A little known music fest featuring Country music

Country Fest? What's that? It's a well kept secret outside of Wisconsin, but...

"Country Fest fans wouldn’t be there if they weren’t excited about the entertainment, but the buzz this year isn’t even about an act that’s there. People are already talking about who’s coming next year.The crowd was told in a stage announcement Friday night that the Saturday night headliner for Country Fest 2008 would be Kenny Chesney." - Chippewa.com

Country Fest has gotten bigger each year. When I first heard about it, I blew it off as some BYO, stand in the hot sun, potential washout. I was dead wrong about Country Fest. It's big.

Speaking of Country, Toby Keith, not my favorite "musician", is playing The Marcus Amphitheater during the Summerfest run on July 8th. He will "perform" his mix of patriotic, pro-war, big stick music to what I would guess are like minded, pro-war fans. You have to wonder if Toby is feeling duped, just like all the other Americans who bought what Dick Cheney was selling. Sorry, this is a music blog, I'm getting way off track.

Summerfest fast approaching

Big Gig anyone? This is the time when employees start mulling over their work schedule. The wheeling and dealing begins. Throughout Milwaukee, people are trading vacation days in order to make that particular show. Where else can you see fifty-thousand faces in one spot? Where else can you hear multiple bands, choose your meals from various food vendors, and see all shapes and sizes of humans for a mere $15? Are you the guy who will start partying at noon before going down to see Roger Waters? Will you trade your day off so your co-worker/rabid country music fan can take the entire day to prepare for Toby Keith? Do you have to take your 15 year old nephew to Tool? Do you simply buy a few Summerfest tickets and go down to the Big Gig when the moment strikes you? Don't forget those guys who sit on the rocks by the lake shore. What are they smoking? The cops certainly know that routine after 40 years. In the early 90's I worked three blocks from Summerfest. My goal was to get on that freeway home before the traffic turned to gridlock. In the 80's I would hop on the Freeway flyer and hit the rock stage at least three times over the ten day festival. Whatever your flavor, style, or predilection, Summerfest changes the patterns and lives of many Milwaukeeans. See you there.

Summerfest 2007 Headliners

What Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater acts will you go see, and do you have your tickets yet? Will it be the teen-age girl attracting John Mayer, will it be Ludacris, will it be the old farts known as Styx, and the ever annoying Foreigner? For me, it would have to be Roger Waters, or Tool. Panic at the Disco is a total pass, no interest in that one at all. Perhaps my 15-year-old nephew would like that show. Toby Keith, the war whore is out. Bon Jovi is not my style, but that band has the dedicated fan base that will buy tickets. Any musician would love to have that many fans. The Fray with OK Go, is a lightweight in my opinion. Steely Dan would be one of those shows that would be ok if it were on a side stage, and the sun were still up and you had a huge pile of food in front of you. That would be a good warm-up show for the band you really want to see that night. I'll comment on the side-stages once they are fully booked.

WMM out.