A whopping 58 years since getting started, Summerfest remains the world’s most enormous and affordable independent music festival at around $30 a day, in addition to being amongst the very best overall examples of a multi-genre artist spread.

The first stretch from June 18-20 certainly set the tone for another enormous year thanks to 11 stages on the general admission grounds of the Henry Maier Festival Park and that’s not even including the premium ticketed performances inside the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.

One compelling instance was Carín León, the multiple Grammy Award-winner whose latest “MUDA” album and corresponding “De Sonora Para El Mundo” Tour combined a multitude of regional Mexican music genres, plus pop, rock and eclectic global influences, backed by a couple dozen musicians behind traditional and contemporary instruments.

Though it’s no secret David Lee Roth doesn’t sing nearly as steadily as he used to, there’s rarely been a higher wattage rock star than the former Van Halen front man, who even at 71-years-old, continued to exude confidence, charisma and comedy when he cheerlead everything from “Panama” to “Jump” as the BMO Pavilion did indeed “Dance The Night Away.”

Illinois Rock & Roll Museum Hall of Famers Styx, led by principal guitarists/co-singers Tommy Shaw and James “J.Y.” Young since the dismissal of Dennis DeYoung in the late ’90s, brought the rockin’ “Build And Destroy” off the recent “Circling From Above” record, alongside classic anthems “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “The Grand Illusion,” “Lady,” “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade.”

The Family Stone, featuring co-founding saxophonist Jerry Martini and Phunne Stone, daughter of Sly and fellow member Cynthia Robinson, paid authentic tribute to the late leader via the funky standouts “You Can Make It If You Try,” “Everyday People,” “Dance To The Music” and “I Want To Take You Higher.”

England’s Echo & The Bunnymen were a top attraction as well given how infrequently the post-punk/new wave players come to America and they definitely didn’t disappoint with “More Songs To Learn And Sing,” such as the gothic-tinged “The Cutter,” “Seven Seas,” “The Killing Moon” and “Lips Like Sugar.”

Despite often being labeled soft or yacht rock, Christopher Cross clearly has some serious guitar playing chops and quite a jazzy delivery these days, as evidenced throughout the sophisticated stylings of “All Right,” “Never Be The Same,” “Sailing” and “Ride Like The Wind” as backdrop of the famous pink flamingo mascot hung above him.

R&B singer/actor Tyrese (Gibson) stepped out of the “Fast & Furious” and “Transformers” franchises to turn in a plethora of silky singles, which spanned 1998’s platinum-plus debut through today’s “Beautiful Pain.”

To further illustrate the vast cross section, there was also Canada’s country up-and-comer Cameron Whitcomb, Australian singer/songwriter Tash Sultana, Chicago’s own soulful rocker Nicholas Tremulis & The Prodigals, former Eagle Don Felder, indie experimenter Father John Misty, Tex-Mex troubadour Alejandro Escovedo, bedroom pop breakout Dora Jar, emo act The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and the cheeky synths of Post Sex Nachos.

As if that wasn’t a ton to take in, Summerfest picks up right where it left off from June 25-27, followed by July 2-4, boasting more humongous helpings of headliners, rising stars and local talents.

Deanna Glatczak contributed to this review.

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