The Squeaky Curd is prepping for Summerfest 2017 by previewing a few hand-selected musical acts our readers should not miss. If you’d rather let your ears do the choosing, follow along with our curated Youtube Playlist, found right here.
It’s here. It’s finally here. Summerfest 2017 starts on Wednesday! Our ongoing preview of which acts to see comes to a close today (Days 1-3, Days 4-6, Days 7-9), and we’re ready for each and every one of them to rock our ears right off. Boogie shoes, engaged:
Day 10: Saturday, July 8
You could get some cake by the lake (an even better song name, if you ask me) with DNCE, or you could stuff your ear-holes with these guys:
Brett Newski (6:30 PM @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage)
While Milwaukee musicians are making a name for themselves and our city touring the region and country, local boy Brett Newski has spent the majority of his career showing the corners of the globe his brand of Milwaukee punk-rock folk. Catch him and his darkly funny, always honest live show before he jets off again.
Trapper Schoepp (8:00 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
With youthful, melodic indie-rock that’s as catchy as his name, each new song you hear of Trapper Schoepp‘s is going to be put on repeat until the next one hits. Earworms abound.
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (10:00 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
Andrew McMahon has been making hits for as long as I’ve been listening to music; starting with Something Corporate, moving to Jack’s Mannequin, and now he’s In the Wilderness. He may be headlining the Uline stage this night, but he’s still one of the most underrated and overlooked talents at the fest each time he comes.
Day 11: Sunday, July 9
The last day?! Noooooo! Luckily The Shins will be in town, and of course these bands too:
Walk Off The Earth (10:00 PM @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage)
The best thing to come out of Canada since Colin Mochrie, Walk Off The Earth is a 5-piece band of non-stop energy, clever instrument changes, and jump-along songs. The first time I saw them live they instantly became one of my all-time favorite bands.
The Spinners (9:30 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
Motown’s The Spinners may have replaced a few members over their decades of existence, but this high energy R&B classic act has not diminished in the slightest with age. You wanna dance on closing night? Be here.
Mondo Cozmo (8:30 PM @ BMO Harris Pavilion)
I’d never heard of Mondo Cozmo until doing research on the final day’s acts, but I’ll likely start singing his songs everywhere I go. His powerful country/rock ballads are a perfect way to end out Summerfest’s 2017 run.
We will be seeing you all later this week at The World’s Largest Music Festival. Look for us wearing our suhhwwwhheeett media passes:
All photos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.
Free high-fives to all music lovers.