Marcus Amphitheater Tickets

Zac Brown Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater Show

2012-01-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

The fourth Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater show for 2012 was announced. Zac Brown will be performing on July 5. Fans will get their first chance for Zac Brown Summerfest tickets next weekend. With this announcement, there are just six more dates to book for the festival.

Zac Brown Band History

Zac Brown started playing guitar at the ripe old age of six. In his teen years, he could be found playing acoustic shows all over the state of Georgia. It would be another ten years before he would put together the Zac Brown Band. Just after 9/11, Brown decided to quit college and devote his life to playing country music. He hit the road with two other musicians, and did the long, hard work of trying to make it big. Success came after six long years of touring. The band signed on with a major label, and re-released the song titled Chicken Fried. By the time the band won their first award for "Best New Artist," they were far from being new.

Marcus Amphitheater Bleacher Seating

2012-01-11T17:56:00.000-08:00

The Marcus Amphitheater bleacher seating is just beyond the assigned seats and out in the open. They are not the best seats in the venue, but they have a life of their own. Sometimes, sitting behind all the assigned seats gives you a very interesting perspective. It's like you are watching not only the performers on the stage, but the entire experience. Let's take a moment to pick apart the bleacher seats at the Marcus Amp.

Bleacher Seats at the Marcus

There are thirteen bleacher sections
The sections start with row A, and go out to row CC
Section 9 is all the way to the right, facing the stage
Section 21 is all the way to the left
Center sections of the bleachers are numbered 14,15,16
Some artists will open up the lawn and bleacher sections for free admission

Not every artist that plays the Marcus Amp. will sell out the venue all way back to the bleachers, but it's nice to know that there are affordable seats available for most shows.

Neil Diamond to Headline Summerfest July 8

2011-11-24T05:48:00.000-08:00

The closing night of Summerfest will feature Neil Diamond as the headline act at the Marcus Amphitheater. The show date is July 8, with the opening act yet to be announced. Neil Diamond is one of the most successful "adult contemporary" singers in the world, selling well over 100 million albums since he first set foot on stage back in the late 1950's. It all started with a song writing contract. Fifty years later, just about everyone knows a Diamond song or two.

Sweet Caroline Goes Viral

Neil's biggest success came in the early years, with songs like Cracklin' Rosie, and Song Sung Blue. Fast forward to the 1990's and he was still making albums. At that time, he was covering the classics, and producing Christmas albums. Around that same time, one of his most popular songs went viral. Sweet Caroline was one of the songs that was played during Boston College sporting events. Fans took to singing along, and now the song is played at major sporting events throughout the East Coast.

Neil was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame twenty six years ago, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just a few months back. Album sales in the United States are close to the 50 million mark for Mr. Diamond. His 2012 tour starts in early June, and runs through most of the summer.

Lady Antebellum Summerfest 2012 Show at Marcus Amphitheater

2011-10-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

The first Marcus Amphitheater show for Summerfest 2012 is locked in, and it's Lady Antebellum, with Darius Rucker. The show date is June 30, with tickets going on sale this November. Tickets for the show at the Marcus Amphitheater include admission to Summerfest. This is the first, headline act to be announced for the 2012 festival.

Marcus Amphitheater Seating Chart Update

2011-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

I found a great Marcus Amphitheater seating chart. This pdf file will show you all the aisle seat numbers in the Red and Yellow sections under the roof. What I also like is that the map shows you where you can find wheelchair seating. This venue has room enough for 23,000 people, but a huge number of those folks would be sitting in the bleachers or on the lawn.

Rows at Marcus Can Start with the Letter "D"

Keep in mind that when the folks at the Marcus Amp. did some reconfigurations, they eliminated rows a, b, and c from the sections to the left and right of center. First row may be row "D" if you are sitting in section one or section three.

Pit at Marcus Amphitheater

I have noticed that there is a pit for many of the Marcus shows during Summerfest. That means the first three rows in the center are removed for specific performances, and people will stand directly in front of the stage. That can cause problems for those of you sitting in the rows directly behind the pit. It forces you to stand up.

PantherFest Rocks the Marcus Amp.

2011-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is the big one for UW-Milwaukee students. Pantherfest 2011 did not disappoint those who took the time to head on down to the Marcus Amphitheater. The entertainment for the evening included a balloon drop, but that's not what made it special.

Local Acts at Pantherfest

For a local flavor, one of the more famous d.J.'s from 88.9 hosted the event. He brought out Prophetic to warm up the crowd, along with DJPoizon. Finally, Lupe Fiasco took the stage, and the crowd let loose with massive support. Girl Talk brought props like the aforementioned balloons and confetti. The only thing that slowed the show down were costume changes. See you next year!

BMO Harris Bank Stage to Be Built Next To Marcus Amp.

2011-09-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Goodbye M&I stage, and hello BMO Harris Bank stage. The new venue will have a roof, and hold thousands of screeming Summerfest fans. I must admit that the old M&I stage had been moved so many darn times. This new stage will be a permanant structure. It also marks the end of the renovations for the south end of the festival grounds.

Blink 182 to Play Marcus Amphitheater August 23

2011-08-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

Blink 182 will hit the Marcus Amphitheater stage on August 23. This show is not the last performance scheduled for the venue in 2011. There is one more show date for the Marcus, but this is the last official summer weather show. The opening act for this show is none other than My Chemical Romance.

Blink 182 is enjoying a successful summer tour where they are playing a mixture of outdoor concerts and large pavilions. The tour is sponsored by Honda, and Blink tickets are still available for the show. A sample of their latest work titled Up All Night can be found here.

Katy Perry Tickets Soon To Be Gone

2011-07-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

I had to scramble for the few remaining Katy Perry Summerfest tickets today. The lawn section might not be sold out, but all that I could find online were bleacher seats. I'm glad that the kids won't mind where they sit. They just want to get into the Marcus Amp.

Rumor has it that Katy Perry's road and stage crew will have their work cut out for them when they get to the Marcus. They are going to try their best to set up the stage with as many props as they can for this show. The tour is mostly playing indoor venues, with much bigger stages. This one is going to be a tight fit. See you at the fest!

Marcus Amphitheater Seating Chart for Summerfest 2011

2011-06-27T11:19:00.001-07:00

We are just days away from the start of Summerfest 2011. As usual, I see people are interested in finding out where their seats are located inside the Marcus Amphitheater. I posted a great picture of the Marcus Amphitheater seating chart a while back, so check that link. Really, I say just try to stay away from the very far right or left of the venue, if I want the better view. I like to site between 12 and 20 rows back from the stage. The sound is better from there, but you can still see the performers clearly. Enjoy the fest!

