The Rolling Stones rocked the Marcus Amphitheater to kick things off, and now, the World’s Largest Music Festival is now officially underway.
There’s much to be excited about with the Big Gig’s arrival — the food, the drinks, the dozens of performers, the Big Bang, spending time on the lakefront…we could go on and on.
And here at Historic Third Ward office, we at Milwaukee Magazine have a front row to all of the excitement that surrounds the Big Gig. So we thought we’d share some of what our staff is excited about each day for this year’s festival.
Dan Shafer, digital editor: The most exciting band on the entire Day One lineup also happens to be from Milwaukee. That band is Midnight Reruns, who are fresh off opening for The Replacements at The Rave. Tonight, they’ll headline the KNA New Music Stage at 9 p.m., leaving you plenty of time to check out the Big Bang and roam around to see other headliners like Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty.
Claire Hanan, associate editor: Today, I’d take in the back-to-back Aero Flynn (3 p.m.) and Twin Brother (4:15 p.m.) at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage. Then I would flee as fast as possible. I am not trying to get mixed up with any country fans.
Matt Hrodey, senior editor: Soul queen Mavis Staples, formerly of The Staple Singers, is still awesome, and wouldn’t you know it, she’s playing the more-intimate-than-it-sounds Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at 10 p.m. tonight. The Staples were one of the most versatile gospel/soul groups of the ‘1960s and ‘70s. Oh, the “Big Bang” fireworks are tonight at 9:30 p.m. and will be rebroadcast on WISN at 10:30 p.m., so if you rush home, you can watch them twice! Or you could see Mavis Staples, instead.
