2023 Milford Oyster Festival Music Headliner Revealed

MILFORD – On the main stage, the 49th Annual Milford Oyster Fest will be headlined by Lou Gramm, a founding member of Foreigner, on Aug. 19.

“Lou Gramm is a legend. Hearing all his hit songs on the Main Stage will make for a very special Festival,” Jay Pinto said, president of the Milford Oyster Festival. “We look forward to seeing you there.”

The Milford Oyster Festival will be held rain or shine on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gramm and Foreigner had 16 Billboard Top 40 Hits and is one of Billboard’s Top 100 Artists of All Time in hit song history.

Gramm was the lead vocalist on all Foreigners’ hit songs, including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Long, Long Way From Home,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” Blue Morning, Blue Day,” “Head Games,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Break It Up,” and “Say You will," according to information released by festival organizers.

He co-wrote most of the songs for the band, which achieved two of its biggest hits with the ballads “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” which spent 10 weeks at No. 2 on the 1981-82 American Hot 100, and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which was a No. 1 hit internationally (U.S. and U.K.) in 1985, according to information released by festival organizers.

Their first eight singles cracked the Billboard Top 20, and four went Top 10, making them the first group since the Beatles to achieve this in 1980, according to information released by festival organizers.

Gramm was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called a craniopharyngioma in the 1990s. After his recovery, he toured with Foreigner again. Then in 2003, he set out to tour with his own band and continues playing today.

The Brothers Doobie, a Doobie Brothers Experience that performs the full range of Doobie Brothers’ top hits, will open for Gramm. Comprised of some of the best musicians and performers in the industry, The Brothers Doobie delivers a high-energy, high-level performance that exceeds expectations.

In addition to the main stage entertainment, the event also includes a craft beer area at Lisman Landing, the Festival car show, arts and crafts vendors on the Green, amusement rides, a children’s stage, canoe and kayak races, a second music stage at Lisman Landing, food, beer, wine and 30,000 Oysters that will be locally sourced from Briarpatch Shellfish Company in Milford.

Oyster Eve, the festival kick-off event, will be held on Friday, Aug. 18, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Fowler Field with a musical performance by Shameless. In addition, craft beers, wine, oysters and a wide selection of food will be available on Oyster Eve.

There is a $5 entry on Oyster Eve for anyone over 14 years old.

For more information, visit www.milfordoysterfestival.com.