Katy Perry Summerfest Show Will Feature Plenty of Flash

2011-06-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Are we to assume that the current Katy Perry props, dancers, and back up singers will fit onto the Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest stage? Judging by one of her recent performances, it's going to be a tight fit. Will she tone down her act when she comes to Milwaukee?

When you don't have a legendary singing voice, or years of blockbuster hit songs under your belt, you may opt for the flash over substance. Katy Perry fans love the flash, and her style. After all, most of them are well under 21.

Perry will try her best to fill a two hour set. She will most likely do a few cover songs, but that won't disappoint her fans. When you get to the Marcus, you should expect a few mimics in the crowd. Aquamarine wig sales in Milwaukee should skyrocket this week, as the kids love to look like Perry.

Jason Mraz to Play Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest 2011

2011-06-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

The last open date for the Marcus Amphitheater has been booked for Summerfest 2011. Jason Mraz will headline on July 2. This show starts early, with Guster opening the evening. Get to the venue by 6:30 if you want to catch both acts in full.

Mraz is keeping the prices low for this gig, with reserved seats going for just $37 each. Considering that the Summerfest tickets for this show include admission into the fest, it's one of the lowest priced headline acts of the year.

Blink-182 with My Chemical Romance Milwaukee Show

2011-05-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Blink 182 will perform in Milwaukee on August 23. When they take the Marcus Amphitheater stage, they will be bringing My Chemical Romance along. Opening for the bands will be Manchester Orchestra. The Milwaukee date is part of Blink's Midwestern leg of their tour. Prior to the Marcus Amp. show they will play St. Louis on Aug. 19, Chicago on August 20, and Cincinnati on 8/21. Now if it would just warm up a bit here in Milwaukee, we can start to enjoy the summer.

Summerfest Welcomes Britney Spears July 9

2011-05-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears will play the Marcus Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9. Spears is in the midst of a comeback, and Milwaukee is now one of her tour stops. Her latest work, titled Femme Fatale is also the name of the current tour. Two songs from that disk have hit the charts, but Till the World Ends seems to be the stand out hit. Opening the show will be Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys, and finally Nervo. Tickets will go on sale later this month. As for July 2, the only day that has yet to have a headline act, there was a rumor that Santana might take the spot, but we don't know if that's a lock.

Will Santana Perform at Marcus 2011

2011-05-13T11:53:00.001-07:00

I heard a rumor that Santana was lining up to play Summerfest. Will it be at the Marcus Amp? Who knows just yet. After all, I said it was just a rumor. He played the fest last year, backing up his Universal Tone tour. Nothing is official. Let's wait and see.

Cascio Groove Garage 2011 Headline Acts

2011-05-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

It may be a small tent, but the Cascio Groove Garage is one of the best places to catch local and regional talent at Summerfest. Since moving the stage from an area near the food vendors on the south end, I feel like the Groove Garage is getting more traffic. The spot is a bit shady, which can be great on a hot summer day. The music opening acts are not listed here, but I'll try to list them as soon as I can.

6/29 The Right Now

6/30 The Jeanna Salzer Band

7/1 I'm Not a Pilot

7/2 The Invaders

7/3 The Uptown Savages

7/5 The Fatty Acids

7/6 Brighton, MA

7/7 Mark Mallman

7/8 John the Savage

7/9 Into Arcadia

7/10 Surgeons in Heat

U.S. Cellular Stage at Summerfest 2011 Concert Headline Shows

2011-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

There is just one TBA left for the U.S. Cellular Stage at Summerfest for 2011. The headline acts have been locked in for yet another side stage, and it looks like a great lineup of young talent (mostly.)

U.S. Cellular Connection Stage 2011

June 29 - Jack’s Mannequin
June 30 - Neon Trees
June 30 - Panic! At The Disco
July 1 - Anberlin
July 2 - The Airborne Toxic Event
July 3 - TBA
July 5 - Young The Giant
July 5 - Switchfoot
July 6 - Tonic
July 7 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
July 8 - Middle Class Rut
July 8 - Crash Kings
July 9 - Meat Puppets
July 9 - Alkaline Trio
July 10 - AWOLNATION
July 10 - The Bravery

Marcus Amphitheater Pit Seating

2011-04-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

For most Marcus Amphitheater shows, there is no standing room pit area up front. There are reserved seats called "pit seating," however. Those rows are triple lettered, AAA through CCC. On occasion, you will see that the first few rows of section two are removed so fans can stand. That area is only accessible with the proper ticket.

Summerfest Headline Shows Booked As of April 2011

2011-04-15T09:07:00.001-07:00

The good folks at Summerfest are making it easy to get to the fest this year. With the major ticket giveaway for opening day, and other specials throughout, you must make it to see at least one Headline show for 2011. Who will it be? Before you answer that, I think that the powers that be need to announce a few more shows. If I had to pick now, I would be short changing myself. Would it be Meatloaf, or Kanye West? Will I find time to make it down to see Sugarland, or Toby Keith? I'm not a huge country music fan, but those two acts are sure to please the cowboy hat wearing crowd.

Kid Rock Plays Marcus Amp. 2011 with Sheryl Crow

2011-04-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

Summerfest 2011 will feature Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow on July 3, 2011. Leroy Powell and the Messengers will also be on the bill. Marcus Amphitheater Fans will line up for tickets to this show starting on April 9. Kid Rock's tour is titled Born Free, and that's also the name of his new album. He hits the road in April, and his tour will go on all summer long. Cheryl Crow joins Kid Rock in July, and it looks like they are scheduled to play a few dozen shows together.

Peter Gabriel June 29 Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest 2011

2011-03-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

It's official, Peter Gabriel will perform with the New Blood orchestra on June 29, 2011 at Summerfest. This Marcus Amphitheater show was just announced, and goes on sale at the end of this month. Gabriel is touring without a standard band to back him up. This show will feature members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, in addition to the "New Blood Orchestra."

Meatloaf at Summerfest Milwaukee 2011

2011-03-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Meatloaf anyone? The band, not the meal will be performing at Summerfest on June 29, 2011. It's part of a 44th year celebration of all things Summerfest. There will be a major ticket giveaway for that day, and it's the same day as the Big Bang. Adults with I.D. will get a coupon for a $1.00 beer if they manage to nab one of the 44,000 free tickets that are to be given away. Yep, 44,000 tickets will be given away for opening day. Could it get any better?

Kanye West and Kid Cudi Headline Summerfest June 30

2011-03-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Kanye West takes to the Marcus Amphitheater stage on June 30, with Kid Cudi. This is the latest Summerfest headline concert announcement, with another yet to be named band to be revealed later today.

Kanye West released his first major label disk back in 2004. That disk produced a top ten single, and a Grammy winning song titled Jesus Walks. He has been red hot ever since. After five full length albums, and just under two dozen singles in the past six years, Kanye has sold nearly 14 million copies of said works. His album titled Late Registration is a triple platinum effort that has yet to be bested by any of his other works.

