Jimmy Eat World and Mae

UWM Connection: Features UWM student Derek DeVinney and bassist Joel Van Haren will enroll as a freshman at UWM in the fall.

Influences: Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, Mae, Relient K, Yellowcard, Switchfoot, The Beatles, Motion City Soundtrack and The Wedding

Word from the band: “Excuse me for being lame and tacky, but the biggest support is definitely the fans. Especially when you start hearing comments from people out of state. That means you're doing something right,” DeVinney said.

Where to see them next: The Journey in Madison on June 13, at 6 p.m.

Web site: myspace.com/icecapfortune

Band: Athas

Genre: “Traditional music with a modern flare”

UWM connection: UWM student Heather Lewin-Tiarks (fiddle/violin, viola, cello), president of the UWM Celtic Music Club Jeff Ksiazek (flute, whistles, guitar) and recent graduate from the UWM Celtic Studies and Theater departments Amy Richter (bodran, djembe)

Influences: Comas, Danu, Teada, Flook and Lunasa

Where to see them next: They are regulars at the weekly set dances held at O’Donoghues Pub in Elm Grove on Wednesday nights starting at 7:30 p.m.

Web site: athasmusic.tripod.com

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