Every Friday, Off The Record looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for bits of news we missed throughout the week.
• In case you were hiding under a rock yesterday, and/or hanging out with that guy who’s eaten 29,100 Big Macs, Summerfest is getting a new amphitheater. Beginning (tentatively) in 2019, the Big Gig will build a new 23,000-seat amphitheater, known as the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, on the site of the 29-year-old Marcus Amphitheater. What’s more, in late 2017, Summerfest will begin construction of a new North Gate, complete with a community plaza “linking Henry Maier Festival Park to downtown Milwaukee and the development associated with the Lakefront Gateway Project.”
Oh, and Summerfest kinda-sorta won’t officially be called “Summerfest” anymore.
Yes, not only is American Family Insurance getting the naming rights for the new amphitheater, it’s getting the naming rights for the entire festival. As part of a 10-year partnership between the Big Gig and the Madison-based insurance company, Summerfest will now be known as “Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance.” The sponsorship is the first in Summerfest (presented by American Family Insurance)’s 50-year history. [Summerfest]
• Speaking of naming rights, Associated Bank will become the title sponsor for Storm the Bastille 5K in 2017. The bank will replace another bank, BMO Harris. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Add yet another ridiculous wrinkle to the ongoing saga of Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke: A “Sheriff Clarke for Senate” website has been set up. Set up by whom? By Dog The Bounty Hunter and his wife, of course. [OnMilwaukee]
• The Wisconsin State Fair announced two of its 11 headlining shows for 2017, and they’re pretty much what you’d expect: Christian rock duo King & Country will play the Main Stage Monday, August 7; while the “I Love The ’90s” tour will return Wednesday, August 7 with Vanilla Ice, Kid ‘n Play, Tone Loc, Young MC, and All-4-One in tow. [OnMilwaukee]
• The Platinum Boys released a new single, “New Kind Of Love,” and it’s fucking great. The band will celebrate the release of a new 7″ Friday, February 3 at High Dive. [Victim Of Time]
• Indonesian Junk also released a new single, “Turn To Stone,” and it, too, is fucking great. [Bandcamp]
• ActivateMKE, a group looking to “activate people and space through sports and fitness,” has some plans for creating an outdoor basketball court using the world famous MECCA floor. [OnMilwaukee]
• The former Brady Street home of Pecoraro Food Market held an open house. The building is looking to fill three apartments and one storefront. [Urban Milwaukee]
• A “fast-growing internet subscription service” and probably a Sendik’s will set up shop in the former Roundy’s Pick ‘n Save in Clarke Square. [Urban Milwaukee]
• The Utah Film Awards chatted with Mark Borchardt about his latest film, The Dundee Project. [YouTube]
• Palermo Villa is readying for a $9.25 million upgrade to its Canal Street pizza plant. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• The Milwaukee Bucks have successfully complied with requirements to hire Milwaukee residents for 40 percent of arena-construction jobs, and to retain “specified percentages of minority- and women-owned firms on the $500 million downtown Milwaukee project.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Evan Rytlewski spoke to August Traeger, head of electronic label Bicephalic Records, ahead of a record release slated for February 5. [Shepherd Express]
• ZIP MKE, an online and traveling art exhibit aimed at celebrating the diversity of Milwaukee’s 28 ZIP codes, is currently on display at the Central Library. [Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service]
• The nine-story, 220-room Westin Milwaukee hotel, located on E. Michigan Street near the U.S. Bank Center, will open June 27. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Ahead of a six-band reunion show featuring some big names from Milwaukee’s ’90s rock scene, four of the bands involved are reissuing some of their music. Big Mother Gig, The Probers, You’re Pretty, Slurr, Pet Engine, and F.S. Camels will play the show Saturday, March 18 at Turner Hall, while all but Big Mother Gig and The Probers will reissue past albums. [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!