Kid Cudi Hits the Big Marcus Amphitheater Stage

For those Kid Cudi fans who had the chance to see him in smaller venues, this is one opportunity to catch him on the big stage. Cudi fans are thrilled to see his return, despite the fact that the venue will be less intimate.

Jason Aldean Summerfst 2011 Marcus Amphitheater July 8

2011-03-07T07:48:00.001-08:00

The third evening of country music at the Marcus Amphitheater is now booked for Summerfest 2011. Jason Aldean will headline at Summerfest on July 8. Aldean may find himself on an independent record label, but his albums have gone gold and platinum. Aldean was tough to peg at first. When it came to his sound, he didn't compromise. As a result, the first label he was signed to dropped him for taking too long to produce his work.

Final Country Booking for Summerfest 2011

Joining Jason Aldean will be Chris Young and Thomson Square. One would guess that this will be the final country show booking for the Marcus Amp. for the 2011 season.

Summerfest Welcomes Def Leppard July 5 with Heart

2011-03-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Def Leppard will perform in Milwaukee on July 5. This is the latest Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater concert announcements. Opening for Def Leppard is Heart.

Def Leppard was formed in 1977, initially with a heavy metal sound. Mutt Lange helped the band find huge success, when working on Pyromania. Of the 65 million Def Leppard albums sold, Pyromania accounts for 10 million of that massive number. The band continues to produce, and are supporting the CD titled Mirrorball on this tour.

Heart, featuring the Wilson sisters is most famous for their song Barracuda. Their later work in the 1980's brought them the most success, but they gave up some of their hard rock edge. Songs like These Dreams, and What About Love will most certainly be played during their Summerfest performance.

The Black Keys to Play Marcus Amphitheater

2011-02-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

On July 6, Milwaukee welcomes The Black Keys. Opening for the Black Keys will be two other "alternative" bands. Cage the Elephant will start the show, followed up with Florence and The Machine. This is a bargain show, when you compare prices to other Marcus Amp. events. It will cost a mere $17.50 to get through the gates. Don't forget, that price includes admission to the Summerfest grounds. Better seats will set you back around $30, plus those famous fees. From what I read, the cheap seats are around $40 total.

Sugarland at Summerfest 2011 July 10

2011-02-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Sugarland will close out the 2011 Summerfest season with a performance at the Marcus Amphitheater. This country duo is riding high, after three of their songs off of their 2007 disk hit the top of the music charts. Their latest album hit number one on country music charts.

Opening the show will be Sara Bareilles, who is touring to support her second album titled Kaleidoscope Heart. She came through town three months ago and played the Riverside Theater. Sugarland was once a trio, but since whittling down to a duo, they have found success.

Toby Keith Marcus Amphitheater Date First of Summer Tour

2011-02-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

Toby Keith's tour stop at the Marcus Amphitheater is currently the first date of his summer tour. That may change as the year rolls along. He is touring through a better portion of this coming month, and those dates will include some stops in Canada. This guy is not afraid to travel though cold weather regions during winter.

The day after the Summerfest show, Keith will head to Manitoba Canada to play Dauphin's Countryfest. He's back in the United States on July 16, playing Belmont Ohio's Jamboree in the Hills.

Katy Perry July 7 Marcus Amphitheater Show

2011-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

The second Marcus Amphitheater show for Summerfest has been locked in. It will be Katy Perry on July 7. Katy Perry hit the national pop music scene with the song I Kissed A Girl. Prior to that, she took a stab at gospel music. That effort failed to produce any buzz, after the record label closed. She did have an Internet mess on her hands when she released a song titled "Ur So Gay." It didn't chart, but certainly stirred up controversy.

Perry found Success when she signed to Capital records. I Kissed A Girl was number one around the world. That was followed up with another hit song titled Hot n Cold. From there, she found success with three other songs from her second album titled Teenage Dream. Katy Perry Summerfest tickets have yet to go on sale.

Briggs Stage Renovation Plans Look Great

2011-01-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

If I'm correct, it looks like the Briggs Stage renovations will include an area for tables, and an upper deck that resides above a vending area. There will be two permanent beer "tent" structures behind the bleachers, and tables as well. Thankfully, some of the surrounding structures will have shaded areas as well.

The Briggs Stage is just south of the Marcus Amphitheater. It certainly sees its share of walking traffic. As Briggs signed on for the next decade, it makes sense that they would build something that is going to last at least that long.

Summerfest Music Festival has Influence in Chicago

2011-01-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Mayor of Chicago announced that their famous Taste of Chicago festival will no longer include musical acts. The decision was based on the fact that the festival 90 miles south of Milwaukee was starting to go in too many directions. That festival is all about food.

Milwaukee on the other hand has always focused on music at Summerfest. In fact, food is second, or third on the highlights list. Yes, you can certainly get something to eat at Summerfest, and some of that food is downright tasty, but it has never been the focus.

Some officials here in Milwaukee would say that Chicago has waved the white flag of surrender. Their festival will be a music free, food sampling event. Summerfest may actually benefit from the change in Chicago, as some musical acts were not able to play Milwaukee as they committed to Chicago.

Toby Keith Will Headline Summerfest 2011 on July 1st

2010-12-29T11:39:00.001-08:00

Milwaukee Summerfest has announced its first concert for 2011. Toby Keith will headline Summerfest 2011 on July 1st. Eric Church will open up for the critically acclaimed country star who first made waves in 1993 with his hit single, "Should've Been a Cowboy." Since then, Keith has won many awards and cranked out a number of hits including, "Beer for My Horses," "Me Too," and "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue," a song in response to 9/11. Eric Church, also a country singer, started writing songs at the age of 13. Church's second album, "Carolina" had several top singles.

Summerfest Milwaukee Memories of the Past

2010-12-22T06:57:00.001-08:00

I'm too young to remember the first few years of Summerfest. I wasn't allowed to go there until I was about ten years old, and that was with adult supervision. Still my Summerfest Milwaukee memories are vivid. See if you remember any of these items.

Lemonaid Stands that put real lemon wedges in the drinks

The North Stage with those huge wooden benches

The midway at the south end

The Rock Stage at the south end, pointing north, and blasting the grounds with rock music

The various ways to sneak onto the grounds, including swimming around the barrier

The festival park being wide open during the off season

Naughty things going on along the rocks at the lake shore

The theme song "Summerfest '72."

Yes, I'm dating myself with this post. Summerfest is more corporate, safer, and still very much fun.

Who wants to buy a Summerfest Bond?

2010-12-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

As part of the renovation plans for the south grounds of Summerfest, they plan to issue a bond to pay for the project. This bond is tax free, and matures in 20 years. The sale begins next week, and it's backed up by the City of Milwaukee through what they call a "moral obligation."

