By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published May 22, 2018 at 9:16 AM

We've been trying to get you pumped up and prepped for Summerfest over the past few months – with no help from the weather, that's for sure – via various announcements about performers and promo deals. And if none of those worked, we think this latest update will do the trick.

The Big Gig will throw a special #StageWarming concert on Friday, June 22, complete with EDM star Diplo helping to break in the freshly revamped U.S. Cellular Connection Stage. And best of all, the show is free. 

Event entry for the 7 p.m. event will be first-come, first-serve, with fans able to enter the Summerfest grounds and head to the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage through the mid and north gates. Access will be closed when the space reaches capacity, and no bags larger than 9 "x 10 " x 12" – including backpacks of any size – will be allowed. 

While there are no tickets to buy, fans can sign up for a sweepstakes – brought to you by U.S. Cellular – for a chance to win VIP passes for the special pre-Summerfest show, offering access to the upfront VIP viewing area and the U.S. Cellular Backstage Loft. To participate, visit any U.S. Cellular store in Wisconsin or northwestern Illinois between June 1-15 to sign up. And even if you don't win the VIP passes, you can still be a winner as the first 1,000 U.S. Cellular customers to enter the concert will receive a free Summerfest ticket.

So, yes, the weather may be garbage right now, but on the bright side, Summerfest will essentially start a week earlier than expected. 

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more Summerfest announcements, updates and more. 

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.