With weekend forecasts calling for cold weather and possible accumulation of wet, heavy snow, it's a good time to start thinking about Summerfest 2009.
Festival officials already have announced a handful of Marcus Amphitheater headliners, and if acts like Bon Jovi, George Strait and Kid Rock don't trip your trigger perhaps side stage headliners like Matisyahu, Conor Oberst, Buddy Guy and Dropkick Murphys will have you circling dates on the calendar.
With help from a variety of sources, including concert industry Web site Pollstar.com and Summerfest's own site -- summerfest.com -- we were able to piece together a more detailed sketch of the acts that will provide the party backdrop from June 25-July 5 at Maier Festival Park.
Stage and start time information will be announced later and bookings are, as always, subject to change, but here is the lineup as we know it today. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee.com for more developments.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Marcus Amphitheater -- Bon Jovi
Side stages -- Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Rancid, Rise Against, Robin Trower
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Marcus Amphitheater -- Keith Urban and Counting Crows
Side stages -- Buckwheat Zydeco, Dropkick Murphys, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Saliva, The Offspring
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Marcus Amphitheater -- To be announced
Side stages -- Barenaked Ladies, BoDeans, Cowboy Mouth, Sara Evans, Saving Abel
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Marcus Amphitheater -- To be announced
Side stages -- Better Than Ezra, Blues Traveler, Outlaws, Sister Hazel, Skillet
MONDAY, JUNE 29
Marcus Amphitheater -- George Strait, Julianne Hough, Blake Shelton
Side stages -- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Lupe Fiasco, Need to Breathe
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Marcus Amphitheater -- Chicago with Earth Wind & Fire
Side stages -- Buddy Guy, Billy Squier, Phil Vassar
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Marcus Amphitheater -- To be announced
Side stages -- Jason Aldean, Foghat
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Marcus Amphitheater -- No Doubt, Paramore
Side stages -- Femi Kuti, Judas Priest, Matisyahu, Whitesnake, Wild Sweet Orange
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Marcus Amphitheater -- Kenny Chesney with Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum
Side stages -- Gavin DeGraw, Lita Ford, The Roots
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Marcus Amphitheater -- The Fray with Jack's Mannequin
Side stages -- Flogging Molly, Huey Lewis and the News
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Marcus Amphitheater -- Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyrd
Side stages -- Anthony Hamilton
In another development, Summerfest and the Harley-Davidson Museum have announced the "Rock ‘n Roll 2-for-$20" ticket package. The package, which is available only via Summerfest Instant Tickets on Summerfest.com, includes one Summerfest general admission ticket, good any day of the 2009 festival, and one adult admission to the Harley-Davidson Museum, which is good through Dec. 31.
The $20 cost of the package saves patrons $11. Because it is offered through Summerfest Instant Tickets, no additional service or shipping fees will be added to package purchases.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.