The world’s largest musical festival may have changed dates from the front half of July to September 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18 in hopes of dodging a pandemic, but that didn’t mean Milwaukee’s Summerfest wasn’t still overflowing with more than a thousand performances spread across a dozen stages.

The only change this time around was the need to show a COVID-19 vaccine card or proof of a negative test upon entry, which may have contributed to a more comfortably-sized crowd as opposed to the extreme density of some yesteryears, but nonetheless follows the industry standard started by Lollapalooza.

Anchoring the opening weekend at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater was none other than Chicago’s own Chance The Rapper, whose appearance was even more in-demand than usual considering it was an exclusive one-off that won’t hit the road.

The socially conscious singer/songwriter didn’t waste a second dropping “Coloring Book” classics such as “No Problem,” “Blessings” and “All We Got,” while also using the platform to properly showcase rhymes from 2019’s lockdown-inhibited “The Big Day,” amongst others from his relatively short but immensely impactful career thus far.

Speaking of hometown heroes, Styx turned in a rollicking set at the BMO Harris Pavilion to multiple generations stuffed with classic rock staples that were too many to count, sounding noticeably revitalized after so much time off.

The break also gave the Tommy Shaw and James “J.Y.” Young-led line-up a chance to record an entirely new album, “Crash Of The Crown,” which returns to the group’s grandiose ethos of the 1970s on steroids and fit seamlessly beside barnburners such as “Blue Collar Man,” “The Grand Illusion,” “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade.”

Along those lines, seasoned singer/songwriter John Waite made his way from England to unpack tunes from a pair of bands he just so happened to share with Styx’s Ricky Phillips, The Babys and Bad English, plus his own iconic “Missing You,” all coming across pretty close to how they did throughout the ‘80s.

When it came an alternative country with a southern rock slant, Drive-By Truckers were equally explosive and provocative, while covering a wide array of topical subjects in the pursuit of social justice and change, all of which is chronicled on their latest (and vital) long player “The New OK.”

And that’s not even taking into account a Midwestern reprise of the “Hella Mega” Tour starring pop/punk superstars Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer, along with rapper Flo Rida, reggae veteran Shaggy, Mötley Crüe’s heavy metal man Vince Neil, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), country up-and-comer Reyna Roberts and “American Idol” winner Chayce Beckham representing a mere handful of how many styles and eras have thus far made their way through Summerfest.

Deanna Glatczak contributed to this review.

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Click here for more photos of Chance The Rapper and more from Summerfest at Henry Maier Festival Park.

For additional information on Chance The Rapper, visit ChanceStuff.com.

For a list of upcoming concerts at Summerfest, visit Summerfest.com.