Ever since the last remaining flake of Milwaukee snow melted (first week of June, right?), the Music Notes staff has been giddy at the prospect of attending the myriad of festivals our fair city has to offer. Our loyal reader (hi, mom!) out there has probably sensed Kevin and my festival season excitement, as we’ve done little to hide it in our coverage.
Not only have we beaten Summerfest to death—and we’re only getting started there!—or longed for a Verge encore. We’ve also touched on a variety of cheap or free local events too, while making brief mention of early bird occurrences like PrideFest and Locust Street Festival when we could. Even after all that, there are still a multitude of worthwhile music festivals we’ve yet to even mention. With the hope of letting as few fests fall through the cracks as possible, here are some more events to add to your rapidly filling summer calendar.
Summer Soulstice Music Festival
When: Tomorrow (June 18) from noon to midnight
Where: North Avenue between Prospect and Oakland
What You’ll Hear: Providing a daylong soundtrack for things like BMX stunts, a Qdoba burrito eating contest and a dodgeball tournament are a host of great and primarily local performers, playing on two stages. Smoking your buddy in the balls with a dodgeball is rendered all the sweeter when Call Me Lightning and Fever Marlene can be heard in the distance. With the toe-tapping tunes of Kings Go Forth, this may just be the year you’re inspired to devour a record-setting amount of infant-sized burritos as bikes fly haphazardly overhead. For more information, go here.
Bastille Days
When: July 14-17 from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (weekends)
Where: Cathedral Square adjacent area of downtown
What You’ll Hear: Although Bastille Days turns 30 this year; the annual French-themed celebration hasn’t left its cool appeal in its roaring 20s. With a mishmash of African dance music, folk, rock, ska and Cajun artists taking the four stages. some acts that piqued my interest were Joe Crocket (former of The Championship), The Whiskeybelles and Willy Porter. The four-day deal boasts a nearly incessant performance schedule. And worry not; it looks like you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn French, which I assume is more easily done when intoxicated, and outdoors in a large group. Peruse the full schedule here.
Brady Street Festival
When: Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Duh.
What You’ll Hear: Playing on three stages stationed on one of Milwaukee’s most renowned street is a wide-ranging blend of (mostly) music entertainment. Dodge dogs, strollers and octogenarians while browsing local vendor kiosks as everything from The Ragadors to Will Phalen & The Stereo Addicts and even a drag show unfold before you. For more information and a full music lineup, go here.
Wisconsin State Fair
When: August 4-14 from 8 a.m. to midnight (weekends)
Where: State Fair Park… you know, the huge fairgrounds that’s only used for State Fair and Halloween costume liquidation sales. That place.
What You’ll Hear: Best known for its beloved delicacy, the cream puff, the Wisconsin State Fair has evolved to become more than an inconvenient venue to shove whipped cream into your chew hole – you can now also shove DEEP-FRIED BUTTER down your gullet beside likeminded epicurean fellow statesmen. To sweeten the deal (pun, unfortunately intended), you can wait out your remaining pre-triple bypass moments with the musical accompaniment of (once) renowned musicians like MC Hammer, Foghat, Vertical Horizon, Uriah Heap, ZZ Top, Whitesnake, Skid Row, and one of the dudes from Genesis who isn’t Phil Collins to help carry you peacefully off to that big butter dish in the sky. More info here.
Milwaukee Irish Fest
When: August 18-22 from noon to midnight
Where: Henry Maier Festival Park
What You’ll Hear: Grating music that all sounds the same being performed on 10 stages by bands like Gaelic Storm and Red Hot Chilli Pipers. If that’s your thing, welcome to heaven. If it’s not your thing, there has to be, like, an ocean of beer at this thing, right? Link me, it’s Irish.
And the list goes on. Keep an ear out, an eye peeled and an open mind to the staggering amount of great and diverse festivals taking place in Milwaukee throughout the summer.
