The Wisconsin State Fair starts today, and this week on Tap'd In, we're sharing some of our live music picks for the fair. Usually that isn't the easiest thing to do: As fun as the State Fair is, it's never been first and foremost a music festival, the way Summerfest is. Music is more of a feature of the fair, not a main draw, so you've got to adjust your standards accordingly.
But this year, in addition to a couple nice shows at the Main Stage (hello Boyz II Men and Ginuwine on Friday, Aug. 13) and the usual spate of cover bands, the fair has booked a lineup of great Milwaukee bands at one of its most unassuming stages.
It's easy to miss it on the schedule: The stage is called Slim's Lakefront Brew Pub and Eatery, and thanks in part to some help from WMSE and Lakefront Brewery, it boasts a lineup of Milwaukee music that any festival would be proud of, including lots of 88Nine favorites.
This is something we've wanted to see at the fair for a long time, so it's worth celebrating. You can listen to the episode and find the complete lineup for Slim's Lakefront Brew Pub and Eatery stage below.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5
12 p.m. Quick & Painless
1:45 p.m. Negative/Positive
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
7 p.m. Old Prospectors
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6
12:30 p.m. Bruce Humphries & The Rockabilly Rebels
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
7:30 p.m. Stephen Hull Experience
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7
12 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
3 p.m. L’Resorts
7:30 p.m. Cosmic Endeavors Collective
SUNDAY, AUGUST 8
11 a.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
2:30 p.m. Lovanova
7 p.m. Cullah And The Comrades
MONDAY, AUGUST 9
12 p.m. Jack Reed Group
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
6:30 p.m. Sleepy Gaucho
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10
12 p.m. Frugal Stu & The Coupons
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
6:30 p.m. Devils Teeth
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
12 p.m. Jack Reed Group
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
7 p.m. Max And The Invaders
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12
12 p.m. Yum Yum Cult
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
7 p.m. Rocket Cat
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13
12:30 p.m. Caley Conway
4 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
7:30 p.m. Trapper Schoepp
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14
12:30 p.m. Drag Queen Bingo w/ Ester Flonaze
3:30 p.m. Rocket Cat
7:30 p.m. Shle Berry And Friends
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15
12 p.m. Resurrectionists
1:45 p.m. Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends
4 p.m. SistaStrings