While it’s easy to get caught up in that other Milwaukee music festival with the word “summer” in its name, Summer Soulstice has steadily grown into one of the season’s big events thanks in large part to a consistently impressive collection of local talent.
Looking back at last year’s installment, you had the choice of 28 different acts on four stages. This Saturday’s soiree will offer even more: 30 artists spread across six stages in an area that’s getting increasingly difficult to describe. Just know it involves Prospect and Farwell avenues, Kenilworth and Ivanhoe places, and Murray Avenue. So … aim for the Oriental Theatre and then just kinda walk around.
Besides the music, you’re looking at a lineup of 71 vendors ranging from David Gruber Law Offices to The Peanut Butter Pig, plus all the East Side businesses that welcome the additional foot traffic. It’s a grand old time that beats the actual summer solstice by five days, meaning the daylight won’t be quite as long even if the hours of the festival itself remain noon to midnight.
You can find all the ways to fill that time below, including the full entertainment lineup and the vendors listed by category. If you need any information beyond that, head over to the Summer Soulstice website.
Summer Soulstice Music Festival lineup
Kenilworth Stage
- 1 p.m. — Ricky Thump
- 3 p.m. — Force
- 5 p.m. — Ratbath
- 7 p.m. — Gold Steps
- 9 p.m. — Twan Mack + Swadetrackz
Ivanhoe Stage
- 1 p.m. — School of Rock
- 3 p.m. — Decoteau Black
- 5 p.m. — Modern Joey
- 7 p.m. — dak duBois
- 9 p.m. — Wonderful Bluffer
Black Cat Alley
- Noon — Asher Gray & Greyhound
- 1:30 p.m. — San Berto
- 3 p.m. — Andrew Optimist
- 4:30 p.m. — Don Black
- 6 p.m. — dataexit
- 7:30 p.m. — Digital Maddie
- 9 p.m. — Asher Gray & Greyhound
Farwell Stage
- Noon — Ms. Kaprice
- 2 p.m. — Elephonic
- 4 p.m. — Pink Halo
- 6 p.m. — Emmitt James
- 8 p.m. — Wire & Nail
- 10 p.m. — Goran & Morgan of The Gufs
Murray Stage
- 3 p.m. — Next Paperback Hero
- 5 p.m. — Ben Mulwana
- 7 p.m. — Allison Mahal
- 9 p.m. — Mark Waldoch
Kind Oasis Stage
- 3 p.m. — The Urbanites with JD Rankin & Guests
- 5 p.m. — Jack Reed's Still Alive: Celebrating the Music & Ethos of the Grateful Dead
- 7:30 p.m. — Chicken Wire Empire
Summer Soulstice Music Festival vendors
Arts and crafts
- Anna Ellie Art
- April Elizabeth Art
- Elegant Henna Tattoo
- Floral Prisms
- Fundacion Jovenes con Talento
- James Steeno Gallery LLC
- Kitten Crochet 'N Such
- LeafEscape
- Midwest Shores
- Orange Pops
- Static Cat Studio
- Thom J Ertl Designs
- Thumbprint Press & Design
Clothing and gear
- 414 Milwaukee
- Big City Tees
- Blackrose391
- Blu Mountain Co
- East Side Jawnz
- Fresh to Death Vintage
- Happy Buddha
- Juze Thrift
- MissMashedUp
- Refresh Vintage
- Tie Dye by Papes
- Wander & Co.
Food and drinks
- AFMG Cafe
- BB Cakes
- Birrieria La Tia Juana
- Chik'N'Dip
- Chillwaukee
- FloreMar LLC
- Frankies Restaurant and Catering
- Fuecha Cafe
- Immy's African Cuisine
- Isa’s Ice Cream
- Juan Roasting Corn
- Junior’s Smoked BBQ
- LemonadeLab
- Manohra
- Milwokee
- Ready To Roll
- The Peanut Butter Pig
- Tsaocaa + Korean Fried Chicken
- Uyghur Grill LLC
- Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds
Jewelry
- Ally Paige Originals
- Archimedes Azure Creations
- Boho Designs by Katya
- Frank & Bella
- Jameelah Jewelry LLC
- Jungle Gems
- Kalina Co. Jewelry
- KNL Jewelry Shop
- Kristalyzed Kreations Co
- Linny's Artsy Fingers LLC
- Mica Mica
- Paloma Wilder Studio
- Virginia Day Studio
Personal care
- Africa Alive LLC
- Birdsong's "the oil people"
- Cha Cha's Mad Nails
- Honeycomb Collective LLC
- Soap & Dagger LLC
- Visette LLC
Other services
