Milwaukee Summerfest - The World's Largest Music Festival

The World’s Largest Music Festival, Summerfest debuted in 1968 brought to life by the late Henry Maier, as a way to help revitalize Milwaukee, bring together the community and celebrate our beautiful city. In 2014, 40 year Summerfest veteran and legendary blues harmonica player, Jim Liban said to the audience, myself included, that he remembers his first Summerfest; it was back in 1970 and the big headliner was Sly &The Family Stone, he remembers it being a bunch of teenagers in a mud pit. This is also the same year that the festival moved from multiple venues around town to an abandoned Nike missile site on the city’s lake front of Lake Michigan, now known as the Henry Maier Festival Grounds.

The festival runs 11 out of 12 days with a dozen stages and over 1,000 performances. The grounds are breath-taking, looking over the lake is amazing then turn around to you can see how big our city really is, despite what non-locals might say Milwaukee is not just a small town. Used not only for Summerfest, the grounds are home to a number of local celebrations of culture and pride. The Amphitheater is filled with concerts throughout the year; even The Rolling Stones are coming, the night before Summerfest to help kick things off.

Everyday there is a free entry promotion. There are also many ways to score free tickets through local promotions. General admission tickets run for $19, but that entry gets you access to 85% of the music at the festival. Any concert at the Amphitheater is a separate ticket but it gets you entry into the whole festival. There are a few shows that charge at the BMO Harris Pavilion but in some cases you can get a free Blue Circle Pass. Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, and the Miller Light Oasis each have a special VIP area. Another special feature of the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse is a set of monitors closer to the rocks with a seating area, allowing you to stay out of the crowd but still see and hear the show perfectly. Summerfest encourages safe travels, and provide buses that travel from the park and rides in multiple counties; the bus ride home is always free. There is also a promotion with Uber for discounted rides.

There are a few hidden gems to seek out for local or up and coming artists. The Emerging Artists Series features up and coming new artists every day from 3:00pm-7:30pm at the U.S. Cellular Stage. KNE New Music Stage, sponsored by K-Nation focuses mainly on new artists. The most discreet of them all is the Renegade stage; this stage is not listed on the Summerfest website with the other stages; it was started by local Irish rock band Whiskey of the Damned only a few years ago. The first year they printed themselves badges and just started playing down by the rocks. The Summerfest people weren’t too happy but instead of kicking them out they said hey we’ll give you a stage, and sure enough the next year the Renegade Stage was, and still is, actually a stage.

This year I am really looking forward to seeing Sheryl Crow, I managed to see her almost 4 years ago and she was amazing. She’s also a lot shorter than I expected. Linkin Park is coming this year; if I can get a hold of tickets I will be seeing them. Some old favorites are coming this year; Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, Greg Koch and Pat Benatar. If you like country music there is plenty to choose from; Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Kansas which I am looking forward to. There are plenty of new chart toppers including Bastille, Vance Joy, Kings of Leon w/ Kongos, Meg Myers and Ed Sheeran. If you’re like me and grew up in the 80’s and 90’s then you’re in luck, there are plenty of amazing bands from my teen years that I am looking to catch; Sublime, SmashMouth, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Jane’s Addiction and Third Eye Blind.


A special treasure at Summerfest is Sigmund Snopek III, I don’t think he’s missed a year since the festival started. He will entertain you, make you laugh, and is truly one of a kind. Brett Newski puts on a great show, with his new album “American Folk Armageddon” he’s been quite busy touring, glad he could make it to Summerfest again this year. There are a slew of local bands but there are a few I really want to make mention of, the Charles Walker Band, when Charles plays the sax I get goosebumps and Porsche’s voice is amazing. Also try to catch GGOOLLDD, they are fantastic, rock all the way.

As someone who’s been lucky enough the past few years to go with a friend and veteran of the festival I have some tips. If you are looking to get around the grounds quickly and easily take the rocks, the main middle walk way is too crowded. Park at Discovery World. If it starts to rain, and it will, run for cover at the Johnson Controls World’s Sound Stage. If you’re looking to stay until the end find the Tiki Lounge behind Johnson Controls tucked against the rocks, they often have music right up until the park closes. If you need to meet up with anyone, I suggest the Ball Fountain in the middle of the park. Also, take a sweatshirt and pants it can be 20 degrees cooler by the lake.

A complete line-up can be found on the Summerfest website, or download the free app to your phone and build your own itinerary. Happy festing and remember to smile, after all it is the big gig.

Article: Kate Schwid
Photos: http://www.summerfest.com