Traffic on Harbor Drive During Summerfest Reserved for Shuttles

2010-12-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Harbor drive is closed during Summerfest? That makes perfect sense, since there are 50,000 people coming and going from the gates. It would be a nightmare if that road were open during the festival. There is one vehicle that does travel that road during the fest. The artist shuttles move up and down that road all day.

If you want a glimpse of who is about to play, or who just performed, peek into the windows of those shuttle buses. Most of the buses are picking up musicians that wait at the south lot. Some of the biggest acts are brought to the festival grounds by other means, but your rank and file touring bands come and go via shuttle.

South End of Summerfest Grounds Renovation Starts

2010-11-17T07:44:00.001-08:00

I see that the southern end of the Henry Maier Festival grounds is now under renovation. I have often felt that the south end could be improved. I'm not talking about the area near the M&I stage, but the area that is being improved right now. The Briggs stage can be a "backwater" area on some nights. Traffic does flow past there when folks head to and from the Marcus Amphitheater, but it's not quite a hot spot.

Marcus Amphitheater as an Enclosed Venue

2010-11-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

What would be the reasoning behind the idea of making the Marcus Amphitheater an enclosed venue? Would it ruin the feel of the shows? Is there a need for another large enclosed venue in Milwaukee?

Marcus Amphitheater Roof Plan

If the Summerfest board decided to make the Marcus Amp. an indoor venue, shows could be held all year long. Right now, the only large concert venue in Milwaukee is the Bradley Center. During specific times of year, there is no room on the schedule for shows at said venue. As the Bucks, Marquette, and Milwaukee Admirals all use the Bradley Center as their home court. The Marcus could attract larger touring bands that come through in the winter months. Seeing that Wisconsin is cold and nasty for nearly five months, wouldn't it make sense to have that option?

Heating the Marcus Amphitheater

The Marcus Amphitheater could be heated as they do Miller Park. Fans don't need it to be 68 degrees in January, they just need the venue to be warm enough to be comfortable. Miller Park has the ability to be roughly 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. If the Marcus Amphitheater could replicate that, it could schedule performances through most of November, and start again in March.

On thing that the Marcus Amphitheater has over the Bradley Center, parking. The parking situation at the Summerfest grounds is perfect for concerts. The venue is not very close to restaurants and bars, but for sheer ease of use, people could easily come and go with little traffic nightmares. One issue I would see that would need attention would be the beer stands and restrooms. As they are separate buildings right now, some work would need to be done in order to incorporate those key items.

Marcus Amphitheater Vendors and Views from the Lawn Section

2010-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was one of the lucky ones to have a pass to get into the restricted areas at the Marcus Amphitheater this past Summerfest season. It was nice to have an opportunity to drink a beer, and snack on Gardetto's, compliments of one of the heavy hitters in the Milwaukee business scene. I won't mention who gave me the passes, as Summerfest likes to keep an eye on those items. The only thing I struggled with that night was getting to the actual area itself. We went too high up along the venue walkway, and had to head back down and search.

It was nice to rub elbows with the fancy people, but I like the lawn section of the Marcus Amphitheater just as much as the reserved seating. Why? Because it's easy to get to the beer vendors at the top of the venue when you sit on the lawn. On a warm summer night, you can catch a breeze up there too. When the show is over, you can make a quick getaway from the lawn, as you are not forced to walk the walkways and stairs of the red and yellow sections. Yes, if it rains you get wet.

Summerfest Schedule 2011

2010-10-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

It's too early to predict what acts will come to Summerfest 2011. As much as some of us would like to predict, we really don't know who is coming to town. Will Kenny Chesney go back on tour, and will he hit the Marcus Amphitheater stage? Will we see four country shows this year?

The leaves are falling, and that means we are months away from any Marcus Amphitheater schedule for 2011. Sit tight, enjoy the winter, and see what spring brings.

Willie Nelson Comes to Miller Park

2010-09-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan came to the Marcus Amphitheater on July 1, 2009. He's back in Milwaukee for Farm Aid 25 this Saturday. That 2009 show was part of the Summerfest run. This time it's for a great cause. John Mellencamp will join Mr. Nelson. There are other headliners coming to perform this Saturday in Milwaukee. For a full list, check out the Farm Aid 25 site.

Favorite Marcus Amphitheater Show of 2010 | Santana with Steve Winwood

2010-09-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

If I had to pick a favorite Marcus Amphitheater show for 2010, it would be Santana with Steve Winwood. The vibe at Summerfest that night was so mellow. You couldn't help but have a great time.

Carlos Santana was on his "Universal Tone Tour," and I felt lucky enough to get tickets in "red section" at the Marcus Amp. Sitting near one of the aisles, I could see everything, and the sound was perfect. I didn't have to wear earplugs that night, just to shave off a few db's.

Steve Winwood was almost a co-headline act. As his musical catalog goes back so many years, all the fans found something to enjoy. I liked what he did in the band Blind Faith.

When Carlos Santana hit the stage, the crowd was amped up. He did play a few songs from his new album titled Supernatural. That disk has old and new songs, and is worth checking out. It will be hard to top that Summerfest show in 2011, but I don't mind going down to the grounds to see if someone can take the title of "Favorite Marcus Amphitheater show.

Kiss At Marcus Ampitheater Last Show of 2010

2010-09-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

The last show for our Marcus Amphitheater 2010 season was a flashy one. Kiss performed their hits, spat blood,and ducked when cannons of fire blasted from the stage. Yes, this is really just two of the original members, but once the makeup is plastered on, who cares?

This show included a zip line episode, movable stages, a guitar solo that ended with said guitar flying on its own, confetti, and lights so bright, you could help land a 747.

It was a nice touch to see the members honoring our wounded veterans with a large donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. They got the half full Marcus Amp. up off their feet for sure.

Marcus Amphitheater Lawn Section | Reserved Seat Numbers at Marcus Under Roof

2010-09-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Did you ever get a wristband at Summerfest and sit in the lawn section at the Marcus Amphitheater? Did you know that all the seats at the Marcus Amphitheater are under the roof? It's the little things that make a concert great. Sometimes you just want to stay for a few songs, so you sit on the grass and hope it doesn't rain. Sometimes you have to boot someone out of your reserved seats at the Marcus Amphitheater.

The second night of Tom Petty, during Summerfest, was one of those nights where I was so glad that I had an actual seat for the show. I was sitting in section six, near the middle.

The Marcus Amphitheater seat Numbers always start on the right. That means seat number one is on the right end of every section. We were seats number one through six, and I like that. No pushing your way through to your spot.

Seat Numbers and Sections at Marcus Amphitheater

Section #1 is to the right of the stage

Section #2 is in the middle

Section #3 is on the left

Section #4 is all the way to the right

Sections #5,6,7 are middle sections also behind 1-3

Section #8 is all the way to the left

Seat number one in all the sections are on the far right

It helps to know where your seats are, so you can enter the Amphitheater from the proper side. No pushing your way through a long line of people is your goal.

