Thursday marks the official start of another Summerfest. Now in its 57th 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.
Between June 19 and July 5, more than 70 different Milwaukee acts will perform on the Henry Maier Festival Park grounds, and that’s not even counting locally based cover bands, area DJs, like 67 different School Of Rock shows, and various hometown 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 some of our favorite Milwaukee acts playing this year’s Summerfest.
Thursday, June 19
12 p.m. — Christopher’s Project @ Johnsonville Summerville
1 p.m. — Bryan Cherry @ Miller Lite Oasis
1:45 p.m. — Leroy Airmaster With Junior Brantley @ Johnsonville Summerville
2:45 p.m. — Ben Mulwana @ Miller Lite Oasis
3:30 p.m. — Leroy Airmaster With Junior Brantley @ Johnsonville Summerville
4:15 p.m. — Holy Pinto @ Generac Power Stage
4:15 p.m. — NilexNile @ UScellular Connection Stage
4:30 p.m. — Buffalo Nichols @ Miller Lite Oasis
5:30 p.m. — The Terry Sims Band @ Johnsonville Summerville
7:30 p.m. — The Terry Sims Band @ Johnsonville Summerville
6:30 p.m. — The Shonn Hinton Experience @ Miller Lite Oasis
7:30 p.m. — Eric Benét @ BMO Pavilion
Friday, June 20
1 p.m. — Eric Look Band @ Miller Lite Oasis
4:30 p.m. — Bad Boy @ BMO Pavilion
4:30 p.m. — Chris Haise Band @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
4:45 p.m. — Vincent Van Great @ UScellular Connection Stage
5:30 p.m. — The Hungry Williams @ Johnsonville Summerville
7:30 p.m. — The Hungry Williams @ Johnsonville Summerville
Saturday, June 21
12 p.m. — Ellee Grim @ Generac Power Stage
12 p.m. — MKE Live Groove: Summerfest Edition @ Aurora Pavilion
12 p.m. — Mighty Ms. Erica And The Sound Production @ Johnsonville Summerville
1:45 p.m. — Mrs. Fun @ Johnsonville Summerville
2 p.m. — MKE Live Groove: Summerfest Edition @ Aurora Pavilion
3:30 p.m. — Mrs. Fun @ Johnsonville Summerville
4 p.m. — Collections Of Colonies Of Bees @ BMO Pavilion
4 p.m. — Immortal Girlfriend @ Generac Power Stage
5:30 p.m. — Something To Do @ Johnsonville Summerville
5:45 p.m. — Caley Conway @ BMO Pavilion
7:30 p.m. — Something To Do @ Johnsonville Summerville
Thursday, June 26
12 p.m. — Lost Orange Cat @ Uline Warehouse
12 p.m. — The Taxmen @ Generac Power Stage
12 p.m. — Valley Fox @ Johnsonville Summerville
1 p.m. — Avenues @ Miller Lite Oasis
1:45 p.m. — Brett Newski & The Bad Inventions @ Uline Warehouse
1:45 p.m. — Driveway Thriftdwellers @ Johnsonville Summerville
2 p.m. — The Quilz @ Generac Power Stage
3:30 p.m. — Driveway Thriftdwellers @ Johnsonville Summerville
4 p.m. — HOSTS @ BMO Pavilion
4:30 p.m. — Wildered @ Aurora Pavilion
5:30 p.m. — Mike Mangione @ Johnsonville Summerville
5:30 p.m. — Xposed 4Heads @ Uline Warehouse
7:30 p.m. — Mike Mangione @ Johnsonville Summerville
7:30 p.m. — Willy Porter @ BMO Pavilion
Friday, June 27
12 p.m. — Frogwater @ Johnsonville Summerville
1:45 p.m. — The Zach Pietrini Band @ Johnsonville Summerville
2 p.m. — Alley Eyes @ BMO Pavilion
3:15 — Ladybird @ Aurora Pavilion
3:30 p.m. — The Zach Pietrini Band @ Johnsonville Summerville
4 p.m. — Social Cig @ BMO Pavilion
4:15 p.m. — Jungle Baby @ UScellular Connection Stage
5:15 p.m. — IshDARR @ UScellular Connection Stage
5:30 p.m. — Kyle Feerick @ Johnsonville Summerville
7:30 p.m. — Kyle Feerick @ Johnsonville Summerville
Saturday, June 28
2:45 p.m. — Sugo @ Miller Lite Oasis
4 p.m. — Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
4 p.m. — Wire And Nail @ BMO Pavilion
5:30 p.m. — Allison Mahal @ Johnsonville Summerville
6:30 p.m. — MT Twins @ Generac Power Stage
7:15 p.m. — Chicken P @ Generac Power Stage
7:30 p.m. — Allison Mahal @ Johnsonville Summerville
Thursday, July 3
12 p.m. — Tangled Lines @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
1:45 p.m. — Breaking Cadence @ Johnsonville Summerville
2 p.m. — The Playlist @ Generac Power Stage
2:30 p.m. — Klassik @ UScellular Connection Stage
2:45 p.m. — Oh Geeeze, Not Again
3 p.m. — Breaking Cadence @ Johnsonville Summerville
3:30 p.m. — Love Monkeys @ Generac Power Stage
4 p.m. — Bug Moment @ BMO Pavilion
4:15 p.m. — Ray Nitti @ UScellular Connection Stage
5 p.m. — Bobby Friss @ Generac Power Stage
5:45 p.m. — The Keystones @ BMO Pavilion
Friday, July 4
12 p.m. — Tommy Odetto @ Uline Warehouse
12:45 p.m. — Paul Spencer Band @ UScellular Connection Stage
1 p.m. — Chapped Lips @ Miller Lite Oasis
2 p.m. — Kitty Soft Paw @ BMO Pavilion
2 p.m. — Lunde @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
2:30 p.m. — Esquires II @ UScellular Connection Stage
4 p.m. — Fuzzysurf @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
5:45 p.m. — Cold Sweat & The Brew City Horns @ BMO Pavilion
Saturday, July 5
12 p.m. — Big Al Dorn & The Blues Howlers @ Johnsonville Summerville
12:45 p.m. — Florentine Opera Company @ Aurora Pavilion
3:30 p.m. — Drown The Lifeguard @ Uline Warehouse
5 p.m. — Steve Da Stoner @ Generac Power Stage
5:45 p.m. — Louie & The Flashbombs @ BMO Pavilion
6 p.m. — 414 Big Frank @ Generac Power Stage
7:15 p.m. — Certified Trapper @ Generac Power Stage
7:30 p.m. — The Gufs @ BMO Pavilion