Paul McCartney Plays Summerfest 2016 | Ticket Details and Show Dates Listed

Paul McCartney is booked for Summerfest 2016! July 8th is the date, and McCartney will certainly sell out the Marcus Amphitheater that night. McCartney tickets include Summerfest admission, and are available at the time of this post. The opening act has yet to be announced.

2016 will be a busy year for Paul, as he's already performing shows in America this April. He's currently on the west coast, playing dates in Seattle, and Vancouver. He comes back to the Midwest United States in May, with two shows in Minneapolis. McCartney will head on back to Europe during parts of this summer, performing at a pair of Music Festivals in The Netherlands in June.

McCartney made fifteen solo albums, along with all his work in the Beatles. His time spent as the leader of Wings, came just a couple of years after the Beatles broke up. Although he's getting older, his shows can run for hours, and stay "high energy" throughout most of the evening. Considering the size of the Marcus Amphitheater, it's best to book your tickets as soon as possible. This musical icon will draw crowds from all over Wisconsin.

Blake Shelton Plays Summerfest 2016 on July 1

Summerfest announced one of their 2016 headline shows.  It's going to be Blake Shelton at the Marcus Amphitheater on July 1. Shelton tickets will include Summerfest admission, and tickets are going to go fast for this established country star.

Blake Shelton has been a popular act since 2001. He made it big when he took his first crack at country music, and hasn't looked back. Where can you find him from day to day? Hollywood. In 2010, Shelton took the job on the hit show "The Voice." He has been splitting his time between Hollywood and Nashville.  He's since divorced from Miranda Lambert, and was just seen hanging out with Gwen Stefani. He doesn't feel that California is his second home, and refuses to buy a house there. Shelton's last album was a greatest hits effort.  He's got fifteen years of music to pull from on any given night. Fans are sure to hear all his best in Milwaukee.   

Linkin Park Summerfest 2015 | A Day To Remember Opens The Show

Linkin Park is coming to Summerfest! The American “Rap Rockers” from California are supporting their latest album, titled The Hunting Party. The disk is a throwback to their days of harder rock, but takes a bit from their earlier works, such as Meteora. With over 60 million albums sold, you can be sure that the Marcus Amphitheater tickets for this show will be moving fast over this long winter. The show date is set for June 30, 2015.

Is Linkin Park “Nu Metal” or “Rap Rock?” They are a bit of both. The band takes from many established musical styles, and yet they retain a massive audience. One diversion did take place, when they released “Minutes to Midnight.” There are hints of “alternative” music in that effort, as the band toned down the rap, just for one try. That album left Mike Shinoda with little to do, as he’s the designated “rapper” for the band.

Still, the band has a massive following. Consider the fact that they have over one billion page views on Youtube. Chester Bennington came on board three years into the life of the band, but he’s certainly considered to be a member of the family. Mark Wakefield, their former singer left the band before the group made it big.  The band spent years trying to get the attention of Warner Brothers, finally landing a record deal in 1999. They released “Hybrid Theory” in 2000, and that disc managed to sell nearly five million copies in the first year. Three of the songs of that album were also on major Hollywood movies, which certainly helped the cause.

See the band live at the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest. Opening for Linkin Park will be A Day To Remember.  Check your local Wisconsin ticket broker for the best Linkin Park seats.

Brad Paisley Comes To Summerfest 2014 | Tickets On Sale Now

Country-rock superstar Brad Paisley will headline the Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater on June 27. Paisley is the sixth headliner announced for the event’s main stage so far, with Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, the Dave Matthews Band, the Zac Brown Band, and Mötley Crüe already confirmed to perform. Classic rock legend Alice Cooper will feature as a special guest at Mötley Crüe’s show on July 4.

Paisley’s June 27^th show will be opened by multi-genre music veteran Darius Rucker and fellow country signer Joel Crouse. Rucker is best-known as the founding member of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, though, since 2001, he has received acclaim for a number of solo R&B and country albums. In December, Rucker became only the third African-American in history to win a Grammy Award in a country-music category, earning the nomination for his collaboration with the famed Lady Antebellum on his billboard topping single “Wagon Wheel”.

