5 Summerfest Acts with Wisconsin Connections

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Photo: Sheryl Crow, Instagram. Yung Gravy, Drake White-Bergey, the Daily Cardinal.

Summerfest’s 55th anniversary is just months away. The Big Gig revealed seven of the nine American Family Insurance Amphitheater headliners, like Imagine Dragons and Eric Church, as well as the ground stage lineup featuring artists such as Coi Leray, Japanese Breakfast and Cheap Trick.

Hosting over 800 diverse acts over nine days, Summerfest is one of the largest music festivals in the world. Out of the released performers, many of the Summerfest acts have ties to Wisconsin. 

1. Ava Max

You may know that Ava Max is “Sweet but Psycho,” but did you know she is a Milwaukee native? Max was born in Milwaukee and left with her Albanian immigrant parents when she was 8 years old before signing with Atlantic Records in 2016. 

Max released her second studio album Diamonds & Dancefloors in January, featuring singles “Maybe You’re The Problem” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Outside her solo work, she has collaborated with artists like Tiësto, David Guetta, Thomas Rhett and Saweetie.

The iHeartRadio Titanium Award-winning, Ex-Milwaukeean pop star is stopping at Summerfest’s BMO Harris Pavillion on July 1 for her first-ever headlining tour— appropriately titled “On Tour (Finally).” 

2. Yung Gravy

Yung Gravy made waves at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards when he brought TikToker Addison Rae’s mother, Sheri Nicole Easterling, on his arm. The 27-year-old rapper and self-proclaimed “King of the Milfs” shared a kiss with the Gen-X influencer on the red carpet. 

Believe it or not, Yung Gravy acquired his flirtation skills from Wisconsin. The Rochester, Minn. native attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a degree in marketing. While in college, he began rapping for fun and posting his songs on Soundcloud, where he gained a following.

Yung Gravy is set to join other Summerfest acts and perform his viral songs like “Mr. Clean,” “Betty (Get Money),” and “Oops!” at the Generac Power Stage on June 30. 

3. Sheryl Crow

All Sheryl Crow wants to do is have some fun… and watch the Bucks win another championship. The pop-country star is a hardcore Bucks fan, thanks to her 11-year-old son Levi. She stopped by Fiserv Forum in 2021 to watch the NBA finals game. 

Crow shared a video to Twitter showing off her signed Giannis memorabilia, but her all-time favorite Buck is Khris Middleton. She repped Middleton’s jersey during her Summerfest set two years ago opening for Chris Stapelton.

This year, Crow will return to “Soak Up the Sun” at the Big Gig’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater opening for James Taylor on June 24. 

4. Noah Kahan

Folk-pop musician Noah Kahan is all the buzz in Milwaukee, having sold out the Miller High Life Theatre after a venue upgrade earlier this year. While in town, he took his first visit to Kwik Trip. He shared that he has a great love for Wisconsin at the FM 102/1 Soundcheck Session.

“Milwaukee is the first city I’ve ever played a show in,” Kahan shared with the audience, prior to stating his feelings on Cream City’s February weather. “It’s cold as shit here.” 

Before finding breakout stardom with the 2022 album Stick Season, Kahan joined The Strumbellas in 2017 at Turner Hall for his first-ever performance. Now, he will be playing Summerfest on June 24 at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard for the second leg of the “Stick Season” tour. 

5. Earth, Wind & Fire

Do you remember the 21st night of September? Well, Earth, Wind & Fire certainly do. The American ‘70s jazz and R&B band won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Image Award, Kennedy Center Honors and more. 

However, the band’s career trajectory may have been a bit different without the help of a certain Badger. UW-Madison Alumna and Songwriters Hall of Fame Member Allee Willis co-wrote the massive hits “September” and “Boogie Wonderland.” 

Earth, Wind & Fire will be groovin’ to those chart-topping tracks and more at Summerfest on June 30 at the BMO Harris Pavillion.

Summerfest will be taking place over three weekends— June 22-24, June 29-July 1 and July 6-8. Click here for more information.