Summerfest 2024 lineup: 25 artists we think (or hope) will headline the Milwaukee festival
Summerfest, one of America's largest and longest running music festivals, will bring around 800 acts to the Milwaukee lakefront in 2024.
We already know more than 20 of them. Kane Brown, Motley Crue, Tyler Childers, Keith Urban, AJR and Maroon 5 will headline the festival's largest stage, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Brittany Howard, The War and Treaty, Goo Goo Dolls, Muna, REO Speedwagon, Mt. Joy, Bryson Tiller and Ivan Cornejo have already been booked for the festival's BMO Pavilion.
And sometime this month, fest officials are expected to reveal around 100 other headliners for this year's edition, running June 20 to 22, June 27 to 29 and July 4 to 6.
Who can you expect to see? We took a look at known tour routing, tossed in some hopefuls, and came up with this list of 25 potential headliners.
More: From Nicki Minaj to Olivia Rodrigo to Luke Combs, 20 top spring 2024 concerts in Milwaukee
More: When and where the Milwaukee area's summer festivals and fairs are happening in 2024
Megan Thee Stallion
Summerfest still needs a major hip-hop show in the amphitheater, and our best guess is Megan Thee Stallion. She's already promised she's touring this summer on the heels of her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper "Hiss," and has already confirmed three other North American festival appearances.
SZA
We'll continue to hold out hope that the R&B superstar behind the second-most popular song on Spotify in MIlwaukee last year will finally make her way to town. Considering another arena tour leg has yet to be announced but some North American festival headlining appearances are happening this summer, Summerfest may be the best opportunity for this to happen.
Nelly
Even though Janet Jackson's "Together Again" tour is in Chicago June 19 and off the next night — the opening night of Summerfest — don't expect to see her at the Milwaukee fest. The amphitheater is the only fest stage she'd play, and Kane Brown will be there June 20. But we could see Jackson's tour-opener Nelly do a one-off Summerfest show that night.
Sublime
When Sublime's original rhythm section Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh announced they were reuniting with late singer-guitarist Bradley Nowell's son Jakob as their new frontman for a Coachella performance, they said they would play other festivals this summer. Given the popularity of Sublime With Rome at Summerfest over the years, the Big Gig could be one of those gigs.
Niall Horan
Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake are among the A-listers in the Midwest during Summerfest's window with nights off that align with available dates in the amphitheater. But the chance they'll come are almost nil. Niall Horan, on the other hand, could add a Summerfest date at the amphitheater on closing night July 6, before the former One Direction singer heads to St. Paul, Minnesota, the next night.
Boyz II Men
The Boyz are in Indianapolis June 21, with an open date the night before.
Hank Williams Jr.
The country veteran is doing a couple of weekend runs of shows in the Midwest during Summerfest's windows, with apparent availability on June 20 and June 27. Of the two, the latter is more likely, since he wouldn't be booked opposite Kane Brown.
Bonnie Raitt
Yes, Raitt was just in Milwaukee last October. But her Summerfest appearances are pretty regular, and she has an open date June 27 before playing Peoria, Illinois, the next night.
Pixies
Will Pixies finally make up for having to cancel a planned Summerfest appearance in 2021? The band has an open date on its summer tour with Modest Mouse and Cat Power on June 21, in between shows in Chicago and Madison.
Train
Like Pixies, Train has a Madison show in June, but the band played an acoustic set in Milwaukee last December. Still, Train's summer tour with REO Speedwagon (who already has announced a Summerfest show this year) starts July 8 in Somerset, so it's still possible Pat Monahan and company could pick up a Summerfest show on closing night.
Third Eye Blind
The band's pulled off from its summer tours for Summerfest shows in the past. And this year, there are open dates ahead of Midwest stops on June 27 and July 4.
KC and the Sunshine Band
The Sunshine Band's 50th anniversary tour includes a Detroit show June 28, with an opening the night before.
Whiskey Myers
The country rockers are the kind of band that would want to party on July 4, which is an open date on their tour ahead of a show in Rosemont, Illinois, on July 5.
Wyatt Flores
You'd think the up-and-coming country artist behind a recent single named "Milwaukee" would want to play Milwaukee. And since he's already playing an Indiana festival July 4th weekend, Summerfest seems likely.
Ashley McBryde
Summerfest is already sharing one headliner with Country Fest in Cadott June 27 weekend: Keith Urban. He won't be the only artist playing both festivals. It's doubtful another Country Fest headliner will be at Summerfest, but of the artists near the top of the lineup, our money's on Ashley McBryde making a Summerfest appearance June 27 or 28.
Trombone Shorty
The sounds of New Orleans seem to make it into the Summerfest lineup each year. This year, they could come from Trombone Shorty, who has several openings on his calendar during Summerfest.
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is on the same tour with Third Eye Blind, so the band also could get booked for Summerfest June 27 or July 4.
The Flaming Lips
The band brought its "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" commemorative tour to Milwaukee last year, but they're doing it again this summer, and have an open date June 27 after an Indianapolis show.
Big Boi
The hip-hop veteran has a show in Ohio June 20, so it's possible he could add a Summerfest show the next night.
Everclear
The '90s rockers has a one-off show in Indianapolis June 22, so it's likely they'll add a Summerfest date the day before.
Charles Wesley Godwin
The rising alt-country artist already has a Milwaukee show lined up this April, as an opener for Luke Combs at American Family Field. But he could get a Summerfest headlining slot June 28, the night after an Iowa gig.
Little Feat
The rock veterans are touring all over the Midwest during much of Summerfest's run, with an open date June 27 after a show in Kansas City.
The Church
Promotional art for the Australian rockers' tour indicates they're stopping in Milwaukee — but no venue is listed. Since the band is in Indianapolis June 27, Chicago June 28 and Minneapolis June 30, expect a Summerfest stop June 29.
Afghan Whigs
Afghan Whigs are also on that tour with the Church, so expect them to play Summerfest June 29 as well.
Something Corporate
Andrew McMahon recently announced dates for his first tour in 20 years with his old band. Given his history with the festival — he was even a judge at a Summerfest battle of the bands contest — don't be surprised if Something Corporate adds a Summerfest show for the second or third weekend.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summerfest 2024: 25 artists we think/hope will headline Milwaukee fest
