For the first time in memory, Summerfest won't stand Pat in 2008.

Or, to be more precise about the situation, Pat McCurdy won't stand for the treatment he has received the past two years at the Big Gig.

Either way you look at it, the result is the same.

McCurdy, who has been a mainstay for more than a decade at the "World's Largest Music Festival," will not perform during Summerfest's 11-day run beginning June 26 at the Henry Maier Festival Grounds.

In a newsletter to fans this month, McCurdy detailed some scheduling problems and referred to his "resignation" from Summerfest. Bob Babisch, the entertainment director of the festival, prefers to think of it as a one-year hiatus.

"Things just didn't work out this year," Babisch said Tuesday. "Pat is a talented guy and he deserves to be in a different time slot. We just didn't have one available this year. Next year, hopefully, it will work out."

Where he used to block out most of the 11-day period for Summerfest, McCurdy will be playing regular club shows in Chicago and Madison and filling in other dates with private parties, a wedding and other festivals.

"It's going to be strange, that's for sure," McCurdy said while traveling to a show Tuesday night in Madison. "I was really bummed about it for awhile. Two weeks ago, I started to think about it and it bummed me out.

"Then, I remembered what happened last year and the year before. In a way, it was kind of inevitable."

What happened last year? Basically, it was a matter of timing.

"We had five shows scheduled last year and at three of them, the band performing after Pat started setting up behind him like he wasn't even there," said Brian Murphy, McCurdy's manager.

"Pat has done everything Summerfest has asked of him over the years, so it was pretty frustrating."

For the McCurdy camp, the frustration peaked before a performance by country act Big & Rich at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. McCurdy was slated to perform a 45-minute set before Big & Rich, whose set was recorded for presentation on Country Music Television.

"Pat was three songs into his set, people were getting into it and they told us we had to get him off the stage," Murphy said. "They started mopping the floor right next to him."

McCurdy said the incident was "awful," but did not blame Summerfest officials.

"It wasn't Summerfest's fault," he said. "(The CMT crew) cut me off and Big & Rich didn't go on for another hour and a half. When I was done, a couple came up to me and said they had flown in from Texas to see me play for 13 minutes. I felt bad about that."

At that point, McCurdy began to think about his standing at the festival.

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23 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by brewguru on July 2, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (report)

McCurdy not playing is the best thing to happen to Summerfest. I accidentally went by his "act" a couple years ago and had to ask someone who the clown was. It's real tough to sing one line of a song, then have the crowd finish it for you. He's a terrible performer. Let the real musicians play Summerfest.

Posted by Myke on June 29, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (report)

Another couple of local mainstays that draw well & for SEVERAL years staight have played the "big gig" inexplicably left off the Summerfest line-up are Speakeasy & Six Pack(formerly Barry's Truckers). The changes at the Briggs Stage(more seats,less dance space) & Harley(closing off the back of stage walk way to the public) also not good.Don Smiley did well at first. The fest has taken some steps back though this year,though.

Posted by ukbloke on June 27, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (report)

First thing I looked for on the bummerfest schedule just now was to see when Pat McCurdy was playing. I searched and came up blank. Then I went to PatMCurdy.com to see why. Boo hoo. When we lived in California, we even visited Summerfest and saw Pat. Good for Pat, I am sure we will see Pat this summer. I am not sure if we will go to Summerfest. PS: I really miss the comedy stage too. (Although come to think of it, mostly I went there to see Pat.)

Posted by bankyhead on June 26, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (report)

Don't worry Pat - your fans will still come see you at other locations such as Bar Louie and the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival. As a bonus, we don't have to push our way through the drunken idiots to get to your show!

Posted by kristinliz on June 24, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (report)

I just went to the summerfest site to plan a last-minute pilgrimage with a bunch of girlfriends...what a bummer. I've attended at least one Pat show at the fest since 1996 or so with my friends. It never mattered who else was playing, because we all loved Pat. I couldn't find ComedySportz there last year, either. I think this is a sign that my fest days are over.