By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published May 03, 2023 at 11:56 AM Photography: Dan Garcia

The Big Gig's 2023 headliner lineup just got bigger as the festival announced more than 50 more headlining acts to its schedule as well as the slate for new DJ-focused Sound Waves Stage. 

Here are the newest additions to the Summerfest lineup, in no particular order:

  • Walk the Moon
  • Dylan Scott
  • Digable Planets
  • Steven Adler of Guns 'N Roses
  • The Bar-Kays
  • Easy Star All-Stars
  • Kari Faux
  • Emo Night Brooklyn
  • Hotel California: A Tribute to The Eagles
  • Gene Woods and the Soul Alliance
  • Stangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience
  • Willy Porter
  • Jupiter & Okwess
  • Husbands
  • Chicago Blues SuperSession
  • Letdown.
  • GALXARA
  • Kirstie Kraus
  • La Sra. Tomasa
  • Bandits on the Run
  • Levi Riggs
  • The Steepwater Band
  • Browns Crew
  • Argonaut & Wasp
  • The Honest Heart Collective
  • Monica Giraldo
  • Desmond Jones
  • Leilani Kilgore
  • RAYVEN
  • SIAS
  • Mayyadda
  • Kwaj
  • Crocodyle
  • NilexNile
  • Phillip-Michael Scales
  • Balkun Brothers
  • The Keystones
  • Mike Mangione
  • The Orphan The Poet
  • Porcupine
  • Diet Lite
  • Caravanchela
  • RJ Griffith
  • Bad Skin

The new additions also include the previously announced Ne-Yo booking for the BMO Pavilion as well as the hip-hop trio of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Trippie Redd and Kia Rap Princess tapped to headline the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Saturday, July 1. Tickets for that rap Amp show will go on sale beginning Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster or in person at the AmFam Amp box office. 

In addition to the new headliners, the Big Gig also revealed its plans for the Sound Waves Stage, aka the former Johnson Controls World Sound Stage. From 7 p.m. until midnight, the midgate grounds stage will now host nightly themed dance parties featuring local DJ sets, such as Women in Music Night led by DJ Shawna on June 22, an '80s dance night fronted by Mad Planet on June 24 and an emo dance party from Sad Boy Saturday on July 8.

Here's the full lineup for the new Sound Waves Stage's DJ nights:

  • June 22 – Women in Music: Dance Through the Decades, with DJ Shawna
  • June 23 – Pop Stars Takeover, with DJay Mando
  • June 24 – Retro '80s Dance Party, with Mad Planet
  • June 29 – Neon Rave Top 40 EDM Remix Party, with BG Good
  • June 30 – Baila Reggaeton, with Lucky 7
  • July 1 – Hip-Hop, House, Funk and Dance Music, with Non Pop
  • July 6 – New Wave Hip-Hop, with City Lights
  • July 7 – Lovers & Friends R&B Concert, with Mr. New York
  • July 8 – Emo Music Takeover, with Sad Boy Saturday

The full updated day-to-day lineup and schedule for Summerfest can be found here or at the Big Gig's website. And for more updates, stay tuned to OnMilwaukee. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.