Milwaukee’s annual Summerfest, which is easily the world’s largest stand-alone music soiree, returned to its regular timeframe throughout the Henry Maier Festival Park after numerous pandemic-related delays, though it did officially adapt a much more fan-friendly format of being spread throughout three whopping weekends.

Rap and hip-hop heavyweights, such as Wiz Khalifa and Lil Wayne, may have very well saved the start of Summerfest, bringing the party to every corner of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater following a few extremely disappointing, health-related dropouts from fellow headliners Justin Bieber and Heart singer Ann Wilson.

Even so, the first weekend managed to make a wonderful warm-up for the full-throttled follow-up thanks to Americana revivalists Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, country chart-topper Dustin Lynch, OutKast’s soulful Big Boi, metal men Anthrax, guitar goddess Lita Ford and electronic favorite Flosstradamus, to name but a few.

As for the second round, it was stuffed to the brim, starting with Illinois’ own hard rock/alternative metal mash-ups Chevelle in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, followed by groove/thrash/death metalers Lamb Of God and a flurry of pyrotechnics.

The very same venue was filled much further back thanks to a pop/punk rebrand by previous hip-hop presence Machine Gun Kelly, who literally entered to “Born With Horns” by dangling out of a stationary helicopter and proceeded to crank up the guitars like crazy come “God Save Me” as he spearheaded the cheekily titled “Mainstream Sellout” Tour.

There was also added significance to seeing new wave and early alternative fixtures The Fixx, who may have stayed regulars on the road, but just dropped an excellent album, “Every Five Seconds,” after a decade-long absence from the recording studio.

Alongside a few current cuts that were housed in the band’s hypnotic, socially conscious tradition, singer Cy Curnin and the complete line-up tore through everything from the age-defying “How Much Is Enough?” and “One Thing Leads To Another” to “Saved By Zero” and “Secret Separation” with renewed relevance.

Of particular note, early metal trailblazers and straight up hard rockers Blue Oyster Cult celebrated a half-century together, living up to such longevity with samples from the very start, through 2020’s “The Symbol Remains.”

That meant “Burnin’ For You,” “Godzilla” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” in all their creepy, crawly glory, along with the even more aggressive “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll,” anchored by original co-leaders Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom, who along with the rest of the longtime band, were in fantastic form.

Speaking of legendary leaders, Tommy DeCarlo’s been fronting Boston since 2007, and though he leads an original family band bearing his name, those classic rockers’ extensive songbook was the focus of a “Smokin’” afternoon.

After impressing the audience with one smash after the other (“Peace Of Mind,” “More Than A Feeling,” “Amanda,” “Long Time”), it was clear DeCarlo picked up right where the late Brad Delp left off, which leaves the door open to many more exciting possibilities for lifer Tom Scholz and company.

Those who made it early were treated to a few ferocious Styx songs courtesy of Dennis DeYoung’s ace players (who also backed DeCarlo), including fellow Frontiers Music artist August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, once again ensuring the spirit of the Windy City was very much alive and well in the Brew City.

Speaking of Chicago, Jay-Z/Kanye West collaborator and hip-hop hero in his own right, Lupe Fiasco, launched with “Kick, Push,” and along with a DJ, dropped plenty of others from the breakout project, “Food & Liquor,” though he continues to craft thought-provoking rhymes through 2022’s “Drill Music In Zion.”

However, it was Wisconsin’s own “Closer To Free” favorites, the BoDeans, that truly tore up the place, stuffing its stage to the gills with a timeless blend of roots rock and alternative rock, which may date back four decades, but is still very much alive thanks to a true-to-form new project, “4 The Last Time,” implying an urgency to see them sooner than later.

Whether it’s ongoing or never again, original front man, songwriter, guitarist and producer Kurt Neumann flawlessly led the band from “Idaho” through “Good Things” and tons more, all of which contributed to both a historic homecoming and a quintessential Summerfest closer before it all cranks back up again for the final weekend from Thursday, July 7 through Saturday, July 9.

Deanna Glatczak contributed to this review.

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Click here and here more photos of Summerfest at Henry Maier Festival Park.

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