Summerfest! Like the last four installments, the Big Gig is staking out three Thursday-Friday-Saturday blocks instead of the old 11-day run. In an effort to help you make some potentially difficult decisions, Milwaukee Record is offering Record Recommendations for all three weekends of Summerfest: a suggested headliner, a reason to show up early, a can’t-miss local act, and a tip for a way to have a cheaper and/or better experience. Here are our Record Recommendations for Summerfest’s second weekend.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
HEADLINER: Devo @ Uline Warehouse Stage, 9:30 p.m.
Casual fans may know Devo as a “one-hit wonder” (that hit would be “Whip It,” of course), but die-hard fans know the legendary ’70s-’80s new wave group has a catalog that goes deep. “Auto Modown”! “The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise”! “Beautiful World”! “Jerkin’ Back ‘n’ Forth”! So many more! Recent show reviews indicate Devo is still as potent and wonderfully wonky as ever, so do not miss this Summerfest appearance. Mutate! Don’t stagnate!
ALSO: The Psychedelic Furs @ Generac Power Stage, 9:30 p.m.
EARLY BIRD: Brett Newski & The Bad Inventions @ Uline Warehouse, 1:45 p.m.
Tireless Milwaukee musician Brett Newski has spent the past decade-plus releasing countless albums of earnest indie rock, playing countless shows across the globe, releasing wild music videos, hosting his own podcast, and writing a series of books. Phew! His latest record, the art-damaged folk-pop LP ameriCONa Pt. 1: Educate Freeloaders To Buy Art, is one of his best. Newski is no stranger to Summerfest, and is always worth an early visit.
ALSO: Cowboy Mouth @ UScellular Connection Stage 4:30 p.m.
LOCAL: Xposed 4Heads @ Uline Warehouse Stage, 5:30 p.m.
“It’s messed up beyond belief / We’ve gone too far, we’re in too deep,” cries Xposed 4Heads frontman Mark G.E. in 2024’s “Mess Up.” Surely now, more than a year later, the veteran Milwaukee new wave/art-rock band is feeling better about the current state of things, right? Not really! On the opening title track of the band’s latest LP, Crack The Sky, G.E. acknowledges that “everybody [is] going down the drain,” but implores us to “use our brains, work together, figure it out.” And yes, Xposed 4Heads’ well-honed herky-jerky sci-fi synth sound will be a perfect opener-opener for Devo. (The Producers will play between the two groups.)
ALSO: HOSTS @ BMO Pavilion, 4 p.m.
DEAL/TIP: Throwback Thursday Presented By Pick ‘N Save, Metro Market and Mariano’s
$5.00 admission and 50% off select beverages. Enjoy a collection of music through the decades from various throwback artists. From 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. all beer, seltzer, Cherry Vodka Lemonade, Aquafina Water, and soda will be 50% off! In addition, shoppers can earn four FREE Summerfest tickets for every qualifying $50 spent in a single transaction at Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market and Mariano’s locations, from April 23 to May 13. Visit PicknSave.com/Summerfest for details. The offer is printed at the bottom of the receipt. To redeem the offer, bring the complete original receipt to the Summerfest ticket windows at the entry gates on June 26 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are only valid for the day and time of the promotion. Limit three offers / 12 tickets per transaction.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
HEADLINER: Billy Corgan And The Machines Of God @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage 10:15 p.m.
There are plenty of great Friday-night headliners: The Killers, Motion City Soundtrack, Cake, and more. But c’mon, aren’t you at least a little curious about this non-Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan show? Well, it’s sort of a Pumpkins show. Apparently, Corgan is using this offshoot group (featuring several Pumpkins touring members) to explore deep cuts from his band’s 30-year-old Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and the 25-year-old Machina/The Machines Of God. Those records rule. Bring it, Billy!
ALSO: Cake @ BMO Pavilion, 9:30 p.m.
