Even though [adjusts glasses] it’s still technically spring, Milwaukee’s long and incomparable summer festival season officially kicked off last weekend with PrideFest and Locust Street Festival. With those two mainstays now in the books, the city has started a thrilling epoch of sun-soaked and beer-fueled fun that will continue through September, when Bay View Bash unofficially brings festival season home in grand fashion.
For more than a decade, the sprawling block party has brought festival fare, a small lake worth of local beer, area vendors, eclectic entertainment, and ample space for dogs to walk around in the heart of Kinnickinnic Avenue (between Potter and Clement avenues) for about 12 hours each September. This year’s festival—slated to take place on Saturday, September 15—will bring much of the same, but with one notable difference: we’ve been given a stage.
That’s right! Bay View Bash organizers have graciously given us the reins for the stage on Russell Ave. (the one beside Sven’s) and the go-ahead to do pretty much whatever we want with it this year. Out of respect for other stages and the event as a whole, we’ll hold back on revealing too much until the entire entertainment lineup is finished. However, we’re too excited to hold back news about our headliner. In its inaugural year, the Milwaukee Record Stage will feature none other than Mike Krol.
The Los Angeles garage rocker is on the Merge Records roster and has local roots. He hasn’t played in Milwaukee since early 2016, but will make his return as the final act on our Bay View Bash stage, then will chase that performance with an after party at Cactus Club that same night. Stay tuned for more information on the Bash and our full lineup in the coming months. In the meantime, mark your calendars for September 15 and alert the Neighborhood Watch because September 15 is going to be wild.