Kiss Comes To Milwaukee on September 2

2010-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's one of the last shows at the Marcus Amphitheater this season. Kiss comes to Milwaukee on September 2.

Marcus Amphitheater Address and Box Office Info

The official address for the Marcus Amphitheater is 200 Harbor Drive, Milwaukee Wisconsin, 53202. Most people just head east towards downtown Milwaukee, drive south for 1/2 mile, and follow their nose and ears to the sounds of the festival grounds. The Kiss show starts at 7pm and Kiss Milwaukee tickets range in price, depending on where you want to sit.

The tour is named "Hottest Show on Earth." Will this be the last tour for Kiss? I doubt it. Those guys love to entertain, and Gene Simmons loves to make money.

Irish Fest in Milwaukee

2010-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Although they won't be using the Marcus Amphitheater for any of the musical acts this weekend, Irish Fest will be celebrating its 30th season on the Summerfest grounds. Grab your friend, don your greenest outfit, and join all the Irish-for-a-day festival goers. Irish Fest Milwaukee is reported to be one of the largest in the United States. Still, I can't help but think that there will be lots of leg room on the festival grounds.

Summerfest South End Renovations Near Marcus Amphitheater

2010-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

The south end of the Summerfest grounds will undergo a major face lift. If you have ever been to Summerfest, you know that some areas are much more modern, when compared to others. The M&I Stage was recently moved, or shall we say "pointed" to the west. That area, and pretty much the entire southern section of Summerfest will once again be freshened up.

The renovations will cost somewhere near the $25 million mark. This change should provide a happier, and much more comfortable and enjoyable experience. The Miller Lite stage is a great example of what the southern stage will look like when the renovations are complete. That means fans near the rear tables will have large HD screens to view the band. These updates continue to bring fans of music down to the lake, year after year.

Who Works the Spotlights at the Marcus Amphitheater?

2010-07-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

I was browsing for cool photos of the Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest shows when I came upon a blogpost from an obscure website. The photo was a crowd shot from the stage area. I guess the angle and view of this photo is what the artist sees.

This post was all about what is called a Robert Juliat Victor 1159 followspot. To you and me, I think that they are talking about a spotlight. The Marcus Amphitheater is full of spotlights, rigging, speakers. I don't really care who's running the spots, just that they hit their mark.

Next up for Marcus Amphitheater is the Vans Warped Tour

2010-07-21T08:52:00.001-07:00

July 29, the Vans Warped Tour comes to the Marcus Amphitheater. There are so many bands on the Vans website, that I could not possibly list them all. Where do you begin if you are a fan?

The Band List Scheduled for Marcus Amphitheater:

Death Punch
Dickies
Emarosa
Testing for Echo
Streetlight Manifesto
The Adolescents
The Snips
The Uptones
The Mighty Regis

The list goes on and on. The Milwaukee Summerfest grounds is the perfect place for the event. Let's hope that the weather cooperates.

Summerfest 2010 Memories

2010-07-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tom Petty at the Marcus Amphitheater was the best show of Summerfest 2010. He has no fake backing tracks, his drummer doesn't use triggers, and Tom Petty actually plays guitar when he hits the stage. I can't say the same thing for someone like Justin Bieber, but he performed at the festival too.

ZZ Top was solid, and could have been a headline act at a side stage. Speaking of side stage, DEVO at the Miller Lite stage was awesome. I loved it when Boogie Boy heaved hundreds of super balls out into the crowd. The band was tight, if not solid.

The Summerfest grounds and Marcus Amphitheater are not dark yet. There are the ethnic festivals, and one off shows to come. See you at Summerfest 2011.

Devo at Miller Light Stage as Carrie Undewood Plays at Marcus

2010-07-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

I don't think that the two groups will overlap. Carrie Underwood is performing at the Marcus Amp. tonight, and DEVO is doing their thing at the Miller Light stage. The two fan bases shall never meet.

Underwood brings out the country fans, and DEVO has a devoted following of post-punk, new wave followers. Tonight's crowd might be thinned out with it being a holiday. I hope to get to the Captain's Deck for a cold one before joining my DEVO Devotees.

Usher Marcus Amphitheater Show Quicly Selling Out

2010-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

I see that the Usher Marcus Amphitheater show is quickly becoming a sell out. Usher Marcus Amphitheater tickets were easily available as of last week. Now the tickets are moving fast. I wonder if the weather has something to do with it. It's supposed to be a great night.

Usher fans will not want to miss this show. I was at the Marcus Amp. for Petty on Saturday night, and before the fog rolled it, it was hot. It cooled off, and got pretty dark around the lake that night. Petty was fairly good. I was there more for ZZ Top.

As for Usher, the show starts at 7:30. I'm fired up that Lyfe Jennings is opening. To bad he only gets around 45 minutes of time to perform. See you at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Summerfest Milwaukee List of Shows You Cannot Afford To Miss

2010-06-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Summerfest Milwaukee shows are too many to list, but if I were to touch up on some of the "can't miss" nights, I would say that the following are key performances. This list is just my own, but you might agree with these non Marcus Amphitheater bands.

June 24 Beatallica the local Milwaukee Metal/Beatle Boys

June 25 Public Enemy will bring the house down at the US Cellular stage

June 26 Uriah Heep plays the M&I Classic Rock Stage

June 27 Sunday Night with B.B. King must not be missed

June 28 Dot Dot Dot performs at the Miller Light Oasis

There may be bigger acts to mention, but this short list covers the first five nights of the biggest summer festival in the world.

Tom Petty Summerfest at Marcus Amphitheater June 25-26

2010-06-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Tom Petty will open Summerfest at the Marcus Amphitheater. He's playing two nights, with ZZ Top as the opening act. I'm going to be there on June 26. In order to get a great eight pack of Summerfest tickets for this show, I had to settle for section six. Still, the seats are on the aisle, and should be good enough.

Summerfest ticket holders certainly love Tom Petty. The fact that he's playing two nights in a row should tell you that. As a musician, he must enjoy the fact that he's not getting on a tour bus just minutes after the show ends on June 25. Heck, we might see Mr. Petty wandering the Summerfest grounds! It's been known to happen. If you park your butt at a good spot on the grounds, you are sure to see some of the performers enjoying the festival. They are big fans of music, and if your favorite band is playing just yards from your stage, wouldn't you want to check them out?

