Appleton. Chicago. Eau Claire. Madison. Milwaukee. Spring Green. The days when Summerfest was the only game in town are long gone. The hottest of the summer festival lineups may require a tank of gas, but you can also do very well for yourself right here in Madison.
Memorial Union Terrace
Wednesdays through Saturdays all summer, various times. wudmusic.com
The Terrace’s status as one of Madison’s iconic hangs could afford the Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee the chance to slack on bringing in talent, but this year’s schedule is again a winner. It features blogworthy indie rock (Mr Twin Sister, July 16; Heaters, July 23), hip-hop (IshDARR and Webster X, Aug. 6) and those in-between (Shamir, July 19; Yoni Wolf, July 24). And what would the Memorial Union Terrace summer schedule be without Natty Nation (July 31) and Pat McCurdy (Aug. 7)? The rain location for most shows is the Rathskeller.
High Noon Saloon Summer Patio Series
Friday, May 29; otherwise Thursdays, through Sept. 24, High Noon Saloon, 6 pm, high-noon.com
High Noon Saloon may have a great indoor sound system, but its weekly summer patio series offers a chance to experience music outdoors when the sun is still shining and there’s a cold brew in your hand. Scheduled performances are by local musicians Whitney Mann (June 25), Faux Fawn (July 16), Elks Teeth & Rabbits Feet (Sept. 3) and more. Arrive early for happy hour (4-6 pm), which features High Noon’s always excellent tap beer selection.
Shitty Barn Sessions
Most Wednesdays (some Tuesdays and Thursdays), June 10 through Oct. 7, Spring Green. shittybarnsessions.com
The Shitty Barn is arguably south central Wisconsin’s most unique venue, with no stage and ample opportunity for concertgoers to grill out before shows. It feels a bit like a terrific house show at your friend’s place, especially if you have friends who might keep livestock. But what really makes the Shitty Barn is its diverse lineup: This summer the venue will welcome Midwestern artists like Death Blues (June 10) and Haley Bonar (Aug. 5) as well as national acts like Strand of Oaks (July 28).
Marquette Waterfront Festival
June 13-14, Yahara Place Park, 11:30 am-9 pm. marquette-neighborhood.org
The family-friendly neighborhood festival features 14 artists from a variety of genres. Last year’s folk stage has been rechristened the Cottonwood Stage and boasts a Saturday schedule headlined by Minneapolis country act the Cactus Blossoms. At the main stage, Herencia Musical (Puerto Rico) and festival vets Le Vent du Nord (Quebec) bring music from around the globe on June 13, while Windy City rockers Maps & Atlases and Birds of Chicago supply rock ’n’ roll on June 14.
Sunset Music Series
Various Thursdays, June 18 through Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25, East Side Club, 6 pm. capitolviewpresents.com
With its relaxed vibe and dazzling view of the downtown Madison skyline, this lakeside lawn series was one of last year’s most promising newcomers. The seven-date Thursday schedule this summer is bookended by performances by Milwaukee rockers Trapper Schoepp (June 18) and GGOOLLDD (Sept. 24). The local highlight is the scheduled Aug. 27 premiere of Love High, a ’60s R&B throwback supergroup headed by Whitney Mann. Baraboo/Nashville band Daniel and the Lion will close the season with a Friday date on Sept. 25.
Summerfest
June 24-July 5 (closed June 29), Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee. summerfest.com
It’s a great place to people-watch while snacking on a Saz’s Sampler Platter, but the highlight of a trip to Milwaukee for Summerfest is the music. This year, massive acts such as Stevie Wonder, Florida Georgia Line and a lil’ band called the Rolling Stones will pack the Marcus Amphitheater, while 11 additional stages simultaneously host all-day lineups featuring performers as diverse as Kansas, Public Enemy, Brand New, Buddy Guy and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Legend has it that Summerfest also sells beer.
Live on King Street
Various Fridays, June 26 through Sept. 18, 6 pm. liveonkingstreet.com
This annual concert series from the folks at the Majestic Theatre are reliably excellent summer events. This year’s schedule expands from five to six dates and includes Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra (June 26), the New Pornographers (July 17), Cloud Cult (July 31), and Sonny Knight & the Lakers (Aug. 7).
Shake the Lake
Saturday, June 27, John Nolen Drive (Broom Street to Blair Street), 5 pm. shakethelake.org
Shake the Lake will spend its inaugural year filling Rhythm and Boom’s big shoes, as this new mid-summer festival will occupy the same iconic place at and around downtown Madison’s Monona Terrace. The family-friendly event is free; fireworks (at 10 pm) are preceded by performances from Charles Bradley, Shovels & Rope, the UW Marching Band and the Mad Rollin’ Dolls roller derby. For $15, you can shake a leg at the Monona Terrace rooftop party (6 pm).
Eaux Claires
July 17-18, Foster Farm, Eau Claire. eauxclaires.com
Miss the golden days when no one knew how to say “Bon Iver”? For anyone sick of seeing the same names on festival lineups all summer, Eaux Claires (pronounced “Eau Claire,” as in the city where it’s located) looks to give festival-goers a unique experience. Co-curated by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and the National’s Aaron Dessner, this two-day event also offers a chance to stay in the dorms that inspired Bon Iver’s “Towers.” The eclectic lineup of 40-plus acts includes Sufjan Stevens, Indigo Girls and, of course, Bon Iver and the National.
Pitchfork Music Festival
July 17-19, Union Park, Chicago. pitchforkmusicfestival.com
An outstanding counterpoint to an increasingly overblown Chicago festival that rhymes with Shmollapalooza, Pitchfork consistently curates an appealing lineup and overall festival experience. Keys to its sustained success could be its small size (three manageable stages in a 13.5-acre park), its relatively affordable food and drink, and its emphasis on hosting impressive record, poster and craft fairs. Genres represented include rock, electronic, folk and rap, the subgenres of which many festival attendees would be eager to discuss with you at length. Wilco, Chance the Rapper and Sleater-Kinney headline.
Mile of Music
Aug. 6-9, multiple venues, Appleton. mileofmusic.com
There’s no better place to catch Wisconsin and Minnesota acts than this four-day extravaganza, which functions like a Midwestern SXSW. More than 200 artists will be showcased at over 60 venues along 5,280 feet of Appleton’s downtown streets. This year’s Mile should be the biggest and strongest yet, thanks to performances by J.E. Sunde, Charlie Parr, Water Liars, Simon Balto, Vic & Gab, Anna Vogelzang, the festival’s co-founder Cory Chisel and a couple of hundred others.