The 21-year-old Crouse has yet to release his debut full-length album, though his two singles, 2013’s “If You Want Some” and 2014’s “Why God Made Love Songs”, have both impressed on the charts. Crouse has toured with established acts Toby Keith and The Band Perry since 2011.

Paisley’s career in the genre has been in high-gear since his 1999 debut album “Who Needs Pictures” scored a pair of chart-topping singles and was certified platinum within a year of its release. He has released 9 more studio albums since then, garnering over 30 top-10 Billboard singles and 18 number ones. Paisley has won over 50 awards for his work in country-music, including best new vocalist in 2000, and, most recently, entertainer of the year at the 44^th annual Country Music Awards.

Summerfest runs from June 25^th to July 6^th at Maier Festival Grounds on Lake Michigan. A one-day hiatus will take place on Monday, June 30^th.

Summerfest 2013 Marcus Amphitheater Shows

For live music fans in Milwaukee, it's hard to beat the month of June and July. Summerfest 2013 is just days away, and the headline acts are once again a diverse and attractive lot. Who will open the ten day festival? Which band will draw the biggest crowds? Will the weather cooperate? Answers to all these questions will come in due time.  For now, let's recap some of the posts from months past.

Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductees Rush will play Summerfest on July 4. The band got their start way back in 1968, and since that time they have two dozen gold records to their name. Speaking of bands from long ago, The Eagles perform on July 7. Glen Frey and Don Henley make up the core of this band, but Joe Walsh is certainly a veteran "Eagle." 

Pitbull will hit the Marcus stage on June 30.  The band Fun performs on June 27.  Opening for Fun is Teagan and Sarah. Milwaukee's own Violent Femmes will share the stage with the Avett Brothers on June 26. It seems that Femmes fans always turn out in big numbers when they play their home town of Milwaukee. It's an added bonus that the Avett Brothers are on the same bill. 

Summerfest Headline Shows For 2013

June 26: The Violent Femmes and the Avett Brothers, with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Ivan and Alyosha

June 27: Fun. with Walk the Moon and Family of the Year

June 28: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

June 29: Jason Aldean

June 30: Pitbull

July 2: New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men

July 3: Luke Bryan with Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line

July 4: Rush

July 5: Tim McGraw with Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft

July 6: John Mayer with Phillip Phillips

July 7: The Eagles

Luke Bryan Plays Summerfest 2013 July 3

Luke Bryan will play the Marcus Amphitheater on July 3, at Summerfest 2013. He's backed up by Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line.  Bryan will be touring to support his "Spring Break" album that came out this past March.  What Bryan is best known for is the 2012 hit song I Don't Want This Night To End. In that same year, he swept the American Country Music Awards. He won album of the year for "Tailgates and Tanlines."

Bryan first hit the music scene with his 2007 work, titled I'll Stay Me. This came to be right after finishing up work for the very famous Travis Tritt.  He was pegged as a "Honky Tonk" song writer, but that didn't stop him from working hard to achieve success.  Luke Bryan has certainly written his share of drinking songs.  His Spring Break 2 EP contained three different songs about drinking.

Bryan would go on to headline his own mega-tour back in 2012. He hit nearly two dozen cities on a tour that covered most the winter months. His 2013 tour starts May 17 in Virginia Beach.  He's booked all the way through October. 

Summerfest 2013 Features Violent Femmes With Avett Brothers

Milwaukee favorites, The Violent Femmes will be headlining the Marcus Amphitheater on June 26. Alson on the bill are The Avett Brothers. That's not all.  Also playing that date are Ivan and Alyosha with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Summerfest wants to make sure that you get your money's worth that evening.

The Femmes are playing just and handful of festivals this year.  The band reunited for Coachella, the weekend festival that just wrapped up.  They will also play Bottle Rock Festival, and Summerfest 2013. Seeing that The Femmes usually reunite for a side stage show at Summerfest, this night will be special.  They hope for a big turnout, seeing that they haven't performed in a 22,000 seat venue in many years.

