WXPN Welcomes BoDeans as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams!

In honor of the 40th anniversary, BoDeans will perform two-and-a-half-hour shows featuring a video retrospective that will include songs from their 14 studio records covering five decades of music – the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and the 2020s.


Founded and led by original frontman, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Kurt Neumann, the band’s catalog consists of generational anthems such as “Good Things,” “You Don’t Get Much,” “Idaho,” and “Closer to Free,” to name a few. BoDeans emerged out of Waukesha, WI, in 1986 with the seminal debut, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, produced by T Bone Burnett. Followed by Outside Looking In [1987], Home [1989], and Black and White [1991], Go Slow Down [1993] yielded “Closer to Free,” which famously served as the theme song for the smash-hit television series, Party of Five. Meanwhile, they transformed into a proven live phenomenon by supporting the likes of U2, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, The Pretenders, and David Bowie, in addition to gracing the bills of Farm Aid, Summerfest, and ACL.

Member pre-sale begins Thursday, May 21st at 10 A.M.

Public tickets on sale Friday, May 22nd at 10 A.M.

August 13, 2026

$ 49 .00

PL 1, 2, 3

GET TICKETS

SEE MORE SHOWS AT WHITAKER CENTER

Subscribe to get dibs on the best seats in the house!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

BUY TICKETS

More Shows

Permanent Exhibit

Forces of Nature Exhibit

Through compelling stories of natural forces and environmental change, Forces of Nature is both an exciting thematic area and a relevant science topic that affects everyone’s daily life. The permanent gallery provides guests with the opportunity to experience a variety of extraordinary weather wonders featuring physical “phenomenon-based” exhibits.

EXPLORE

Feb 27, 2026 – May 24, 2026

Survival of the Slowest

This world class exhibit, produced by Little Ray’s Nature Center and hosted at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, will feature habitats with live animals and plants. Visitors will have the chance to see a Two-Toed Sloth, Green Iguana, Chameleon, and dozens of other incredible species!

INFO & TICKETS

Oct 19, 2025 – Feb 21, 2026

Lego Spike Robotics

Each session introduces a new robotics concept through hands-on exploration and creative problem-solving. Students will dive into the world of robotics by building and programming robots using LEGO® Education SPIKE™, where imagination meets engineering. Unless otherwise noted, LEGO SPIKE will be the primary platform used. Whether students are new to robotics or ready to level up, each workshop offers a fresh opportunity to build, code, and innovate.

INFO & TICKETS