Summerfest isn’t canceled (for now)
25 headliners we predict will play
The coronavirus pandemic wiped out several big spring concerts in Milwaukee Thursday — Kenny Chesney with Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Michael Bublé and more. And before that, it led to the cancellation or postponement of SXSW, Coachella and other major music festivals.
But for now, Summerfest is still a go, and still expected to bring some 800 bands and 700,000-plus fans to the Milwaukee lakefront June 24 to 28 and June 30 to July 5.
“The safety of our fans, employees, partners, and artists is our highest priority and we will do everything possible to ensure a safe operating environment at Henry Maier Festival Park,” officials with Summerfest’s parent company, Milwaukee World Festival Inc., said in a statement Thursday. “Information provided by public officials, healthcare professionals, and industry experts will guide our decisions in the coming months.”
“That said, any decision to alter Summerfest 2020 is a future decision,” the statement continued. “At the current time, we are moving forward with Summerfest 2020 as planned and look forward to welcoming our fans on June 24.”
These are hardly typical times, but typically Summerfest announces its full headliner lineup between late March and late April.
The festival has already announced nine shows for the 23,000-capacity American Family Insurance Amphitheater — reopening for the festival’s opening night, June 24, with Justin Bieber. Seven shows for the festival’s 5,000seat BMO Harris Pavilion have also been revealed, and Rolling Stone reported that Modern English will play Summerfest June 25 as part of the group’s 40th anniversary tour.
But beyond the 32 acts confirmed to play Summerfest, what other big names will play the country’s largest music festival this year?
We took a look at known tour routing so far to make these 25 predictions.
Hayley Williams
The Paramore frontwoman is touring behind her forthcoming debut solo album “Petal for Armor” this summer — a tour that includes open dates on June 25 and 28, around her Chicago and Detroit stops.
Steely Dan
In past years, Summerfest’s talent team has grabbed co-headlining amphitheater tours and split acts up at different stages. Steely Dan’s summer shed tour has open dates on June 25 and 27, around a Chicago-area show.
Steve Winwood
Along with Donald Fagen’s group, his summer co-headliner and fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Winwood could also be booked for a Summerfest stage on June 25 or 27.
Major Lazer
The Electric Forest festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Rothbury, Mich., during Summerfest’s first weekend. It’s booked lots of big EDM acts, including past Big Gig headliners Flume, Diplo, and Louis The Child — but Major Lazer hasn’t played Summerfest before
and would be a great get.
Turkuaz with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew
There are several Electric Forest acts lower on the lineup poster that could pop up at Summerfest. But we want to highlight funk band Turkuaz, which is playing Talking Heads’ “Remain in Light” in its entirety for its 40th anniversary with Heads’ touring guitarist Belew and band co-founder Harrison, who would have a chance to perform in his native Milwaukee.
Lindsey Stirling
The creative violinist could swing by Summerfest right before or after a Minneapolis show June 25 (before she, too, heads to Electric Forest).
Jeezy
The hip-hop veteran has a one-off at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit June 27, so he could easily pick up a Summerfest date around that window. T.I. is opening for Jeezy at that Detroit show — but he played Summerfest last year, and only a handful of headliners are booked in consecutive years.
The Roots
But one of those headliners that could come back for the second year in a row is the Roots. For practically a decade, the “Tonight Show” house band has been one of Summerfest’s go-to hiphop bookings, and the group is playing Ravinia in Highland Park, Ill., June 27.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Another Summerfest favorite, Trombone Shorty is opening for the Roots at Ravinia and will likely stop at the Milwaukee festival again this year.
Indigo Girls
The duo is touring this summer behind a new album “Look Long,” playing Ravinia June 26, with an open schedule around that date.
Ani DiFranco
The veteran singer-songwriter is coheadlining that Ravinia show with Indigo Girls, and also has an open schedule around the date.
King Crimson
The 52-year-old progressive-rock band has three days off on its summer tour before hitting Ravinia July 5.
John Fogerty
Fogerty’s already playing lots of Midwest shows around Milwaukee — Ravinia, July 1; Madison, July 7; Green Bay, July 8 — and has open dates in his schedule to add a Summerfest slot.
Toad The Wet Sprocket
Summerfest has already booked Sprocket’s summer tour mates Barenaked Ladies, so it’s probably going to give Sprocket a slot, too (and possibly the tour’s other ‘90s rock act, Gin Blossoms).
Lamb of God
It would be great for Megadeth to stop at Summerfest, following Dave Mustaine’s successful treatment for throat cancer that forced the band to cancel a Big Gig show last year. But Megadeth is headlining the Resch Center in Green Bay in October. To avoid affecting those ticket sales, it’s more likely the tour’s opener, Lamb of God, may make a Summerfest stop when they have a day off in the Midwest June 30 or July 4.
Julio Iglesias
Summerfest has long needed to have more Latin music, and in terms of routing, they have a perfect opportunity, with the legendary Iglesias celebrating his 50-year career with a special Chicago Theatre appearance June 30, and an open calendar around the engagement.
Louis Tomlinson
One of the other One Direction guys, Niall Horan, is actually coming to Maier Festival Park — after the festival, on Aug. 1. We’re thinking Tomlinson will, too; he’s wide open during most of Summerfest, and is in Detroit July 2 and Indianapolis July 6.
Pop Evil
The hard-rock band’s summer tour currently ends June 27 in Detroit — unless, of course, it adds a Summerfest show.
The Revivalists
The popular alt-rock band has a lone date in Indianapolis July 3, and no shows scheduled around it.
Runaway June
Summerfest has a robust country lineup each year, booking several acts that are in the state at Country Fest in Cadott and Country USA in Oshkosh during its window. Runaway June seems like a likely Summerfest booking, and a chance for Summerfest to bring an all-female act to what’s traditionally a male-heavy lineup.
Joss Stone
Stone played a rare Milwaukee show at Summerfest in 2017 — and may be back again this year, around her Detroit show July 3.
Cold War Kids
The indie-rock band is at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield on June 28, then Ribfest in Romeoville, Ill., July 5. So expect to see a Summerfest stop along the way.
Nelly
Nelly is performing his blockbuster album “Country Grammar” in its entirety at Bonnaroo this summer. Will he do it at Summerfest? He’s playing near Milwaukee, at Ribfest, July 4.
Fitz and the Tantrums
The soul-pop band really thrives in a festival setting, and on Summerfest’s stages. They’re also at Ribfest, July 5, so they’ll probably stop here that weekend.
REO Speedwagon
Bad news for local fans — the band’s post-Milwaukee Admirals concert March 14 was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But they could make it up at Summerfest.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on “TAP’d In” with Jordan Lee. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMSFM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.