The summer of 2023 was a tumultuous one for brotherly pop trio AJR, especially as it relates its intersection with Milwaukee. The group comprising Adam, Jack and Ryan Metzger were first announced as Summerfest support for Imagine Dragons, then got promoted to headliners before finally canceling all of their July shows to spend time with their ailing dad.
The festival seemed to roll with those changes while supporting AJR during a difficult time and announced another chapter to the saga Thursday morning, adding the band as an American Family Insurance Amphitheater headliner for 2024. They’ll play a holiday show July 4 — the last Thursday of Summerfest — with special guest Carlie Rae Jepsen.
That means five of the nine available Amp slots are now filled. Previously, the World’s Largest Music Festival announced country acts Kane Brown (June 20), Tyler Childers (June 28) and Keith Urban (June 29), as well as legendary rock group Mötley Crüe (June 21).
Considering AJR’s performance approach, Summerfest did pretty well lining up a band capable of competing with the fireworks that explode over the lake every Fourth of July. Their particular brand of pop tends to be bright and upbeat, with tongue attached almost permanently to cheek. The live show follows in kind, adding visual elements — sometimes informative — that turn the whole thing into a multi-sensory experience.
It’s hard to imagine them straying from that formula when they’re in Milwaukee as part of “The Maybe Man Tour” supporting the album of the same name set for release this Friday. You’ll have to wait until next week to snag tickets, however, with your first opportunity being an artist presale starts at 10 a.m. Monday (sign up for that here). There’s also a venue presale at 10 a.m. next Thursday, followed by the general sale at 9 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster and at the AmFam Amp box office.
