Far, far away from the loud, sweaty masses of Summerfest is a slightly less-hyped, yet just as talent-ridden showcase of musical talent for Milwaukeeans -- and those in surrounding areas -- to enjoy.
Elkhart Lake's Midwest Acoustic Music Festival (MAMF), a 13-hour, outdoor, free music festival featuring a plethora of the Midwest's finest acoustic musicians, is back for its second year on Saturday, July 8 at the Lake Street Café.
"The response to last year's festival was so amazing that we had to bring it back to Elkhart Lake again," says Brunet. "Topping our first event is going to be tough, but this roster of talented musicians is more than up to the challenge."
The Midwest Acoustic Music Festival (MAMF) was founded by Shannon Brunet in 2005 to garner attention for up-and-coming acoustic artists and provide a venue to celebrate and foster rising talent.
This year's festival features Midwestern musicians who are making a name for themselves, including headliners Dave Tamkin, from Chicago, Debra G., from Minneapolis, as well as a rare showcase of artists from Milwaukee's own Burst Records.
"Over the years, the folks at Burst have shown a great dedication to the development of Midwestern talent, which makes their involvement in MAMF only natural," says Brunet. "The showcase is going to be a truly special event and a major highlight of this year's festival."
Burst Records' Owen Sartori, a Minneapolis musician working on his first solo album, "Another Beautiful Day in the Cube," takes the stage at 8 p.m. with Milwaukee's John McCarty, one of Burst's first recording artists, following. Milwaukee girl Julie Moffitt, who has performed at Austin's SXSW music festival and was featured on OnMilwaukee.com's 2005 summer sampler CD, brings her bluesy, sultry rock music to the music festival as well. The three diverse singer/songwriters will take the stage solo and then as a trio.
The official line-up for the second annual Midwest Acoustic Music Festival is:
10:30 p.m. -- Dave Tamkin (Chicago)
9:30 p.m. -- Debra G. (Minneapolis)
8:00 p.m. -- Burst Records Showcase (Milwaukee)
7:00 p.m. -- Musical Outfits (Chicago)
6:00 p.m. -- Chip Cruz (Milwaukee)
5:00 p.m. -- Andre Rodriguez Band (Minneapolis)
4:00 p.m. -- Mark Little and Dan Mitchell (Waupaca)
3:00 p.m. -- Mike Mangione (Milwaukee)
2:00 p.m. -- Brianna Lane (Minneapolis)
1:15 p.m. -- Drops of Blue (Chicago & Milwaukee)
12:30 p.m. -- Stolie (Chicago)
11:45 a.m. -- Cedarwell (Sheboygan)
11:00 a.m. -- Gordy Malis (Chicago)
All the performances are in the Lake Street Café Beer Garden, 21 S. Lake St. in Elkhart Lake. The festival is open to adults 18 and older from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from 8 p.m. to midnight is it restricted to 21 and over.
Elkhart Lake's Midwest Acoustic Music Festival (MAMF), a 13-hour, outdoor, free music festival featuring a plethora of the Midwest's finest acoustic musicians, is back for its second year on Saturday, July 8 at the Lake Street Café.
"The response to last year's festival was so amazing that we had to bring it back to Elkhart Lake again," says Brunet. "Topping our first event is going to be tough, but this roster of talented musicians is more than up to the challenge."
The Midwest Acoustic Music Festival (MAMF) was founded by Shannon Brunet in 2005 to garner attention for up-and-coming acoustic artists and provide a venue to celebrate and foster rising talent.
This year's festival features Midwestern musicians who are making a name for themselves, including headliners Dave Tamkin, from Chicago, Debra G., from Minneapolis, as well as a rare showcase of artists from Milwaukee's own Burst Records.
"Over the years, the folks at Burst have shown a great dedication to the development of Midwestern talent, which makes their involvement in MAMF only natural," says Brunet. "The showcase is going to be a truly special event and a major highlight of this year's festival."
Burst Records' Owen Sartori, a Minneapolis musician working on his first solo album, "Another Beautiful Day in the Cube," takes the stage at 8 p.m. with Milwaukee's John McCarty, one of Burst's first recording artists, following. Milwaukee girl Julie Moffitt, who has performed at Austin's SXSW music festival and was featured on OnMilwaukee.com's 2005 summer sampler CD, brings her bluesy, sultry rock music to the music festival as well. The three diverse singer/songwriters will take the stage solo and then as a trio.
The official line-up for the second annual Midwest Acoustic Music Festival is:
10:30 p.m. -- Dave Tamkin (Chicago)
9:30 p.m. -- Debra G. (Minneapolis)
8:00 p.m. -- Burst Records Showcase (Milwaukee)
7:00 p.m. -- Musical Outfits (Chicago)
6:00 p.m. -- Chip Cruz (Milwaukee)
5:00 p.m. -- Andre Rodriguez Band (Minneapolis)
4:00 p.m. -- Mark Little and Dan Mitchell (Waupaca)
3:00 p.m. -- Mike Mangione (Milwaukee)
2:00 p.m. -- Brianna Lane (Minneapolis)
1:15 p.m. -- Drops of Blue (Chicago & Milwaukee)
12:30 p.m. -- Stolie (Chicago)
11:45 a.m. -- Cedarwell (Sheboygan)
11:00 a.m. -- Gordy Malis (Chicago)
All the performances are in the Lake Street Café Beer Garden, 21 S. Lake St. in Elkhart Lake. The festival is open to adults 18 and older from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from 8 p.m. to midnight is it restricted to 21 and over.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
