The Emerging Artists Series returns to Summerfest this year, bringing a full slate of emerging local, regional, national and internationaltalent to the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.
Every night, fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite performers via a Twitter poll. The top vote-getter earns an "Emerging Artist Series Care Package" with nearly $3,000 in gear and merchandise from manufacturers like Best-Tronics, Pro Audio, Gretsch Drums, Hal Leonard Corporation, Martin Guitars, Morely Pedals, Orange Amplification, Sennheiser Microphones & Headphones, Zildjian Cymbals, and others, as well as valuable publicity and promo services from Planetary Group.
A number of artists who have taken part in the series – which launched in 2006 – have gone on to bigger and better things since their performances, including Nathaniel Rateliff, Maren Morris, X Ambassadors, BØRNS, The Record Company, WALK THE MOON and others.
Among the list of this year’s performers – which you can see in its entirety here – are:
Matt Hoyles from New Zealand, The Prussians from Spain, Hot Lips from Toronto, Thaikkudam Bridge from India, Royal Prospect from Sweden and Capitano from Germany, as well as other international acts and bands from around the United States.
Milwaukee acts taking part include Plaid Hawaii, Browns Crew, Zed Kenzo, The Last Bees, Valier Lighthart, Amanda Huff, Holy Pinto, Clear Pioneer and Immortal Girlfriend.
Summerfest takes place June 26-June 30 and July 2-July 7. For more information, visit Summerfest.com.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
