The annual live music and junk food spectacle in Milwaukee that is Launchpad contest champion Alton Kelly won a gig there, too, and will help open up the festivities on Independence Day.
There's not a day of the Summerfest schedule without a Madison act taking the stage. The city will take its biggest bow on the final day of the festival, though, with a trio of local bands commandeering a single stage for the afternoon. This Sunday hurrah starts with a set by 2008 MAMAs winners The Rowdy Prairie Dogs, followed by longtime favorites The Gomers and capped by a performance from the acclaimed Blueheels. It's a veritable Madtown all-star show.
And, as was the case last year, the Madison hard rock radio station WJJO is cosponsoring the Zippo Rock Stage with Miller Lite and the active rock station WIIL in Kenosha.
A list of current (and a couple of former) Madison-based bands performing at Summerfest 2008 follows:
- June 26:
- June 28:
- (Children's Hosp. of Wis. and Northwestern Mut. Children's Theater at 3:15 p.m.)
- The Box Social (U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 4:15 p.m.)
- (Miller Lite Oasis at 8:30 p.m.)
- June 29:
- June 30:
- Reason for Leaving (Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 12 p.m.)
- (Zippo Rock Stage at 3 p.m.)
- July 2:
- July 4:
- Alton Kelly (M&I Classic Rock Stage at 12 p.m.)
- Time Since Western (Cascio Interstate Music Groove Garage at 4:15 p.m.)
- (Children's Hosp. of Wis. and Northwestern Mut. Children's Theater at 5:45 p.m.)
- July 5:
- (Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage & Pavilion at 12 p.m.)
- The Gomers (Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage & Pavilion at 2 p.m.)
- Blueheels (Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage & Pavilion at 5 p.m.)
Of course, these bands with Madison connections barely scratch the surface of the offerings at Summerfest this summer, including the numerous major touring acts making their only Wisconsin stop of the year. Be sure to plan ahead.
