Every morning throughout Summerfest 2023, we’ll deliver a guide that covers the day’s entertainment and how you can get in the gate free of charge. This is where you’ll find info about the AmFam Amp headliners, eclectic picks from our knowledgeable staff and the music lineup for the day (see the full 2023 Summerfest lineup here).
Today at the AmFam Amp
Imagine Dragons, 7:30 p.m.
It’s the final day of Summerfest’s 55th anniversary celebration, and they’re going out with some serious bang in the form of Imagine Dragons — a band generally not known for its subtle, understated performances. The bombastic approach is built for an amphitheater setting, and you gotta imagine a place with a nickname like “The Amp” is tailor made for a show that cranks up the everything.
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #1
Momma @ Miller Lite Oasis, 8:15 p.m.
Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten of Momma are part of the old-is-new-again ‘90s revival, crushing ears another time around just like Smashing Pumpkins, The Breeders, Nirvana and Veruca Salt did back in the day. Now that alternative rock radio is making a fresh comeback, it feels right to have Momma’s take on fuzzed-out guitars, big drums and steely girl harmonies at the forefront of today’s rock scene. Sometimes classic sounds really do sound best.
I saw Momma open for Snail Mail at Turner Hall Ballroom last fall, and those guitars, drums and harmonies were just as impactful as on their latest record, Household Name — maybe even more so. As a result, I can personally attest that their live performance is going to satisfy any fan who has yet to catch the band live and verify whether they’re just studio wunderkinds (no) or the real deal (yes).
— Erin Wolf
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #2
Fleet Foxes @ Miller Lite Oasis 10:15 p.m.
Whenever I’m asked the dreaded “who’s your favorite artist?” question, Fleet Foxes is usually the first band to pop into my head. They haven’t played Milwaukee since their sold-out show at the Pabst Theater way back in 2008, when they made the rounds with their self-titled debut album, and have gone through a few changes in both personnel and sound since then. Yet they remain, pound for pound, one of the most beloved folk groups to come along this century.
That’s due in large part to lead man Robin Pecknold, who has always been persistent (and effective) in his commitment to making meaningful music through lyricism and global influences. I’ve seen Fleet Foxes twice in person: at a tightly packed historic theater and an intimate outdoor stage. I’m intrigued to see how their sound and setlist translate to what’s sure to be a huge festival audience. But with four albums worth of heartbreaking hymns and soul-soothing melodies to work with, there’s no better show to end your 2023 Summerfest experience than this one.
— Dan Reiner
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #3
Ne-Yo @ BMO Pavilion, 9:30 p.m.
Ne-Yo is one of the smoothest R&B/pop singers of his generation. He’s also a clever, intrinsic and passionate songwriter who has penned indelible classics for artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Mario and Jennifer Hudson. Ne-Yo’s been in the music game since the mid-2000s, releasing debut album In My Own Words in 2005, and he hasn’t slowed since.
Not only do I respect Ne-Yo’s imagination and creativity, but he has also impacted my world directly. Although I’m more of an “upbeat tempo” kind of woman, his songs shaped my college years and definitely pulled me closer to R&B than I would probably like to admit, resulting in him finding his way into several of my iTunes playlists.
So I will be in the Summerfest crowd at the BMO Pavilion hoping he’ll play my favorite songs. In case he or his team reads this, here are a few tracks I’d like to hear: “Closer,” “Let’s Go,” “Say It” and “She Knows (f. Juicy J).” Please and thank you.
— Kim Shine
How to get in free today
All patrons arriving between 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. will be admitted FREE, compliments of Potawatomi Casino | Hotel and Summerfest. Plus, the first 30,000 patrons arriving through the gates will receive an admission ticket for Summerfest 2024 AND a BIG WIN entry ticket.
To participate in the BIG WIN drawing, simply drop the perforated BIG WIN Entry ticket in a specially marked bin inside the Summerfest Mid Gate between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on July 8, 2023.
Summerfest schedule for Saturday, July 8
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
- 7 p.m. — Imagine Dragons
AmFam House Stage
- 4 p.m. — Walk the Moon
- 2 p.m. — The Beaches
BMO Pavilion
- 9:30 p.m. — Ne-Yo
- 8 p.m. — Rayven
- 6:45 p.m. — Nunnabove
- 5:30 p.m. — Cain Lofton
- 1:30 p.m. — The Steepwater Band
Miller Lite Oasis
- 10:15 p.m. — Fleet Foxes
- 8:15 p.m. — Momma
- 6:15 p.m. — The Mountain Goats
Generac Power Stage
- 9:30 p.m. — Walk the Moon
- 7:30 p.m. — BBNO$
- 5:30 p.m. — Galxara
- 3:30 p.m. — The Beaches
- 2 p.m. — Gold Steps
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
- 10 p.m. — Tesla
- 6 p.m. — Buckcherry
- 4 p.m. — Saliva
UScellular Connection Stage
- 10 p.m. — Scotty McCreery
- 8:15 p.m. — Morgan Wade
- 6:15 p.m. — Corey Kent
- 4:15 p.m. — Hailey Whitters
- 2:30 p.m. — Greylan James
- 12:45 p.m. — Kalie Shorr
Uline Warehouse
- 9 p.m. — Smokey Robinson
- 7:30 p.m. — Mayyadda
- 1:45 p.m. — KBTHESINGER
- Noon — RJ Griffith
Sound Waves Stage
- 7 p.m. — Sad Boy Saturday: Emo Music Takeover
Johnsonville Summerville
- 5:30 p.m. — Ronnie Nyles
South Party Pavilion
- 8 p.m. — The Screamin Cucumbers
Northwestern Mutual Community Park
- 5:30 p.m. — David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic