Thursday marks the official start of another Summerfest. Now in its 53rd year, the “Big Gig” has long been home to deep fried delicacies, prime people watching, and hundreds upon hundreds of musical acts from all around the county and across the world. That said, this year’s nine-day affair isn’t without its fair share of local flare. As a means of giving homegrown performers an opportunity to play in front of new (and significantly larger) audiences before renowned headliners take the stage, this year’s Summerfest still has oodles of local identity. Heck, some Milwaukee bands are even headlining their stages.

Between September 2 and September 18, more than 65 Milwaukee acts will perform on the Henry Maier Festival Park grounds, and that’s not even counting locally-based cover bands and people playing at those tiny side stages by the lake. Those seeking some locally-made music between noted national and international performers should consult Milwaukee Record‘s handy guide to Milwaukee acts playing this year’s Summerfest.

Thursday, September 2

12:00 PM — Listening Party @ Generac Power Stage
2:00 PM — Frogwater @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
6:00 PM — B~Free & Quinten Farr Duo @ AmFam House
6:45 PM — You Win !!! @ Johnson Controls World Stage
7:00 PM — Robin Pluer And The R&B Coquettes @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
10: 00 PM — DJ Bizzon @ Johnson Controls World Stage

Friday, September 3

12:00 PM — Rocket Cat @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
3:15 PM — Wes Tank @ Northwestern Mutual Community Park
4:45 PM — Wes Tank @ Northwestern Mutual Community Park
5:30 PM — LO/ST @ Johnson Controls World Stage
7:30 PM — Abby Jeanne @ BMO Harris Pavilion
8:00 PM — The Lovemonkeys @ JoJo’s Martini Lounge
8:00 PM — DJ Shawna @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage

Saturday, September 4

4:00 PM — Avenues @ Generac Power Stage
4:00 PM — Willy Porter @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
6:00 PM — Pat McCurdy@ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
8:00 PM — Black Belt Theatre @ Uline Warehouse Stage
8:00 PM — Zed Kenzo @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage

Thursday September 9

2:00 PM — Sigmund Snopek @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
3:00 PM — The Zach Pietrini Band @ Johnson Controls World Stage
6:45 PM — Peter Mulvey @ SistaStrings @ Johnson Controls World Stage
8:00 PM — Eddie Butts Band @ JoJo’s Martini Lounge
6:00 PM — The WhiskeyBelles @ BMO Harris Pavilion
8:00 PM — Chicken Wire Empire @ Uline Warehouse Stage
10:00 PM — DJ Shawna @ Johnson Controls World Stage

Friday, September 10

2:00 PM — Boney Fingers @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
3:00 PM — Shonn Hinton & Shotgun @ Johnson Controls World Stage
3:15 PM — Wes Tank @ Northwestern Mutual Community Park
4:45 PM — Wes Tank @ Northwestern Mutual Community Park
8:00 PM — U2 Zoo @ BMO Harris Pavilion
8:00 PM —Trapper Schoepp @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage

Saturday, September 11

2:00 PM — Brett Newski & The No Tomorrow @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
2:00 PM — Jay Matthes @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
2:00 PM — Altered Five Blues Band @ UScellular Connection Stage
6:00 PM — The Gufs @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
6:00 PM — Bobby Friss @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
6:45 PM — Klassik @ Johnson Controls World Stage
8:00 PM — Reyna @BMO Harris Pavilion
8:00 PM — Koch Marshall Trio @ UScellular Connection Stage
10:30 PM — DJ DRIPSweat @ Johnson Controls World Stage

Thursday, September 16

2:00 PM — Twan Mack @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
2:00 PM — The Stephen Hull Experience @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
3:00 PM — Paper Holland @ Uline Warehouse Stage
4:00 PM — GGOOLLDD @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
5:00 PM — LUXI @ Generac Power Stage
6:00 PM — Valerie Lighthart @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
5:00 PM — DJ DRIPSweat @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
5:00 PM — MRS. FUN @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
6:30 PM — Versio Curs @ Uline Warehouse Stage
6:45 PM — Caley Conway @ Johnson Controls World Stage
8:00 PM — Vincent Van Great @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage

Friday, September 17

12:00 PM — Thriftones @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
12:30 PM — The Oxleys @ Johnson Controls World Stage
5:00 PM — Lil Rev And Jawbone Jimmy @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage
5:30 PM — The Keystones @ Johnson Controls World Stage
6:00 PM — Nora Collins @ UScellular Connection Stage
6:30 PM — Professor Pinkerton & His Irrelevant Orchestra @ Northwestern Mutual Community Park
6:30 PM — WebsterX @ Generac Power Stage
8:00 PM — Cold Sweat & The Brew City Horns @ JoJo’s Martini Lounge
8:00 PM — Kid Cut Up @ Generac Power Stage
8:00 PM — 5 Card Studs @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard

Saturday, September 18

12:50 PM — Negative/Positive @ UScellular Connection Stage
1:00 PM — The Hungry Williams @ Uline Warehouse Stage
2:00 PM — Something To Do @ UScellular Connection Stage
2:00 PM — De La Buena @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage
2:30 PM — Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sounds @ Uline Warehouse Stage
3:00 PM — Holy Pinto @ Johnson Controls World Stage
4:15 PM — Fuzzysurf @ Johnson Controls World Stage
6:00 PM — Browns Crew @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage