Wednesday, June 28

It's opening day, and I'll likely be found partying to the sounds of Flume, headlining the Miller Lite Oasis at 10 p.m. If I'm lucky, I'll pop in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater for the Red Hot Chili Peppers because "Californication." And let me not forget the Big Bang! I absolutely love fireworks so I will be somewhere watching every one. 

Thursday, June 29

If I can get to the grounds early, I'd like to check out Fishbone at 4 p.m. on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. 5 Card Studs are on at 8 p.m. at the BMO Harris Pavilion, and they are classic show band. They come to entertain and perform many familiar hits that move the crowd.  

Friday, June 30

I'll start the evening with the high energy of Tweed Funk at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard at 6 p.m. They are so much fun to watch and listen to – oh, and they are Milwaukee's own. They won the 2017 Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award (WAMI) for R&B/Soul Artist of the Year, so they're definitely worth a listen.

Later, on the same stage, Joss Stone headlines at 10 p.m., and I will certainly stick around to hear her! I will, however, bounce over to Uline Warehouse to catch a bit of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a brass band that is also a 10 p.m. headliner. The beauty of Summerfest is once you're in, you can go anywhere and see and listen to as much as you want.  Oh, and I may slide over to the American Family Amphitheater with hopes of catching within earshot of Paul Simon so I can sing along with "If you be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal ... I can call you Betty and Betty when you call me you can call me Al."

Saturday, July 1

Today, you can find me parked at the BMO Harris Pavilion starting at 6 p.m. with Christopher's Project followed by Terry Sims Band at 8 p.m. Both will keep the crowd on their feet with some of Milwaukee's most talented musicians. They are veterans on the stage and are certain to come with a not-to-be-missed show! Then the headliner for the evening is none other than the Isley Brothers! I've seen them a few times in the past, but I wouldn't pass up any opportunity to see and hear the amazing showmanship of Ron Isley, aka Mr. Biggs! It'll be showtime at 10 p.m.  

Sunday, July 2

Hmmmmm, I wonder if there's a brunch on the grounds ... oh, just thinking out loud. I'll start my day at the fest with the reggae sounds of King Solomon at 6 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. Then I'll run over to catch my friend Ray Nitti get the audience moving with his extremely popular song "Bow" and others. I'll stick around for hip-hop artist Ludacris, who will keep the party going that Ray Nitti started. Nitti goes on at 8 p.m., and Luda is scheduled to hit the stage at 10:15 p.m.

I am very tempted to run over and see Ziggy Marley headlining at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse at 9:30 p.m. Someone save me a seat please and thank you.   

Monday, July 3

The fest is closed today, but FIREWORKS! I'll have a great seat watching. 

Tuesday, July 4

Catch me at the Gruber Law Offices Sports Zone watching the Rimrockers at 7:30 p.m. If you don't know who they are, first, shame on you Milwaukeean. I'm kidding (kinda). But OK, these are the guys that come out during the Bucks games and do all the tricks on the court. They're extremely talented and fun to watch.

After that, I'll head over to the Miller Lite Oasis to check out a new artist for me, R.LUM.R, but Summerfest provides an opportunity to do this. When I saw the name on the schedule, I looked him up and listened to a few tracks on Spotify, and I'm looking forward to seeing him onstage. I like what I've heard. He's on at 8 p.m. 

I'll end up at Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard for rapper IshDARR, another Milwaukee native that's doing some amazing things. He's generated nearly seven million streams of his music on Soundcloud and recently was cast in the film "White Boy Rick" starring Matthew McConaughey, he's only 20 years old AND he's headlining at 10 p.m.  

Wednesday, July 5

Uline Warehouse Stage is where you can find me today, starting at 6 p.m. with my fellow Sagittarian, DJ Dr. B! Soul singer and hip hop artist Adi Armour is up next at 8 p.m., followed by the evening's headliner T-Pain at 10 p.m.  I'm there for all of this.  

Thursday, July 6

D'Amato hits the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at 4:15 p.m., and that's where I'll start the day. Then I'll just bounce around for a while checking out various stages, vendors and beer. Eddie Butts Band and Lex Allen are both on at 8 p.m. at Jojo's Martini Bar and Johnson Controls World Sound Stage, respectively. I'll go back and forth between the two shows. 

Finally, the headliner I've been waiting for since I hit the grounds six hours ago: BJ The Chicago Kid! I will be front and center for this show because, yes, I'm a super-duper fan of his music. I mean, he's literally playing as I type: "Roses" So don't miss out on something phenomenal. I'll be there, and I'm fun. And he's worth a listen, trust me.   

Friday, July 7

I'd like to check out Sa-Roc at 4:15 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. She's an MC from DC, and I like her style. I've been a longtime fan of Milwaukee natives Streetlife with Warren Wiegratz so I'll certainly stop by BMO Harris Pavilion at 6 p.m. to check them out. I'll close out the night with Huey Lewis & the News, because "Back to the Future" is one of my favorite movies – and "The Power of Love"? HELLO!  

Saturday, July 8

American Family Insurance Amphitheater. 7:30 p.m. Migos, Big Sean and Future. That's all I got. Oh, but please go check out my girl, Milwaukee native and "American Idol" star, Naima Adedapo at 8 p.m. at the BMO Harris Pavilion.

Sunday, July 9

Wow, it's the last day of Summerfest 50 already?! That sure flew by – but wait, there's still today. Did anyone find out about Summerfest Sunday brunch?

OK, I'll start the evening at the Uline Warehouse Stage at 6:30 p.m. for the sounds of Ahvant Soul with Jon Pierre Gee & Kat Webb. I've known them all my life; my father, Michael Reese, plays keyboards with this band, and they put on a great show. I'll stick around for Harvey Scales at 8 p.m. He is a Milwaukee legend that has left his mark on the local and national music scene with the hit song "Disco Lady" and more. If you've never seen either of these groups or if you have, they're something legendary to see – and I hope to see you there!