Summerfest goes out swinging with the bounce of AJR, hip-hop of Lil Uzi Vert, gospel of Amy Grant

AJR Photos by Andy Argyrakis and Deanna Glatczak

If there was ever any doubt that Milwaukee’s Summerfest is definitely the most diverse event of its kind, all anyone had to do was browse through the line-up of its third and final weekend, which grandly kicked off on Independence Day.

For starters, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater was filled with possibly the hottest, high-octane pop/rock act on the planet, the band of brothers known as AJR, who despite having to bow out last minute over their ailing father the year prior, more than made up for the gap thanks to a creatively ambitious and visually sumptuous stop on “The Maybe Man” Tour.

AJRThe very same venue switched gears all together for a hip-hop marathon, featuring the trap/emo rap attack of “Pink Tape” headliner Lil Uzi Vert, in addition to entertaining appearances by Lil Yachty, J.I.D. and Rico Nasty, ensuring plenty of bang for everyone’s buck.  

Across the grounds, contemporary Christian/ gospel pioneer Amy Grant, fresh off the release of a brand new single, “Trees We’ll Never See,” was downright radiant as she frequently sang and strummed about a “Love Of Another Kind,” though crossover classics such as “Lucky One” and “Good For Me” were never far behind.

Alternative rock was at its finest when The Baseball Project brought “Grand Salami Time!” on back to a faithful audience, many of whom were salivating over being in the presence of R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills, but make no mistake, this was a sports-themed supergroup certainly deserving of the attention strictly on its own statistics.

Carly Rae Jepsen, of “Call Me Maybe” fame, has since ascended to sugary pop royalty, especially as she coaxed the “Dedicated” to “Run Away With Me” and dropped similarly infectious confections from her latest long player, “The Loveliest Time.”

Mt. Joy may have been on tap for the spacious BMO Pavilion, but the folk, blues and Americana-flavored band possibly drew a record crowd in and around the much more intimate American Family Insurance House, where they performed a sample of “Orange Blood” and beyond, followed by an informal interview.

AJROriginal rapper Freedom Williams led the latest edition of C+C Music Factory through all the troupe’s dance floor fillers, including “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…,” “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll),” and of course, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).”

Taking cues from Taylor Swift, Dasha carefully merged pop and country while debuting tunes off “What Happens Now?,” though it was specifically her viral hit “Austin” that really revved up those waiting for Maroon 5 (who did not permit press).

Former Van Halen front man Gary Cherone and Rihanna guitarist Nuno Bettencourt resumed their roles within funky heavy metal men Extreme, who besides revisiting all the “Pornograffitti” powerhouses, proved their bond on “Six” selections remained “Thicker Than Blood.”

Believe it or not, early blue-eyed soul and psychedelic rockers The Box Tops are still in business since forming in the late 1960s and sounded solid during a few era-specific covers, plus the personally popularized “Cry Like a Baby,” “Choo Choo Train,” “Soul Deep” and “The Letter.”

It’s always bittersweet when something as spectacular as Summerfest ends, though concertgoers can already sign up online for future performer and ticket updates, while hopefully savoring and revisiting all the acts they caught representing every possible sound under the sun.

Deanna Glatczak contributed to this review.


Click here for more photos of Summerfest’s third weekend at Henry Maier Festival Park.

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