K-I-S-S-ing At The Marcus Amp, KISS Performing September 7

2010-06-09T10:58:00.001-07:00

KISS will be repeat offending at the Marcus Amphitheater later this summer on Thursday September 2. The glam rockers will be one of the final acts the amphitheater sees in 2010, with one more show on September 7 by the Jonas Brothers. Personally, anything after Summerfest this year at the amphitheater is looking dismal at best. I mean, seriously? Why can’t more sweet shows like the Most Wanted tour in 2009 with Lil Wayne and Drake come back? If KISS tickets are a little out of either your price range or you sanity is worth too much to risk on the outgrown hair metal rockers, you can get Gene Simmons in smaller doses on his show Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels. Despite my disdain for KISS, I am a serious sucker for reality TV and the show is actually quite funny.

Justin Bieber at Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater Milwaukee | How Long with Bieber Sing?

2010-06-02T07:43:00.001-07:00

When Justin Bieber plays the Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee, how long will his set list be? How many songs does this child singer know? When he last came to town, he sang five songs. The crowd left the venue wondering what happened.

From Justin Bieber's May 15th show at the Staples Center in L.A. we found out that he sang a grand total of eight songs. Two of the songs were covers. At his Tokyo Japan show in late April, he sang six songs. One of those songs was a Ne-Yo cover. His biggest show came on March 21 in Houston, where he managed to perform 11 numbers, with three being covers. When will Justin Bieber come up with more material? I doubt that this 16 year old is writing anything. At the Marcus Amphitheater show during Summerfest, he will certainly need an opening act. He doesn't have enough material to fill an evening on his own.

Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest Grounds from the Air

2010-05-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to fly over the Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest grounds this weekend. Downtown Milwaukee doesn't look so impressive from the air. At night, the city is lit up nicely, but during the day, our skyline looks pretty small. What really sticks out to me is the Summerfest grounds.

I passed over the grounds during the day, and there were no people, no bands, no nothing. I had to imagine what it would be like to fly over Summerfest and spot 100,000 people all having a great time. The Marcus Amphitheater stage must certainly look impressive from the air when the venue is sold out.

Yes, just south of the Amphitheater, you will find the Milwaukee water treatment plant. Still, you can't see it from the ground. The pond, and the breakwater had a blue glow, as I flew past. The Summerfest stages look ready, and from 1000 feet up, everything looked so clean. We're just one month away from the Summerfest fun.

Jonas Brothers Marcus Amphitheater September 7th

2010-05-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Jonas Brothers will perform at the Marcus Amphitheater on September 7th. It's just after Labor Day, and it's a school night. I don't know if that will hinder the ticket sales, but one would think that their drop in popularity, coupled with the show date will make this night an "off."

The Jonas Brothers have been white hot, and are now heading into the "burned out" realm. No offense to Jonas Brothers fans, or parents who love that their kids love them, it's just that everyone grows up.

Verge Festival Milwaukee Summerfeset Grounds

2010-05-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Verge Festival at the Milwaukee Summerfest grounds will not include the Marcus Amphitheater itself. They don't need the venue per say, but I was surprised to see the layout at Summerfest for this two day event.

A quick check of the Verge Festival site, shows pictures of people hanging out near the Miller Lite stage. The picture is a mish-mosh of Summerfest fans cut and pasted to look like there are part of a massive crowd. I expect the crowds to be large for the headline acts, but if you hit Verge at 5pm, you will certainly be able to walk about and enjoy the space.

As for the "what not to bring" listing: - Backpacks and Large bags- Food- Cans, glass or plastic bottles- Alcohol- Contraband- Pets (exception: service animals)- Laser pointers- Lawn chairs- Skateboards (except credentialed competitors)- Inline skates- Coaster wagons- Kites- Frisbees- Picnic baskets- Professional Grade Video Equipment- Recording devices

This is pretty standard for any festival. You don't want to bring any of this stuff, unless you want to be turned away at the gate. Verge festival starts on Friday, June 4th, and runs until midnight June 5.

American Idols At Marcus Amphitheater 2010

2010-05-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

The American Idols will perform at the Marcus Amphitheater on July 2, 2010. This was the last open slot for Summerfest in Milwaukee. The top ten finalists will be singing their hearts out at the world's largest music festival.

Lee DeWyze, Tim Urban, Casey James and seven others will grace the Marcus Amp. stage. American Idols Milwaukee tickets will surely go fast. This is one of those shows that parents don't mind taking their children to.

Marcus Amphitheater Seating Chart

2010-04-28T06:06:00.001-07:00

The Marcus Amphitheater seating chart helps me understand just where I will be sitting for every Summerfest show. The venue holds 23,000 people, and a good map can get you to your seat. Why not save yourself some time and use the map to get to where you are going?

This year, there are a few changes in the seating area. For many shows, there will be a pit right in front of the Marcus Amphitheater stage. Will the standing crowd block the view of those just behind it? I doubt it. There is a wheelchair accessible platform just to the right of the stage as well. This makes it easy for disabled rock and roll fans to get a great view of the bands.

When you look at your Marcus Amphitheater tickets, seat number one is always to the right. That means if you are sitting in section three, you want the low seat numbers. If you are sitting in section one, you want the higher seat numbers. Section two is the middle section, so it really doesn't matter what seat number you have.

The Milwaukee venue has a natural rise to it starting around row K. It helps to have that rise, so you can see above the heads of the people in front of you. I enjoy sitting around row X, which is roughly 23 rows from the stage, depending on the section you sit in. It is still close enough to see well, and the sound coming from the stage is great from that distance. Just behind you are eight rows of seats, then the walkway that separates the "red" section from the "yellow." It's an easy way to get to the concession stands and back to your seat.

The only area I have not sat in for a Marcus Amphitheater show is the bleachers. I have sat in on the lawn, and actually stood at the back of the venue. I sat in the yellow section number six, and got as close as section one, row K at Lollapalooza. As long as the weather is nice, and you are not too far over to the left or right, you are going to have a great view of the stage.

Usher Added to Marcus Amphitheater Lineup for Milwaukee Summerfest 2010

2010-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

My 2010 Milwaukee Summerfest music dreams have become music realities after today's announcement that Usher has been added to the 2010 Milwaukee Summerfest schedule! Set to perform on June 30th at the Marcus Amphitheater, you better believe I am going to spring for front row tickets. We're talking section 2, row A, in the middle of the row. I want to be up close and personal for the Usher concert so I'm going to get my 2010 Milwaukee Summmerfest Usher tickets as soon as humanly possible.

Modest Mouse coming to Summerfest 2010

2010-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

The latest concert announcement for Summerfest is Modest Mouse on July 3. This is the same night that Rush plays the Marcus Amp. Modest Mouse will be on a side stage on the Summerfest grounds.

The stage has yet to be picked for the Summerfest Modest Mouse show. My guess would be that it's not the M&I stage. Perhaps the US Cellular stage?
I have just checked out the Summerfest site, and caught a glimpse of the Elvis Costello backstage interview from 2009. Too bad that mix was so horrible. I had to leave after about 30 minutes of listening to mush.

