July 03, 2006

Summerfest Day 5

Today, 07.03 is the one day I least recommend going to Summerfest. Tonight, is when U.S. Bank will be sponsoring Milwaukee's Independence Day fireworks display. (They let the suburbs shoot theirs off tomorrow night.) Upwards of 500,000 people will be along the lakeshore to catch the brilliant explosions; many of them will be at Summerfest. I don't mean to scare you off. If you can tolerate the crowds there are some good acts hitting the stages:

• Mary J. Blige with opening act Ne-Yo will grace the Marcus Amphitheater at 8:00. Expect her to do her version of U2's "One."

• Beatallica plays at the Mountain Dew Rock Stage at 6:30. They're a twisted, yet very cool mash-up of the Beatles and Metallica.

• If you want to laugh instead of groove to the music Lewis Black will be performing at 9:00 and 11:00 on the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage.

• Jam band fans should enjoy Rusted Root at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 10:00.

• Alice Cooper takes the stage at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 10:00.