Sharing the spotlight with the Femmes will be the Avett Brothers.  The Avett Brothers have been supporting their latest album, titled The Carpenter.  That's album number seven for these Indie Folk rockers.  As opposed to the Femmes, the Avett Brothers are a working band that continues to tour and create new music. The grouping of the old and the new will surely make it a great evening of music.            

New Kids On The Block Summerfest 2013 Show July 2

The New Kids On The Block are coming to Summerfest 2013. This "Boy Band" is made up of men who hit the big time back in 1990 with their hit song titled Step By Step.  They will "step" onto the Marcus stage on July 2.  They won't be the only "blast from the past" that night.  Backing them up are Boyz II Men, and 98 Degrees.  You can almost hear the screaming fans right now.  It will be an evening of memories, great singing, and possibly some old dance moves that had long since been forgotten.

What prompted NKOTB to reunite?  Some things just work out right, and that was the case for the band.  They worked behind closed doors six years ago, and came out with a new album, their first in a very long time.  Back in 1995, the band had called it quits, but there was no bad blood.  That left the door open for a reunion, the one that occurred in 2008. Since then, the band has pretty much stayed together.  Their new album is titled "10."




  

Summerfest 2013 General Information | Parking - Hours - Stages

Summerfest 2013 is roughly four months away, but music fans are already picking up tickets for the “Big Gig.” With just one Marcus Amphitheater date booked at the time of this post, there is sure to be a flurry of concert announcements in the coming weeks and months. For now, we can cover the “basics” of Summerfest 2013. 

Summerfest Dates and Times

Summerfest 2013 runs from June 26, through July 7.  The festival grounds are closed on July 1, as it has been for the past couple of seasons. The gates open at noon (just in time for the downtown lunch crowd,) and close at midnight. Most headline acts hit the stage between 9:30 and 10pm, but there are always great bands performing at any given time.

Ticket prices vary; depending on what time you get there.  A standard ticket will set you back $17, but if you head to the fest between Tuesday and Thursday, the cost is just $10 (as long as you get there before 4pm.) There are a number of discount days, and promotional offers that can save you a few bucks.  Don’t forget, there is a separate admission ticket for all Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest shows.

Summerfest Parking

There are a number of parking lots just to the west and south of the Summerfest grounds. Prices range from $20 per car for preferred, and $35 for premier.  Be advised that sticking around until midnight will slow your departure down big time.  Traffic jams leaving Summerfest are common, and quite frustrating.  We suggest that you park in private lots just ¼ mile from the grounds.  You will certainly avoid the worst of the slow traffic leaving the grounds.

Summerfest Stages

Summerfest has eleven stages, ranging from the 22,000 seatMarcus Amphitheater, to the small-but-entertaining Cascio Interstate Music Groove Stage.  Most stages have bench seating or picnic tables, but those premium spots are hard to grab if you arrive just before a band takes to the stage.  One of the newest stages is the BMO Harris Pavilion.  Reviews of that stage have been positive, and the powers that be plan to hold concerts at that stage throughout the summer season. 

Jason Aldean Summerfest 2013 | Night Train Tour Comes To Milwaukee

Jason Aldean is coming back to Summerfest Milwaukee in 2013.  Man who hit it big with songs like Big Green Tractor, and My Kind of Party is riding high from the success of his 2010 album.  This season, he's promoting his latest effort, titled Night Train.  Will fans get a chance to see Kelly Clarkson on the Marcus stage when he sings Don't You Wanna' Stay?  She's not scheduled to appear at Summerfest, but it's not out of the question.  The official Aldean website lists Clarkson as a possible addition to select dates in 2013. 