Rush Coming to Summerfest 2010

2010-04-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Catch the mist, catch the myth, catch the mystery, catch the drift as Rush takes to the Marcus Amphitheater on July 3rd during Summerfest. You will not want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Canadian rock stars living in the limelight (the universal dream) as they rock the Marcus Amphitheater into oblivion. This is the kind of concert I’ve been waiting for in the Summerfest 2010 lineup. I’ll admit it’s been a few years since I’ve actually purchased tickets to a main stage show at Summerfest, but you better believe I am going to fly by night to get my Rush Summerfest tickets 2010. I’ve never seen these guys in concert and since they are going to play Moving Pictures in its entirety, I’d like to get as close as possible to the stage. I can already tell this is going to be a concert for the ages, one I will forever keep closer to the heart.

Vans Warped Tour Milwaukee July 29

2010-04-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

The Vans Warped Tour comes to the Marcus Amphitheater on July 29, 2010. I think that this tour goes back to 1995. At least that's what I see on the website. This year, I counted over 40 bands on the roster.

It looks like you need to pick your stages, run back and fourth between them, and have a great time as usual. Who would be my pick for the 2010 Vans Warped tour favorite? I like the sounds of Dirty Little Rabbits. Their EP title Simon features Stella on vocals, who does sound a bit like Gwen Stafani, but not nearly as overproduced and fake. The band has the chops, and I'll be there at the Vans Warped tour in time to see the Dirty Little Rabbits hit the stage.

The Dropkick Murphys, Dickies, Anti-Flag and Pennywise are all part of the massive line up. Reel Big Fish, Of Mice and Men, and Neo Geo will tag along on this tour. Milwaukee's Summerfest grounds will be teeming with young and not so young, when the Vans Warped Tour comes to town.

Brooks and Dunn Marcus Amphitheater Tickets Available

2010-04-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

Country rock stars Brooks and Dunn will be stopping by the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest 2010 as a part of their farewell tour. Brooks and Dunn Marcus Amphitheater tickets will soon be available for the country show of the season. Milwaukee loves its country music so I'd get on that quickly if I were you! You don't want to miss your last chance to see Brooks and Dunn. If you are a true blue country fan, no doubt you'll want to put your Brooks and Dunn Marcus Amphitheater tickets in your scrapbook.

Eric Clapton Roger Daltrey Summerfest June 28 Tickets

2010-03-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Eric Clapton and Roger Daltry Marcus Amphitheater tickets will be a hot item this Summerfest June 28th, 2010. The show was announced just today, and classic rock fans could not be more excited. These two rock gods will fill the Marcus Amphitheater with rabid fans.

Eric Clapton has a musical history that spans over 45 years. From his start with the Yardbirds, to John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, to Cream, Clapton made his mark every step of the way. He went solo in the 1970's, and struggled during that time. With help from friends like Pete Townshend, he kept his career alive during that decade.

During the 1980's he worked with Jeff Beck, Tina Turner, and Steve Winwood. Working his way into the 1990's Eric Clapton Played many many shows, collaborated with younger artists and revived his status as rock legend. This special show, featuring Roger Daltry of The Who comes during a busy year for Eric Clapton. He spent time playing with Jeff Beck this spring, and Steve Winwood in early summer.

Justin Bieber Bleacher Seats | Summerfest Gambles

2010-03-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber Bleacher seats were still available at the time of this post. It's nearly 72 hours since tickets went on sale, and the venue has filled up nicely. I am the first to say that it's a surprise. Is this young hearthrob that popular? He has just a few songs that are getting pop radio airplay.

Summerfest booked Bieber just a few weeks ago, and many old school fans were disapointed. They would love it if the old style rock would remain a staple at the Summerfest Marcus Amp. Not so anymore. It's country, rock, and now pop. I'll bet that Bieber will be a sell out in the next two weeks.

Summerfest Lady Gaga Milwaukee Show | It Was Not the Proper Venue

2010-03-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who wished to see Lady Gaga at Summerfest, did you really think that it would happen? Lady Gaga is white hot right now. She was not going to play an outdoor festival, even if the Marcus Amphitheater has a roof.

Think about it. She has costume changes, huge props, and big piles of dancers. There was no way that the gig would be at Summerfest. Lady Gaga announced her Bradley Center show for September 2. That's the perfect venue for her show. The entire floor will be general admission. Reserved Bradly Center tickets will be close to $200 each. Ouch!

Will she still be that popular in six months? I'm sure that she will. Two years from now, perhaps not. She's smart to ride the crest of this wave. The shore is coming up fast, and she needs to have a plan at the ready. If she strips down her shows and reveals herself, will the fans accept her? Let's take a look at similar acts. Pink certainly has a travelling circus to back her up. She didn't strip down yet, and it's paying off. Britney Spears will never scale back her performance. That may leave enough room for the fans to see that it's all smoke an mirrors. Madonna, as old as she is, didn't hold back, and never has.

It's safe to say that Lady Gaga will always have some sort of flying debris, costume laden, fluff and flash tour. She has that pesky 32 million dollar lawsuit to settle, but after that, it's full steam ahead.

Summerfest 2010: Justin Bieber Will Play the Marcus Ampitheater

2010-03-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee Justin Bieber fans can let out a sigh of relief because the Canadian teen pop star has been scheduled for Summerfest 2010. Justin Bieber will perform one show at the Marcus Amphitheater on Sunday, June 27th. An opening act has not been announced, but I can only imagine who might tour with him. Ludacris? Usher? Miley? The entire crew who re-recorded Michael Jackson's "We are the World" alongside Bieber? Die hard Justin Bieber fans will not want to miss this one. For those of you who aren't familiar with Bieber's repertoire, you will score major brownie points with the important tween in your life if you can secure Summerfest 2010 Justin Bieber tickets.

Vans Warped Tour Milwaukee July 29, 2010

2010-03-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Vans Warped tour will come to Milwaukee on July 29, 2010. Who will be part of the lineup? Here is a sample from the Warped site: Andrew W.K., Anti-Flag, Brazz Tackz, Confide, Dickies, FEAR, Haste The Day, and more. This will be a multi-stage, extravaganza. Don't forget the merch booths.

Companies on the road with the Vans Warped tour will include Vans, Alternative Press, Wonka, and more. On that hot summer day, you might be able to get a tattoo, buy some vans, and see a few great bands. It's too bad that Fu*kFace isn't on the Vans Warped tour this year. They just released their self titled disk on Latest Flame records.

Summerfest Tom Petty tickets | Two nights at Marcus Amphitheater

2010-03-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

We all know that Tom Petty Summerfest tickets are always in high demand. When he comes to town, the fans won't be denied. For 2010, Summerfest booked him for two nights at the Marcus Amphitheater. I'm beginning to wonder if this booking is a wise idea? Don't get me wrong, Petty is great. Is he "two nights in a row" great?

