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. Today, we’re looking ahead to the weekend.
Rachel Stinebring, graphic designer: The stuff of technicolor daydreams, The Flaming Lips combine one part song with two parts spectacle. Expect hits “Do You Realize??” and “She Don’t Use Jelly,” but I will be looking out for the dreamy “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt.1.”
Claire Hanan, associate editor / arts & culture: You’re going to need more than one Saz’s sampler platter to fuel up for tonight’s lineup.
Start with Milwaukee’s GGOOLLDD at 6:45 p.m., where you can burn off some of those chive fries. Then head over to see the multi-talented Lex Allen, also of Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. Stay for a few songs and then head to catch the rest of Shakey Graves’ 8 p.m. performance. Then dance your bananas off at one of these performances: Pat Benatar at 10 p.m. or Santigold at 10:15. And don’t worry about missing Keith Urban; there’s a strong chance he’ll be back again.
On Saturday I would catch Buddy Guy’s 9:45 show at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, where I would try my hardest to stay overnight so that I could get a good seat at DJ Paris Hilton’s 10 p.m. show the following day.
Ann Christenson: senior editor / dining critic: A pair of locals for Friday: GGOOLLDD at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage (6:45 p.m.) and Hayward Williams at the KNE New Music Stage (7:15 p.m.) Williams recently opened for Olivia Chaney. He’s great.
And as dorky as it sounds, it’s still fun to ride the Sky Glider. One, it gives you a reprieve from getting beer spilled on your feet. Two, it’s a people-watcher’s paradise.
Dan Shafer, digital editor: It’s a loaded weekend for the Big Gig, but there’s no bigger name on the lineup than Stevie Wonder, who headlines the Marcus Amphitheater on Saturday night. Not only do you get to see a living legend, you can decide for yourself whether or not he’s truly blind.
But if you’re not up for paying Amphitheater prices, there’s plenty worth seeing over the next 72 hours at the festival grounds. Friday is a perfect “see a whole bunch of different acts” night, with Santigold, Punch Brothers, Shakey Graves, GGOOLLDD, Lex Allen (with New Age Narcissism?) and Cory Chisel on the bill. The Flaming Lips headline what Kevin Mueller sees as the festival’s best night on Saturday, and Sunday offers the best back-to-back of the festival, with Milwaukee’s Field Report at 8 p.m. and The New Pornographers at 10 p.m. at the Miller Lite Oasis.
