My stomach is growlin’, and I’m getting ready to taste my way through yet another Summerfest, from the deep fried Old Fashioneds to the mac-and-cheese bottomed pizzas. My “to do” list, however, includes spending some quality time slurping up some of the Big Gig’s music selections as well, with local acts sharing the menu with national headliners, including Andra Day and Marcus headliners Sting and Peter Gabriel. Here’s what’s on tap.
Wednesday, June 29
It’s opening day, so my plan is to troll the grounds to get the lay of the edible landscape. I’ll be scoping out great food finds, which I’m likely to share with you in an article, but I’ll also be hopefully getting my fill of the indie-pop sounds of Fitz & the Tantrums at 10 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. I mean, not to be cliche, but “HandClap” just might be my theme song for the summer.
Thursday, June 30
I’ve been hearing whispers about keyboard-driven singer-songwriter Stephanie Erin Brill, a Cedarburg native who has been surprising folks since she started performing at the age of 12. I’ve never seen her perform, so she might just be on my list to check out at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage. Hopefully her performance won’t leave me hungry. But, even if it does, I’m pretty sure I could fill up on a night of Black Violin at 8 p.m. at the Johnson Controls Sound Stage. Because when classical meets hip-hop, I’m all in.
Friday, July 1
I remember listening to Diane Coffee’s Tiny Desk Concert in 2015 and finding myself increasingly enamored with lead singer Shaun Fleming’s, er, caffeinated approach to keeping the audience enrapt. So you’re likely catch me chowing down on their energetic buffet of psych-rock at 6:45 p.m. on the Johnson Controls World Stage. Of course, I’d never turn down a bit of dessert, so the sweet sweet sounds of Ray Lamontagne at 10 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse might just become my evening night cap.
Saturday, July 2
Honestly, I’ll be more than a little bit sad to be missing the oh-so-satisfying soul food being served up by Alabama Shakes at the Amp, so let’s hope that Peter Bjorn and John can make it up to me with their smorgasbord of affable Swedish pop. They’re playing at 10 p.m. at the Johnson Controls Sound Stage. And I’ll be sucking up every last bit of their sunny clapping and cowbell.
Sunday, July 3
People who know me realize that I’m unlikely turn down a serving of The Indigo Girls because I just can’t seem to get enough of most folky feminist bits. Fortunately, they just happen to be playing at the BMO Harris Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. But I’ll also be saving room for The Roots who headline the Miller Lite Oasis at 9:45 p.m. Because, well … The Roots.
Monday, July 4
Maybe it’s my interminable crush on all the adorable quirkiness that is Johnny Depp (not including recent news, of course) or that bizarre fondness for Alice Cooper I’ve been harboring since my darker pop-metal high school days. But I’m actually pretty tempted by the thought of imbibing in the likes of the Hollywood Vampires at the BMO Harris Pavilion at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, July 5
Maybe it’s my interminable crush on all the adorable quirkiness that is Johnny Depp (not including recent news, of course) or that bizarre fondness for Alice Cooper I’ve been harboring since my darker pop-metal high school days. But I’m actually pretty tempted by the thought of imbibing in the likes of the Hollywood Vampires at the BMO Harris Pavilion at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 6
I’ll be craving something jazzy and soulful by this point in the Fest. So a nice big helping of Andra Day, playing at 9:45 p.m. at the BMO Harris Pavilion, is pretty likely to satisfy. And I’m genuinely looking forward to immersing myself in her new-school Billie Holiday-esqueness. But if I weren’t, I’d probably head over to the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 9:30 p.m. to stuff myself full of Garbage, a band I’ve always borne an emo-esque fondness for … and whose remarkably satisfying new album I’ve been pretty steadily consuming for the past few weeks.
Thursday, July 7
In some ways, I blame The Decemberists for incessantly instilling me with thoughtful malaise. But that doesn’t mean I won’t go see their show at 10 p.m. at the Miller Oasis.
Friday, July 8
There’s not much on the schedule for Friday that really makes my stomach growl, but there might be something sweet and satisfying about seeing those quirky former college radio darlings Dressy Bessy at the Uline Warehouse at 3 p.m. If I happen to be in the mood for some pop candy, that’s likely where I’ll be.
Saturday, July 9
On this, the penultimate day of the Big Gig, I’ve got two menu options staring me in the face: Death Cab for Cutie at 10:15 p.m. at the Miller Lite Oasis and Ben Folds at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 10 p.m. I’m likely to opt for the latter, though Folds’ recent collaboration with yMusic – a remarkably knitting together of classical and pop music – just seems too delicious to resist.
Sunday, July 10
I’ve been a pretty loyal Sting fan for years. And even though I’m only a fair-weather fan of Peter Gabriel, I’m banking on the fact that seeing the two of them together at 8 p.m. at the Marcus Amphitheater will prove to be an irresistible treat. I’ve heard that Sting’s set on the Rock Paper Scissors Tour has been loaded with Police hits, so I’m looking forward to indulging in a big bowl of nostalgic bliss … with the high hope that everything little thing he does is magic.
