The Squeaky Curd is prepping for Summerfest 2019 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 Monday of June leading up until the festival on the 26th. And follow along with our curated Youtube Playlist, found right here.
It’s here. It’s finally here. Summerfest 2019 starts on Wednesday! Our ongoing preview of which acts to see comes to a close today (Days 1-3, Days 4-5, Days 6-8), and we’re ready for each and every one of them to rock our ears right off. Boogie shoes, engaged:
Day 9: Friday, July 5
Boomers at The Spinners, Gen X at Dashboard Confessional, Millennials at The Head And The Heart, and Tide-Pod Eaters at Daya: there’s something for everyone on Friday. Regardless of generation, don’t miss these side-stagers:
Holy Pinto (3:00 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
A British transplant, putting down roots in lil’ol’ Milwaukee, Holy Pinto is going to be the biggest 3PM steal of a show this Summerfest season. Expect approachable indie rock, sprinkled with acoustic Americana delivered in an addicting accent.
Jordana Talsky (4:15 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
Looping is not just for fruity breakfast cereals anymore; more and more musicians are starting to use it in their live shows. But Jordana Talsky takes the art of looping to a whole new level, essentially becoming a one-woman acapella act. I can’t stop putting her jazzy “Run” on…well…loop.
MAX (8:00 PM @ Uline Warehouse Stage)
Maybe I’m late to the game here, but this MAX is my new jam. Top 40-ready beats and hooks, a to-die-for falsetto, and the right amount of fun a young, talented kid should be having with his music. I’m sure that’ll bleed into the live act.
Day 10: Saturday, July 6
People are obsessed with young Billie Eilish, but she might be joined on the Amp next year by these folks:
Lauryl Sulfate and her Ladies of Leisure (4:30 PM @ Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden Stage)
The genre “dance-pop” was custom-built for Summerfest side stages. Unless you’re an avid Milwaukee music scene fan, you’ve probably never heard of LSLOL: no matter, pop into this afternoon show at the Klement’s beer garden and have yourself a time.
Shim (8:00 PM @ Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard)
Sometimes you just need some good old fashioned, guitar-driven rock’n’roll. Shim, formerly of Sick Puppies, is going to deliver the goods, with a side of snark.
Sa-Roc (6:00 PM @ Miller Lite Oasis Stage)
Move over Kendrick Lamar, Sa-Roc’s taking over with her sharply-delivered rhymes. But this real MC is bringing real world problems to the surface, in your face ready or not.
Day 11: Sunday, July 7
The last day of Summerfest is an embarrassment of riches. I’ll be at Jason Mraz, and will see him for forever. We highly recommend as well, forever and ever, Johnnyswim and Dispatch. But we’ll also be showing up early for these acts:
Yam Haus (5:30 PM @ Johnson Controls World Stage)
These four young Minnesotans make nothing but feel-good pop music, and seem to genuinely enjoy doing it. Sometimes you just need to smile and dance, and Yam Haus is there to help you do it.
Driftwood (6:00 PM @ U.S. Cellular Connection Stage)
Driftwood’s been around for a bit, but their Americana rock sound is showing up now polished and ready to convert casual listeners into hard-feeling fans.
Your Smith (8:00 PM @ BMO Harris Pavilion)
Another MN-native, Your Smith’s take on the Minneapolis sound can’t be further categorized. Her groovy 70’s vibes are my favorite, but there’s no denying the intimacy of some of her other indie tracks.
We will be seeing you all later this week at The World’s Largest Music Festival. Look for us wearing our suhhwwwhheeett media passes:
Free high-fives to all music lovers.