June 29, 2003

Summerfest Day 5 Preview

Through four days attendance is less than 10% down from last year. That's not bad considering the bad weather Friday and Saturday. Fewer people also gives those that did come some much-needed breathing room. 90-100 thousand people crammed into Maier Festival Park can make for a less-than-great fest experience. Now, on to the preview for Monday.

At the Marcus Amphetheater, the Foo Fighters will play power pop from their latest One by One. Their current single "Times Like These" has a reference to Husker Du's New Day Rising. That's very cool! Opening for them will be the very, very good Pete Yorn who didn't suffer a sophomore jinx with his new album Day I Forgot.

The American Fleadh Festival takes part in the world's largest outdoor music festival. This is a traveling group of Irish musicians, dancers, and writers. Irish pub songs, dancing better than Riverdance, and prose and verse give the fest a real international flavor. Bands like Hothouse Flowers and the Saw Doctors will be performing at the Piggly Wiggly MusicMarket. Jim Schwab reviewed the Fleadh for Blogcritics.

The Love Monkeys are one of Milwaukee's favorite bands. They will be performing two sets at the Miller Lite Oasis at 8:45 and 10:45.

For oldies fans, Joe Cocker is at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse and the Moody Blues are at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. Both perform at 10:00.

Everyone will PARTY HARD with Andrew W.K. at the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 10:00. I just hope he doesn't get all bloody like he did on the cover of his album.

If any of you are going to Summerfest or have already been there this year, I want to hear from you. Does the park feel as crowded as it has in the past few years? What do you think about the line-ups? Miss the midway? Leave a comment or send me an e-mail.