EARLY BIRD: Alley Eyes @ BMO Pavilion, 2 p.m.
Are we in the midst of an “indie sleaze” revival? You know, that pocket of 2000s-era music and culture epitomized by bands like The Strokes, The Killers, and LCD Soundsystem? While one could argue that Milwaukee has never left its indie sleaze era—or that it has always existed in an indie sleaze era—bands like Alley Eyes are making the case for a full-blown homegrown revival. It’s easy to listen to recent singles “Tangerines” and “No Good” and think it’s 2005 all over again.
ALSO: IshDARR @ UScellular Connection Stage, 5:15 p.m.
LOCAL: Ladybird @ Aurora Pavilion, 3:15 p.m.
If you’re looking for the absolute best in homegrown, good-times alt-rock/country, look no further than Ladybird. The group has spent the past four years playing oodles of high-profile gigs, releasing a handful of terrific records, and just generally being swell dudes. Ladybird’s 2024 LP Amy Come On Home is a stunner: opener “Audrey’s Garden” is a sepia-toned country tear jerker, “Kemp Lane” is a smoldering rocker, and “Short King Shuffle” is a hilarious barn burner. All throughout, Pete McDermott and company shine both musically and lyrically. Here’s to Ladybird’s continued greatness.
ALSO: Social Cig @ BMO Pavilion, 4 p.m.
DEAL/TIP: Show Your College Pride Day with OnMilwaukee and CW18 & My24
Patrons arriving between 12:00–3:00 p.m. wearing a shirt or hat from a participating college or university, or showing a valid high school ID, will receive one FREE admission ticket (valid only during the promotion). Visit the Mid Gate Promotions Booth to claim your ticket, then visit your school inside! Only apparel from the following schools will be accepted: Beloit College, Carroll University, Herzing University, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, St. Norbert College, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and UW-Whitewater. All High School students who begin their FAFSA before July 5 will receive a FREE general admission Summerfest ticket, brought to you by Milwaukee Education Partnership
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
HEADLINER: Megan Thee Stallion @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater, 7:30 p.m.
In case you missed the unstoppable Megan Thee Stallion when she headlined Summerfest’s AmFam Amphitheater back in 2021 (and who could blame you, since that was that super-weird late-summer “post”-COVID year), you can catch her this year! Ms. Stallion’s latest full-length record is 2024’s Megan. Oh, and opening Saturday’s show will be the equally unstoppable Flo Milli.
ALSO: Young The Giant @ UScellular Connection Stage, 10 p.m.
EARLY BIRD: The Fray @ American Family Insurance House Stage, 2 p.m.
Are you stoked to see ’00s rock band The Fray—a.k.a. that “How To Save A Life” band—at the Uline Warehouse Stage at 9:30 p.m.? Then you’ll be even more stoked to know the group is first playing an abbreviated set in the intimate American Family Insurance House Stage at 2 p.m. Be sure to get there early, as space is limited and lines to these House shows can get longer than the Bush’s baked beans line.
ALSO: Spyro Gyra @ Miller Lite Oasis, 4:30 p.m.
LOCAL: Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, 4 p.m.
Is it possible that Summerfest stalwart Pat McCurdy is not playing this year’s Big Gig? It’s not only possible, it’s true. Sad but true! Unprecedented times, folks! Luckily, another Summerfest regular, Paul Cebar, is once again bringing his fantastic and long-running Tomorrow Sound to Summerfest 2025. Cebar is a Milwaukee treasure, plain and simple, and should never be missed.
ALSO: Chicken P @ Generac Power Stage, 7:15 p.m.
DEAL/TIP: Northwestern Mutual “Make A Child Smile” Day
The first 2,500 patrons who donate new or gently used children’s books with a $10 minimum value will receive one FREE admission ticket, valid for the day and time of the promotion only. Picture books and early readers for children ages birth through ten are preferred. All books collected at the Mid Gate Promotions Booth will be donated to Next Door.
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