Milwaukee Summerfest Photos Party Guide World 's Largest Music Festival PubClub.com!

Milwaukee Summerfest Photos Party Guide World's Largest Music Festival

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Photos, tips and article of the party scene, bands, music and atmosphere from the party masters at PubClub.com.

Welcome to the World's Biggest Music Festival!
Photos, Tips and Party Guide

Big stages and big bands highlight the annual Summerfest in Milwaukee.

• Summerfest '08, June 26-July 6.

– Summerfest 07 Report –

By Chris Oberst

Milwaukee's annual Summerfest is celebrating it's 40th year with big music, bright fireworks, great food, and cold beer.

The cool weather on opening night did not deter the crowds from dancing on the picnic tables to Eddie Butts – a local favorite and crowd hit, REO, Violent Femmes, Phil Vassar, and Puddle of Mudd. Several stages with great acts for the entire 10 days keep the crowds coming in.

REO opened the festival at the M&I Bank Classic Rock Stage to an enthusiastic crowd of all ages. Heart rocked the Miller Lite stage with crowd favorites like Barracuda! Their high energy show had the crowd on their feet and Ann Willson's voice is as big as ever.

If you don't come to Summerfest for the music (and why wouldn't you), come for the food, drink, and people. A large variety of ethnic food is available on the grounds including Greek, Mexican, Italian, Thai, and good old Wisconsin Bratwurst. Miller, Leinenkugels, and local Waterstreet Brewery are serving up bottles and glasses of the cold frothy stuff. But if beer is not your thing, you can enjoy wine coolers or martinis from Jojo's Martini Lounge.

The people are what make Summerfest what it is and what it has been for 40 years – America's best music festival. All ages, shapes, sizes and attitudes mix to enjoy Milwaukee's lakefront music festival

By Luau Larry, Special Correspondent

Music and Milwaukee may not seem likely to go together – after all, it's hardly the heart of rock 'n roll – but for 11 days in June and July it takes center stage.

Summerfest in Milwaukee is an annual event on its lakefront. Known locally as the Big Gig, there are bands day and night on 11 stages, anchored by the 23,000-seat Marcus Amphitheater. With seemingly endless live music, crowds enjoying the scene of being in a festive atmosphere and socializing in beer gardens, it is recognized as The World's Largest Music Festival.

Summerfest, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007, attracts more than one million people each year.

Summerfest Party Tips

• Take the shuttles to the event ($6 R/T). There are 11 park-and-ride lots around town. Out of town visitors should stay in a downtown hotel; it's within walking distance of the festival.
• Ticket prices: $15 aafter 4 on weekends, $8 noon-4 weekdays.
• Cash and credit cards acccepted on the grounds.
• No backpacks, beach/folding chairs.
• Take sunscreen and a long-sleeve shirt or jacket. While it's summer, a sudden cool wind can blow in off the lake at night.
• For more infomation, lineups and advance ticket sales, visit the Summerfest web site.

The bands are a mix of classic rock, alternate rock, even country. Pretty much evrything but hip-hop and rap. Hey, play to your audience, right?

For example, 2006 lineup included Tom Petty; Elvis Costeelo with Allan Toussant; Macia Ball, REO Speedwagon; The Tragically Hip the Go-Gos; Kenny Chesney; Alan Jackson; Hank Williams, Jr.; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Styx, Train; Cheap Trick; Pink; Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows.

And while it's the music that brings in the crowds, it's the open-air socializing that keeps them coming back year after year. It is by far the city's largest singles scene. And since Milwaukee is just two hours from Chicago, an hour from Madison and easily accessable from places like Indiana and Michigan, the pool of partiers expands far beyond the host city's limits. Plus, the second week is wrapped around the Fourth of July, making it a holiday destination for many.

There are more than 45 food and beverage locations at Summerfest. Beers are still a reasonable $4.50 and there is never a wait for a cold one because there are beer tents everywhere.

PubClub Summerfest Correspondent Luau Larry's favorite beer tent is the Lienie Lodge, his favorite stage is the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage and Pavilion, located between the Leinie Lodge and the Sprecher brewery and catering to mostly blues/zydeco/rock.

There's also the Sprecker Brewery tent and for cocktail connoisseurs, there's JoJo's Martini Lounge.

To party properly, arrive by 6 p.m., have some food and lots of beers. Then go to the various stages and enjoy the shows.

Admission is $8 weekdays before 8 p.m., and $15 on weekends and after 8 pm.