It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Summerfest’s lineup is here.
It’s the launch of booking summer plans, finding new music from artists local and nationwide, and getting ready to create some of the best memories yet.
Scot Ziel, associate booking director for Summerfest, says one of the biggest performers to catch at this year’s festival is Billie Eilish.
“We have been making offers for the last three months,” Ziel says. “She is about as hot as anything right now.”
Ziel says he is also excited to have new bands at the festival such as YUNGBLUD, an English rock band, and Lizzo, whose music is engaging, soulful and funky.
Summerfest starts planning the day after the previous year’s music fest ends, and some of the first artists to sign on are usually the country acts, Ziel says.
“This year, Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean were really early on; the Zac Brown Band, too,” Ziel says. Rock bands, alternative and indie, and hip hop consecutively fall into place after that.
To pick which artists come to Brew city, though, Ziel says researching what people are streaming informs the choices.
“Summerfest is a festival for the people,” Ziel says. “We look at all styles of music people want to see at the festival.”
Milwaukee’s biggest party is only 78 days away, but don’t fret. Here’s the list of headliners to hold you over until then.
(The main stage acts were previously announced, but the ground-stage ones are new. Summerfest is expected to announce additional ground-stage headliners, along with times, dates and stage locations, in the coming weeks.)
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
June 26
Thomas Rhett with special guest Dustin Lynch
June 27
The Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson & Family, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Avett Brothers, Counting Crows, Alison Krauss, Dawes and Trapper Schoepp
June 28
Jason Aldean with special guests Kane Brown & Carley Pearce
June 29
Bon Iver with special guests Lord Huron & Julien Baker
June 30
Zac Brown Band with special guest Drake White
July 2
Lionel Richie with special guest Michael McDonald
July 3
Jennifer Lopez
July 5
The Killers with special guest Death Cab for Cutie
July 6
Billie Eilish
July 7
Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg & ScHoolboy Q
Ground Stage Headliners
Brandi Carlile
The Lonely Island
Steve Aoki
Brothers Osborne
Foreigner
Lizzo
CHVRCHES
Courtney Barnett
Atmosphere
Taking Back Sunday
Judah & the Lion
Styx
Chris Janson
Dispatch
SWITCHFOOT
Hanson
Chelsea Cutler
Semisonic
The Roots
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Los Lonely Boys
MAX
Two Friends
Matisyahu
Dylan Scott
Brother Ali
VOILÁ
Silverstein
38 Special
Nora Collins
10,000 Maniacs
Cory Wong
The Spinners
Royal Tusk
Brandy Clark
Allman Betts Band
Weathers
Juice
Carousel Kings
Otis Taylor and the Psychedelic Banjo Posse
DJ Keezy
Sweet Crude
deM atlaS
Evidence
Adia Victoria
Cole Swindell
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Chicago
WALK THE MOON
Third Eye Blind
X Ambassadors
Big Gigantic
Quinn XCII
T-Pain
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Loverboy
Elle King
Skillet
August Burns Red
LANCO
lovelytheband
COIN
Matoma
Lake Street Drive
Jimmie Allen
YUNGBLUD
Chris Lane
SOJA
Steve Earle & The Dukes
Donna Missal
Lauren Alaina
Guided By Voices
Dumpstaphunk
Ozomatli
Foghat
Common Kings
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
Sa-Roc
Aaron Lee Tasjan
The Suffers
Hawthorne Heights
Big Head Todd and the Monsters
HARDY
Oxymorrons
DJ Abilities
Leonid & Friends
Tenille Arts
The Beths
The Head and the Heart
The National
Jason Mraz
Young the Giant
Jimmy Eat World
3 Doors Down
Sublime with Rome
First Aid Kit
Vic Mensa
Dashboard Confessional
Chaka Khan
Frenship
Gryffin
Chase Rice
St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Daya
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
La Sonora Ponceña
Neon Trees
Ludacris
Lindsay Ell
Collective Soul
Jordan Davis
Riley Green
Dark Star Orchestra
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Jesus Jones
X
Mitchell Tenpenny
Andrew W.K.
Reverend Horton Heat
GGOOLLDD
Silent Planet
SHAED
The Association
Sego
flora cash
Nikki Jean
Trea Landon
Matt Hoyles
The Lioness
Trap Manny
Black Pumas