Second Time For Aldean At Summerfest

Jason Aldean performed at Summerfest before, and the fans went wild.  As you usually see three country acts booked for the Marcus Amp., this announcement comes as no surprise.  There is one twist to this concert announcement.  Aldean is also playing at Wrigley Field on July 20.  Most times, the powers that be at Summerfest don't like to see their headline acts in the "neighborhood" just before or after their scheduled Marcus date.  I suppose that they made an exception in this case. Besides, the concert experience in Milwaukee will be much more enjoyable for so many fans.  Using a baseball stadium for a musical concert doesn't always work out for the better.  This is the first Summerfest 2013 announcement.  Expect many more after the first of the year.  Opening for Aldean will be Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett.   

 

Summerfest Final Weekend of 2012 | Park and Ride to Summerfest

This is the final weekend of Summerfest 2012.  Tonight the headline show is none other than Big Time Rush.  There will be lots of folks taking the Park and Ride option to Summerfest, and the weather is supposed to be hot once again.  Stay cool in the shade, or sit on the rocks along the lake.  Summerfest has misting stations, and lots of places to grab some water.  The key is to stay out of the sun if possible.

Tomorrow night, the headline act will be Aerosmith.  Opening for Aerosmith is Cheap Trick.  You could almost call Cheap Trick a local band, as they come from Rockford Illinois.  Both bands are sure to feed your need for classic rock. The final performer at the Marcus Amphitheater will be Neil Diamond.  At the time of this posting, you could still get pairs of tickets for Neil, if you don't mind sitting in the bleachers.  The breeze from the back is pretty nice most times.  Keep in mind that every purchase of a Marcus Amp. ticket also gets you into the festival grounds.  See you at the fest!

Summerfest 2012 Special Admission Prices and Discounts

There are many ways to get into Summerfest at a discounted price. Bring three non perishable food items to the Summerfest gates between noon and three on Sunday, and that's all you need to walk through the gates. The Hunger Task Force of Wisconsin will be very grateful for your contributions. The gates open at noon each day, and close at midnight.  
Summerfest 2012 has been rain free, and pretty darn warm.  With the temps pushing 90 during the day, the folks at Summerfest have decided that it's okay to bring personal water bottles onto the festival grounds. There will be misting stations set up at various locations, and I suggest that you take a break under the shade trees along the lake from time to time.

Tonight Lady Antebellum will perform at the Marcus Amphitheater.  Some of the more notable headline acts on the side stages include I'm Not A Pilot at the Cascio Stage, and none other than ZZ Top performing at the Harley Davidson Roadhouse. Park and Ride to Summerfest from many locations around Milwaukee.  It's safe and fast. See you at the fest!

Summerfest Welcomes Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson will perform at Summerfest on June 29.  This concert announcement fills the second to last open date for the Marcus Amphitheater spots.  2012 Summerfest fans will once again have three country shows to choose from, a couple of classic rock shows, a DJ extravaganza, and some odds and ends.  Yes, I'm saying a Kelly Clarkson show is either an "odd" or an "end".

Clarkson is best known for winning the first season of American Idol.  Undoubtedly, she is also the highest profile winner of a show that culls the proverbial wheat from the chaff, talent wise.  Thousands of singers take a stab at the casting call, but there can be only one.  She was the first.  Since then, she has sold millions of disks and singles. Factoid: Her single titled A Moment Like This took a "rocket ride" to number one.  That song holds the record for the largest jump in the charts to number one, ever.

Kelly Clarkson cut her musical teeth in Northeast Texas, performing in her high school plays, where she was told that her vocal talents were a gift from above.  Singing lessons helped too. In short order, she was out of high school and looking at a pair of recording contracts.  She turned down both, stating that the contracts would have shackled her musically. You can only be a teen star during your teen years, and this girl wanted more.  She's 30 years old now, and has many multi-platinum hits to her name. The name of her 2012 tour is "Stronger." I'll bet that she's right.  Opening for Clarkson is The Fray.  The Fray has enjoyed success for a decade now.  They have come a long way from their church gigs.      

Summerfest Headliners for 2012 | Eleven Stages of Great Music

It looks like another great lineup of Summerfest headliners for 2012. With the Marcus Amp. shows almost completely booked, we look to the "side" stages and their headliners that will fill the benches and tables. Who will be at the Roadhouse, the US Cellular, the Miller Lite Stage, etc? The following is just a sample of some of the bands that will be in Milwaukee during Summerfest.



