Summerfest! Like last year’s edition, “The World’s Largest Music Festival” is mixing things up in 2022 by staking out three Thursday-Friday-Saturday blocks instead of the traditional 11-day run. In an effort to help you make some potentially difficult Summerfest 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, July 7
HEADLINER
Boyz II Men — 9:30 p.m. @ Uline Warehouse
Less than a year removed from their Wisconsin State Fair performance, Boyz II Men will bring its smooth sound, incomparable harmonies, and altogether sultry catalog to the Summerfest grounds. Get ready to end your Thursday night with the modern R&B legends as they perform hits like “I’ll Make Love To You”, “Motownphilly”, “On Bended Knee”, “End Of The Road” and—with any luck—maybe even “Water Runs Dry” at the Uline Warehouse. Oh, and they’ll also treat a fortunate few festival-goers to a 6 p.m. acoustic performance at the cozy American Family Insurance House.
EARLY BIRD
Foghat — 3:30 p.m. @ BMO Harris Pavilion
Take a slow ride down to Summerfest this Thursday afternoon and take it easy in the spacious, shaded BMO Harris Pavilion when Foghat takes the stage at 3:30 p.m. Yeah, drummer Roger Earl is the last founding member who’s still in Foghat, but that’s still one more original member than you’ll find in any of the other bands playing Foghat songs at Summerfest this year.
LOCAL
The Whiskeybelles — 5:30 p.m. @ BMO Harris Pavilion
Would it even be Summerfest if The Whiskeybelles weren’t performing at least once? We can’t say for sure, but we hope we never have to find out. The Milwaukee festival favorites are sure to delight folks at the BMO Harris Pavilion with a winning mix of time-tested covers and crowd-pleasing originals.
DEAL / TIP
The first 2,000 patrons who arrive between 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. and donate three (3) non-perishable food items will receive one (1) free admission ticket, valid for the day and time of the promotion only. Canned fruits and vegetables are especially appreciated! Donations will be accepted at the Mid Gate Promotions Booth. All donations benefit Hunger Task Force.
Friday, July 8
HEADLINER
Charli XCX — 9:30 p.m. @ BMO Harris Pavilion
Charli XCX isn’t even 30 years old yet and she’s already had an incredible and extremely accomplished career. The English pop sensation will help close out Summerfest’s penultimate night when she performs material from her latest album, the recently-released Crash, along with world-renowned hits from her four other records during a headlining set at BMO Harris Pavilion.
EARLY BIRD
A Flock Of Seagulls — 6:15 p.m. @ UScellular Connection Stage
Usually, a flock of seagulls is something people try to avoid when they’re at Summerfest. However, when A Flock Of Seagulls is the influential English new wave pioneers (and not the pesky birds eying your Saz’s Sampler Platter), it’s actually a very good thing to come across. If you’re on the festival grounds at 6:15 p.m. this Friday, we strongly recommend seeing A Flock Of Seagulls. Also, can you believe “I Ran (So Far Away)” is now 40 years old?! We’re sorry for telling you that soul-crushing fact just now.
LOCAL
You Win !!! — 5:30 p.m. @ Johnson Controls World Sound Stage
July 8 is a fairly stacked day in terms of local acts performing at Summerfest, but—with all due respect to Milwaukee-based projects like Trapper Schoepp, Alyssia Dominguez, DJ Shawna, Xposed 4Heads, and Greg Koch Marshall Trio—we think You Win !!! takes the cake. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a somewhat rare live outing from the dark pop/trip-hop project when they take the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at 5:30 p.m.
DEAL / TIP
All patrons who arrive between 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. wearing a shirt or hat representing a participating college or university, or present their High School ID, will receive one (1) free admission ticket. Tickets are only valid for the day and time of the promotion. Stop by the Mid Gate Promotions Booth to receive your ticket, then head over to your school’s booth to say hello and show your support! Only shirts or hats from the following colleges or universities will be accepted:
• Cardinal Stritch University
• Carthage College
• Marquette University
• Milwaukee Area Technical College
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of Wisconsin-Platteville
• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
All High School students who complete their FAFSA by July 8 will receive one (1) free General Admission Summerfest Ticket, brought to you by Milwaukee Education Partnership.
Saturday, July 9
HEADLINER
Death Cab For Cutie — 9:30 p.m. @ Generac Power Stage
The last night of Summerfest is always a bittersweet affair, and we couldn’t imagine a better fest-ending soundtrack than Death Cab For Cutie. The indie rock veterans have released 10 albums during its quarter-century run, and we’re hoping the band’s headlining set at the Generac Power Stage features selections from all stops along their emotional, anthemic, and largely outstanding catalog.
EARLY BIRD
Illuminati Hotties — 1:45 p.m. @ Generac Power Stage
Roughly nine months since the release of sophomore album, Let Me Do One More, and just over four months after a memorable performance at The Back Room @ Colectivo, Illuminati Hotties—the “tenderpunk” band fronted by project mastermind Sarah Tudzin—will offer early afternoon Big Giggers a rollicking collection of summer-suited songs that will start Summerfest’s final day off on a strong note.
LOCAL
Gego y Nony — 7:30 p.m. @ BMO Harris Pavilion
If you don’t know who Gego y Nony is, you likely will soon. Following headlining performances at this year’s Mitten Fest and Indeed Brewing’s recent Electric Love block party, the Milwaukee-based reggaeton duo is poised to win over a ton of hometown fans when they take the BMO Harris Pavilion stage shortly before French Montana’s headlining set.
DEAL / TIP
All patrons arriving between 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. will be admitted free, compliments of Summerfest. Plus, the first 30,000 patrons arriving through the gates will receive one (1) free ticket valid for Summerfest 2023.