The Squeaky Curd is prepping for Summerfest 2018 by previewing a few hand-selected musical acts our readers should not miss. For the day by day recommendation breakdowns, make sure to check back here each Tuesday of June leading up until the festival on the 27th. And follow along with our curated Youtube Playlist, found right here.
Summerfest is Milwaukee’s summer. The World’s Largest Music Festival lasts only 11 days, but its effects on our city are felt throughout the year: still trying to get the buzz out of your ears in the fall, longing for its warm return in the winter, and anticipating (and then debating) the lineup reveal in the spring. Here we are, less than a month away from its glorious June 27th return for the 2018 summer, and I can’t wipe this big red smile off my face.
While The Squeaky Curd staff will only be attending 4 of the 11 nights this year (unlike our glorious all-11-day music expedition some years back), we’re going to be previewing each night of the festival with acts, both big and small, that we personally recommend to our readers.
Day 1: Wednesday, June 27
Five years ago Imagine Dragons almost shut down Summerfest with its massive free-stage crowd. This year, we put them on the American Family Insurance Amphitheater stage instead. But the free stages should still draw with these opening-day acts:
Lucky Boys Confusion (8:00 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
Sixteen-year-old me is geeking out that I’ve got a chance to join the LBC mosh-pit this year, even if its been 20-years since the Chicago-based punk/reggae Lucky Boys started making music, and even though it’ll be a Wednesday night. Their new album, long-awaited, is good, but expect to hear your street-fighting favorites too.
Caroline Rose (5:30 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
Caroline Rose is a magician, wrapping scathing commentaries on our current culture in catchy hipster ditties and hiding it all behind her unique persona. Come for the show, and stay for the undoubtedly good music that drives her whole project.
The All-American Rejects (10:00 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
If you try to tell me that there is a better music video from the 00s than Move Along by The All-American Rejects, a teenage me will go a little emo-punk on you. Their hit songs defined my Millenial generation, and as we grew up, we never lost a place in our hearts for some All-American angst.
Day 2: Thursday, June 28
Get ready for a slew of 90s-00s one-hit-wonders of the punk/rock variety with P.O.D., LIT, Alien Ant Farm, but don’t miss their co-performers that night:
The Wallflowers (9:45 PM @ BMO Harris Pavilion)
Though some might lump them in as two-hit-wonders from the 90s, that’s a gross understatement: The Wallflowers, fronted by Jakob Dylan (son of Bob Dylan), have been on and off-again active for decades. Their newer music is groovier, but the lyrics are as poetic as ever.
Telethon (4:15 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
Milwaukee’s own Telethon is a garage-punk oddity, recently putting out a 30-track free rock opera for your listening pleasure. Graduating to the Summerfest stage this year, expect to get your tube-socks rocked right off.
Sugarhill Gang (6:00 PM @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage)
The Sugarhill Gang essentially invented mainstream rap, which is not hyperbole. Every other rap artist showing up at Summerfest today is because of these cool MCs, so show up and pay your respects. Thursday night ain’t an excuse to miss it: get a hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.
Day 3: Friday, June 29
I don’t know what a Halsey, a Logic, or a NF is, but skip the Amphitheater and head to the free stages for these folks (besides the underrated Plain White T’s):
Sunflower Bean (6:45 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
The radio has already left my generation behind, but if Sunflower Bean is what those odd little Gen Z kids are listening to, I can get behind it. A little trippy, a little melodramatic, but catchy and tight.
The O’My’s (6:00 PM @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage)
Big names like Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid don’t just jump on-board any hometown artist’s tracks, but the deep-groove, soulful The O’My’s are as talented as the many collaborators they’ve attracting. Prepare to get your body moved by the beat. It could get sweaty.
Jade Jackson (8:00 PM @ Harley-Davidson Roadhouse)
Ms. Jade Jackson can’t be pigeonholed: from obvious Johnny Cash tendencies to The Cranberries and even a country tinge on our local Devil Met Contention, this full-throated crooner will be adding some new fans to her growing base this Friday night.
Of course, don’t miss David Seebach’s Wonderful World of Magic while you’re there these days as well. We’ll be back next week with a preview for Days 4-6.