Summerfest Grounds Stage Headline Acts

• Kellie Pickler
• The BoDeans
• Chevelle
• Cowboy Mouth
• Hanson
• Joe Walsh
• Tune-Yards
• Art of Dying
• Hollywood Undead
• Civil Twilight
• The Walkmen
• Chicago
• ZZ Top
• 311
• Burton Cummings

Be sure to check back for more bookings as spring turns to early summer. There are many local bands that will open the festival each day, and lets not forget the Cascio stage. With entertainment starting each day at noon, running until midnight, there is sure to be a band that you will love.

Rascal Flatts to Play Summerfest June 27

It will be none other than Rascal Flatts headlining Summerfest on June 27. It's been nearly thirteen years since the band signed on with Lyric Street. Now they can be found on the Big Machine record label. Rascal Flatts has made nine albums, with each one of them going platinum. They have eleven number one hit songs to their name, the latest coming in 2010. They are currently supporting their 2012 album titled Changed.

Rascal Flatts 2012 Changed Tour
The current 2012 Rascal Flatts tour starts with a show in Hartford on June 15. There are a few stand alone shows in April and May, but those are not part of the summer schedule. Prior to the Milwaukee show, the band will perform at the Farm Bureau Live at Virgina Beach event on June 24. They will play the Blossom Music Center in Cleveland, on June 29. The final Rascal Flatts show is booked for October 26 in Tampa. It looks like Eli Young will be backing up the band on most of tour dates. Tickets for Rascal Flatts at the Marcus Amp. go on sale May 14.
Rascal Flatts is one of those bands who found nearly instant success in the country music business. They performed just three songs in front of a record producer, and were signed on. Their first single made it all the way to the top ten on the country music charts. The other two singles from that same group of songs also found their way to the top of the charts. With the success of their first album, the pressure was on to make a second. The band went on to co-produce that second effort, and found themselves with a number one single titled "These Days." By 2008, the band had enough hit songs to make a greatest hits disk where they included a few holiday numbers.

Summerfest Grounds Undergo Controlled Burn Yesterday

The smoke could be seen drifting through the streets of downtown Milwaukee yesterday. Some thought that there was a fire in the Third Ward. It was a "controlled burn" of the grasses that surround the Marcus Amphitheater on the Summerfest grounds. The Milwaukee Fire Department had everything under control, as they burned off what had become a potential fire hazard. This unusually dry and warm winter left tall, dead grass along the hills that are built up around the Marcus Amp. With little relief in site, Summerfest management felt it would be wise to have the grasses burned off. Still, it left many people searching for the source of the smoke and ash that permeated the area.

Big Time Rush Summerfest Show July 6

The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC stole the hearts of teenage girls everywhere in the 1990s with their boyish good looks and catchy love songs. While the “boy band” phase slowly faded away by the turn of the new century, a new male group known as Big Time Rush has captured the attention of a new generation of young fans. The pop quartet will be a headlining act at the Summerfest 2012 event at the Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee on July 6.

The group, comprised of Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, and Carlos Pena, began receiving attention since their debut on a Nickelodeon-produced sitcom, named after the band, in late 2009. The premise of the show consists of four young hockey players from Minnesota that go to Hollywood to audition to be in a boy band. Their daily adventures and misadventures with producers, record labels, and each other, provide plenty of entertainment in the comedy/drama/musical sitcom.

The show’s premiere episode was the most watched live-action debut in Nickelodeon’s history. It was signed to a third season in 2011. Big Time Rush will see their first film, “Big Time Movie,” make its premiere on March 10 on Nickelodeon.

Their Gold-certified debut album, “BTR,” was released in October of 2010. It peaked at number one for Top Soundtracks, number three for Top Digital Albums, and number three on the Billboard 200. “BTR” is a mixture of musical styles, including R&B, dance, and rock.

