Every day of Summerfest, we’ll bring you a rundown of the headliners, hidden gems and Radio Milwaukee staff picks so you can catch the very best local, national and global artists performing across the nine days. Here’s what day eight has in store, from Backstreet back at the Amp to fellow early 2000s resurgent JoJo at BMO (see the full 2022 Summerfest lineup here and how to score drink deals every day here):
Today at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater: Backstreet Boys
You love “I Want It That Way.” You may think you don’t. You may insist out loud to other people that you don’t. You may have never even heard the song. But trust me, you love it. It’s right down there. Listen to it and come back. I’ll wait.
See? The Backstreet Boys have other songs, and some of them are pretty good. You can go to the concert tonight and listen to those songs. But you’re just waiting for “I Want It That Way.” And it’ll be glorious.
Staff pick from Salam Fatayer: JoJo @ BMO Harris Pavilion, 5:30 p.m. (and American Family Insurance House, 2 p.m.)
JoJo was 12 years old when she dropped “Baby It’s You” and had teens like myself trying to rock a cropped bomber jacket. You weren’t a true 2000s teen if one of her songs wasn’t on your homemade mixtapes. But while she dominated the charts, her career didn’t take off, and I forgot about her until 2020. According to a mini-documentary from UPROXX, JoJo spent a great deal of that time fighting her label, Blackground Records. After she won the lawsuit, she re-recorded and released her original music under her own label, Clover Music. Now she’s back and stronger than ever — this time on her own terms — blending R&B with pop that suits her vocals like butter.
Summerfest schedule for Friday, July 8
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30 p.m. – Backstreet Boys
BMO Harris Pavilion
5:30 p.m. – JoJo
9:30 p.m. – Charli XCX
Miller Lite Oasis
6:15 p.m. – Chiiild
8:15 p.m. – Ric Wilson
10:15 p.m. – Cordae
UScellular Connection Stage
6:15 p.m. – A Flock of Seagulls
8:15 p.m. – Xposed 4Heads
10 p.m. – ABC
Generac Power Stage
5:30 p.m. – Jameson Rodgers
9:30 p.m. – The Black Crowes
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
8 p.m. – Making Movies
10 p.m. – Gilberto Santa Rosa
Uline Warehouse Stage
3:30 p.m. – The High Kings
5:30 p.m. – Gaelic Storm
9:30 p.m. – Skillet
Johnson Controls World Sound Stage
3 p.m. – Mills
4:15 p.m. – Tigera
5:30 p.m. – You Win !!!
6:45 p.m. – Carr
8 p.m. – Ambar Lucid
JoJo’s Martini Lounge
8 p.m. – Detour
Klement’s Sausage & Beer Garden
5:30 p.m. – Harmonious Wail
How to get in free today: Show Your College Pride Day With OnMilwaukee, CW18 and MY24 Milwaukee
Do you attend or support any of the Milwaukee or Milwaukee-adjacent or Utah-based online colleges or universities listed below? Then you can get in free between noon and 3 p.m. today. Just visit the Mid Gate Promotions Booth wearing a shirt or hat representing any of the schools on the list, or present your high-school ID, and you can pick up a free ticket. In addition, all high-school students who complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by July 8 will receive one free general admission ticket, brought to you by Milwaukee Education Partnership.
- Cardinal Stritch University
- Carthage College
- Marquette University
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Western Governors University