Being home to one of the world’s largest music festivals is hardly all that Wisconsin has to offer.
Yes, there’s Summerfest, which in its 56th year will again welcome 600 artists to the Milwaukee lakefront. But Wisconsin has scores of country festivals, rock festivals, hip-hop festivals, free festivals and a number of novel festivals — all of which are booking top-tier acts.
Which Dairy State music festival fits you best? We’ve gone through the lineups of all of the major ones from June through August and determined these are the top five for 2024.
More:When and where the Milwaukee area’s summer festivals and fairs are happening in 2024
More:From Jelly Roll to Noah Kahan, 15 top concerts to see in Milwaukee this summer
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On a per-capita basis, it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Wisconsin is the country music festival capital of the country. Case in point: When the Academy of Country Music Awards issued its first festival of the year award in 2014, the recipient was Country Thunder in Twin Lakes. And while purists may scoff at the inclusion of Nickelback at this year’s edition, there’s no denying that of all of the country festivals across the state this year, Country Thunder again has the strongest headliner lineup.
Lineup highlights: Eric Church is among country music’s most electric live performers, and with Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman also headlining, Country Thunder boasts two of Music Row’s most exhilarating rising superstars.
When and where: July 18 to 21, 2305 Richmond Road, Twin Lakes
Price: $275 for weekend general-admission passes; $400 to $500 for reserved-seating or standing weekend passes; $650 to $700 for weekend platinum passes (include access to private lounge, viewing area, bathrooms and bar). Camping, parking and port-a-potty rentals also are available. Passes and more information at countrythunder.com/wi.
Other Wisconsin country and folk festivals
- Blue Ox Music Festival, Eau Claire, June 27 to 29. Top acts: Pert Near Sandstone, Band of Horses, Sierra Ferrell.
- Country Fest, Cadott, June 27 to 29. Top acts: Jake Owen, Keith Urban, Eric Church.
- Country Boom, July 11 to 13, La Crosse. Top acts: Nelly, Riley Green, Chase Rice.
- Hodag Country Festival, July 11 to 14, Rhinelander. Top acts: Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman, Chris Young, Chris Janson.
- Country Jam USA, July 18 to 20, Eau Claire. Top acts: Hardy, Brothers Osborne, Thomas Rhett.
- Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, July 25 to 28, Milwaukee. Top country acts: Jelly Roll, Hardy.
- County Line Country Fest, Aug. 1 to 3, Prairie Du Chien. Top acts: Randy Houser, Tyler Hubbard, Parker McCollum.
- Neon Nights, Aug. 2 to 3, Elkhorn. Top acts: Wyonna Judd, Trace Adkins.
- Ashley for the Arts, Aug. 8 to 10, Arcadia. Top country acts: Old Dominion, Locash.
- XRoads41, Aug. 8 to 10, Oshkosh. Top acts: Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, Journey.
- Country in the Burg, Aug. 23 to 24, Cedarburg. Top acts: Martina McBride, Dylan Scott.
Top rock or pop-punk festival: Rock Fest
It’s been five years since Warped Tour made its last cross-country run, but Wisconsin is seeing multiple festivals inspired by Warped spring up in its wake. But we’ve got to push those emo and pop-punk fests aside to declare Rock Fest the best Wisconsin rock festival for 2024. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Rock Fest bills itself as the largest camping and rock event in the country, and the “last independently run rock festival in the U.S.” It’s certainly developed a lot of goodwill and support over the years, from fans and bands alike, evident in a 70-plus-act lineup for 2024 loaded with the heaviest of hitters.
Lineup highlights: Headliners include Jelly Roll, a bona fide phenomenon most commonly considered country, but with plenty of rock and rap in his sound. Oscar-winner Jared Leto is bringing Thirty Seconds to Mars to the fest, and rock favorites Shinedown also will headline. Other highlights include Chevelle, hailing from just over the Wisconsin border in Grayslake, Illinois; 311, fronted by Wisconsin native Nick Hexum; and a bonus night with Vince Neil handling headliner duties.
When and where: July 17 to 20, 24447 County Highway S, Cadott.
Price: Currently $109 for single-day general admission, $169 for full festival general admission. Pit passes, camping passes, parking and more also available at rock-fest.com.
Other Wisconsin rock and pop-punk festivals
- Not Just a Phase Fest, June 23, Franklin. Top acts: The Used, Story of the Year, Senses Fail.
- Sad Summer Festival, July 19, Milwaukee. Top acts: Mayday Parade, The Maine.
- Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, July 25 to 28, Milwaukee. Top acts: Jelly Roll, Hardy, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- Ashley for the Arts, Aug. 8 to 10, Arcadia. Top rock acts: Journey, Bret Michaels, The Script.
- People Fest ,Aug. 8 to 10, Yuba. Top acts: Lettuce, Galactic, Keller Williams, Cloud Cult.
- Reverb, Day 2 Aug. 17, Eau Claire. Top acts: Yellowcard, Story of the Year.
Top hip-hop and R&B festival: Wiscansin Fest
It’s been great seeing the hip-hop representation on the Wisconsin festival front grow in recent years, but Wiscansin Fest, celebrating its third year, continues to stand above the competition for one reason: the personal curation of the fest’s regular headliner, T-Pain. The Florida rapper and singer’s Wisconsin connection is a bit tangential, but also quite entertaining — in 2008, he made “mansion” rhyme with “Wiscansin” in one of his biggest hits, “Can’t Believe It,” turning that quirky lyrical choice into a merch line, a counterfeit online university and a Wisconsin-based — er, Wiscansin-based — festival. But what makes Wiscansin Fest so special is T-Pain’s ability to rope in some very talented friends each year, making it an experience you can’t have anywhere else.
Lineup highlights: T-Pain has recruited past collaborator Akon, so expect an on-stage pairing, plus Dillon Francis, Pink Sweat$, Soulja Boy, LaRussell, Ying Yang Twins, Waka Flocka Flame, Yelawolf and rising local rapper Myaap (alongside a recurring appearance from Milwaukee’s Djay Mando).
When and where: 2 p.m. June 8, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee.
Price: Sold out. Resale tickets start at $216 at seatgeek.com.
Other Wisconsin hip-hop and R&B festivals
Checking out a music festival typically requires forking over a lot of cash — but not for Mile of Music. Celebrating its 11th anniversary, this one-of-a-kind event assembles 200 artists to perform free sets at 40 different venues across a mile-long stretch of Appleton for four days.
Lineup highlights: Just one-fourth of the Mile of Music 2024 artists have been announced as of deadline, but per tradition there’s plenty of acts coming in from all corners of the country to perform alongside home state talent. Some standouts among the Wisconsin-based crop so far: Latin country artist Alyssia Dominguez, soulful Ugandan-born singer-songwriter Ben Mulwana, dance act Lauryl Sulfate + Her Ladies of Leisure, seasoned hip-hop artist Kia Rap Princess, folk rocker Chris Haise and garage rockers Diet Lite.
When and where: Aug. 1-4, Appleton.
Price: While you don’t have to pay a penny to see most of the performers, there are special “Music-Maker” passes, priced at $90 to $450, that include a variety of perks, including access to some exclusive shows. More information and passes available for purchase at mileofmusic.com.
Best Wisconsin music festival of 2024: Summerfest
Summerfest will always remain the ultimate Wisconsin music festival — and one of the best in the world — because there are few like it in the world, with an anything-goes lineup designed to offer something for everyone. This year, there’s more meaning behind that mission statement, with more Spanish-speaking headliners than ever in its 56-year history, and more showcases for a original Milwaukee hip-hop scene that’s making national waves. Plus there are 14 ways to get in for free, and general-admission tickets (excluding American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows and reserved seats at a couple other stages) are among the cheapest you’re going to find for a festival of this scale.
Lineup highlights: SZA, Maroon 5, Tyler Childers, Lil Uzi Vert, Motley Crue, Keith Urban, Ivan Cornejo, Britney Howard, Muna, Goo Goo Dolls, Bryson Tiller, REO Speedwagon — and those are just some of the headliners playing just two of the stages: the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and BMO Pavilion.
When and where: June 20 to 22, June 27 to 29, July 4 to 6, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
Prices: $28 for general-admission one-day tickets at the box office and summerfest.com. Daily general admission free for children younger than 2, $6 for children ages 3 to 10, $20 for seniors 62 and older, at the box office only. Three-day general-admission passes for $62, nine-day general-admission passes for $130.
General-admission tickets do not include access to American Family Insurance Amphitheater concerts, or reserved seats at the BMO Pavilion for headliner concerts. Ticket prices vary for amphitheater and pavilion shows and include Summerfest general admission on the date of the concert. There also are “Level Up” VIP tickets available for headliners at Miller Lite Oasis for $100 that include general admission on the date of a concert, two select beverages, and access to an elevated viewing platform with a private bar and restrooms. Pit passes are also available for headliners at the Generac Power Stage (price range $80 to $110) that includes Summerfest general admission on the date of a concert, and benefits the Veterans Community Project.
All of these tickets are also available through Summerfest’s website.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