“Elevate,” the group’s second album, was released in November of last year, and debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200. It has sold over 200,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan as of the beginning of March. Their “Big Time Summer Tour” begins in Columbus, Ohio, the day before the Summerfest show, and will continue in 50 states across the United States and Canada, and concludes in September.

Summerfest, dubbed “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” is an 11 day event that will feature hundreds of musical acts, including Iron Maiden, Neil Diamond, Lady Antebellum, and the Beach Boys. It will begin on June 27, and finish up on July 8.

Beach Boys Summerfest 2012

The Beach Boys will perform at Summerfest in 2012. July 1, is the date of the show, and the band will perform on the Marcus Amphitheater stage. 2012 marks the 45th year for the "Big Gig," and this Beach Boys reunion will be in celebration of their 50 years as a group. Summerfest Beach Boys tickets for the upcoming show will be in demand, as this band might not get a second chance to do this tour.
Beach Boys Discography

The Beach Boys made some of their best music in the 1960's. Starting with Surfin' Safari, and ending the decade with 20/20, the band penned some of their most amazing music. No, 20/20 didn't represent the best of their efforts, but still the song Time To Get Alone is a number that stands the test of time. Their second album, Surfin' USA, and it's title track are part of the fabric of America. We all longed to be in California, when we heard the opening notes to Surfer Girl.

The Beach Boys fourth album was titled Little Deuce Coupe. It seemed that the band had moved from surf boards to cars. Eight of the 12 songs on that album are "auto related." It starts with Little Deuce Coupe, moves on to Car Crazy Cutie, Cherry Cherry Coupe, and the final track on side one is titled 409. Brian Wilson produced most of those early albums, and the formula worked for the band. They stuck with that now famous sound until the album Pet Sounds came out. That album included violin, saxophone, clarinets, flutes, and more. Wilson stretched his talents to the limit, only to find that Pet Sounds didn't chart too well. Their next album Smiley Smile has one of the most popular Beach Boys songs on side B. Good Vibrations has remained a popular song for the past 45 years. It's fitting that a song that came out right around the time that Summerfest began. I found a great audio track of the making of Wouldn't it Be Nice.

Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper Summerfest 2012

It will be none other than Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Summerfest on July 4. Iron Maiden Summerfest tickets go on sale March 3. Their famous mascot "Eddie" is sure to be there on every t-shirt in the audience. Iron Maiden has been making music since the mid 1970's. Their first album was a self titled work with songs like Sanctuary, and Running Free. One of their most popular songs is titled Run to the Hills. That famous heavy metal gallop can be heard throughout that album, and pretty much all the others. In the past decade, Iron Maiden has produced four albums. Their 2010 effort, titled The Final Frontier reached the top of the metal charts in nearly thirty countries world wide.

Alice Cooper Marcus Amphitheater Opening Act

It's hard to call Alice Cooper an opening act for Iron Maiden. Both bands have such a long and popular history. Alice Cooper is known for their amazing theatrical stage show. Songs like I'm Eighteen, and School's Out, are timeless anthems. Alice Cooper will open the show, but that band is not to be missed.

Zac Brown Band Summerfest 2012 Show

Summerfest 2012 will feature the Zac Brown Band at the Marcus Amphitheater on July 5. Judging by the 8 million vews for their video Chicken Fried, I would say that's one of their more popular songs. Zac Brown Summerfest tickets go on sale later this month.

Zac Brown Goes Country

Mr. Brown was a classical guitarist at a very young age. He turned to pop cover songs in his teen years. At some point, he caught the country music bug, and it stuck. Around the age of 24, he put together the Zac Brown band. It was a three piece outfit that travelled extensively. After dabbling in the restaurant business in 2004, Brown sold off his interest and hit the road full time. In order to ramp up the country sound, Brown added strings and back up vocals for those now famous country harmonies. Fast forward to 2005, and the band added a second guitar player and vocalist. He had his first number one hit in 2008. A second top ranking song came in 2009. In that same year, the Zac Brown Band won an award for their Chicken Fried video. It's funny to read that a band that started in 2004, won "Best New Artist" six years later. Brown would also go on to win a Grammy for his song She's Walking Away.