Let's see, it's an eleven day festival, they will surely book three country headliners, and with Petty booked for two nights, they have six more tries to get some fresh, non-country music lined up. I have read the stories that Tom Petty "books his tour around Summerfest," but this is quite surprising. Is this booking influenced by the new "alternative festival?"

Petty will perform on June 25 and 26th. Tickets have not gone on sale as of yet. When it happens, we will post that on sale date. ZZ Top is the opening act.

Summerfest Shows | One Summerfest Show From The Past

2010-02-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

One Summerfest Show that I was too young to see, was George Carlin. In 1972, George Carlin was performing on a Summerfest side stage. He said the "Seven Words You Can't Say On TV," and the cops promptly arrested him at the end of his act.

Milwaukee Summerfest has come a long way since then. The grounds along the lakefront are pristine, and monitored constantly. It may be dark near the rocks but rest assured, there are eyes in the sky watching you. Everyone wants to be safe at the fest.

If George Carlin were alive today, what stage would he be performing on? The comedy stage, of course. Speaking of comedy, it's too bad that Summerfest killed off the Comedy Sportz stage. That was something you could bring your kids to see. It was a perfect event for the middle of the afternoon, when you were still not quite ready to rock.

Milwaukee Alternative Festival Still Has No Name

2010-02-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

Milwaukee alternative festival has yet to be named. There is a contest where you can enter a name. Currently, it's called "yourmusicfest." If I'm reading the contest rules correctly, you have to submit a name and a logo. I can only imagine what kind of logos will hit the desks of the powers that be. If you win, you get two passes to the festival, six three-day passes to Summerfest, four single day passes, and 11 more one day passes to Summerfest. They are kicking in a $100 gift card too. The cash value is 250.

As interesting as this opportunity may be for someone, I can't help but think that this is Summerfest's way of getting a logo, name, and about 10,000 email addresses on the cheap. The cost to have a professional create a logo, with revisions is around $1000 and up. The cost of having a marketing firm create a name is around the same. Okay, I'm probably just a jaded Summerfest attendee, but these guys should just name this darn festival on their own.

Carrie Underwood Summerfest 2010 Marcus Amphitheater July 4

2010-02-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

It's official, Carrie Underwood will perform at Summerfest 2010 at the Marcus Amphitheater. This is the second country music act to be announced for 2010. Underwood will perform on July 4th. The support act has yet to be announced.

Summerfest Management Announces Alternative Music Festival for Milwaukee

2010-02-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

The event has yet to be named. There will be three stages being used at the Summerfest grounds. So far, we're thinking that one of them will be the Marcus Amphitheater. June 4th and June 5th, we will see new, emerging, and solidly established rock acts. It's $25 per day or $40 for a full pass.

Dave Matthews Band Too Big for Marcus Amphitheater Summerfest Show

2010-01-27T07:26:00.001-08:00

After the announcement that Dave Matthews will be at Alpine Valley on July 3rd and July 4th, I was somewhat disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I like Alpine Valley, but if Dave Matthews would have played at the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest, the show would have been amazing. Imagine the crowd at Summerfest for that show.

If DMB is putting their summer tour together, we should be looking at Summerfest concert announcements soon. By March, you have to think that half of the Marcus Amp. shows will be booked.

Tim McGraw June 24 Summerfest Show

2010-01-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

Tim McGraw fans bought up tickets in big numbers this week. His fan club website had a limited number of Summerfest Marcus Amphitheater tickets available. Tim McGraw is the only Summerfest headline act that has locked in for 2010. More announcements will come this spring, to be sure.

Summerfest 2010 Marcus Amphitheater annoucement

2010-01-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

Tim McGraw is the only Marcus Amphitheater concert announcement for 2010 so far. I have a feeling that another Summerfest show will be set soon. Will it be a rock band, country, band, R&B, or pop superstar?

I'm guessing the the pop superstar angle won't happen. They rise and fall so fast, that if the show were booked this early, they might fall from grace by the time that they hit the Marcus Amphitheater stage during Summerfest.

Marcus Amphitheater after the Brewers Game at Miller Park

2010-01-05T12:49:00.001-08:00

During Summerfest, the Milwaukee Brewers will be in town for two different series. On July 5th, they face the Colorado Rockies. That game starts at 1:10pm. Since it should end around five pm, that gives all you Summerfest fans time to head over to the Marcus Amp to see the Summerfest show. Why not be a big city fan, and go to both?

Summerfest Milwaukee tickets, still a bargain for 2010

2009-12-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

For the amount of music, food, and fun available Summerfest Milwaukee tickets are a bargain. Yes, you need to buy an additional ticket to get into the Marcus Amphitheater, but there is so much to do and see on the Summerfest grounds, you could possibly skip the Marcus Amphitheater shows once in a while.

The Summerfest admission prices have not gone up every year, so you know that it's still about the music. You may have to pay extra for a beer or food, but getting in the door will not cost too much. We're still six months away from the first Marcus Amp. show, but it's exciting to think about it.

Best Marcus Amphitheater Shows | Center Section at Summerfest

2009-12-22T11:50:00.001-08:00

Some of my greatest experiences at the Marcus Amphitheater and Summerfest grounds are definitely the years I went to the Vans Warped Tour. The entire grounds were used and nearly a dozen stages were constructed to offer fans many different sounds, styles and genres. Sprinkled throughout the stages are many different merchandise booths, information tables, concession and drink stands, skateboard ramps and of course, lots and lots of sweaty kids.

Along with the Summerfest grounds, the stage in the Marcus Amphitheater is used as well. One of the best performances I’ve seen inside the amphitheater was Big D and the Kids Table, one of my favorite ska bands ever. The amphitheater was not full so I got a really great seat in section two, front and center! It was a nice break to be underneath the cool shade of the amphitheater after being outside in the hot sun all afternoon. Looking back now in this snowy December weather, I can’t think of what I wouldn’t give to be out in the sun at the Summerfest grounds right now.

Lollapalooza at Marcus Amphitheater

2009-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

I just had a flashback to the Lollapalooza 2003 show at the Marcus Amphitheater a few years ago. The Milwaukee Summerfest grounds were fenced off for some other event, but the crowd at Lollapalooza was huge.

I got to the show just before Chris Cornell of Audioslave came onstage. He seemed miffed that the crowd didn't bow down to him as soon as he walked on stage. After a couple of songs, nobody was standing. He said something like "Milwaukee, get off your fat asses, and cheer!" That went over really well. Thousands of fans were ready for Jane's Addiction, and I guess that he figured it out when everyone sat down after five minutes of Audioslave.

Since then, Lollapalooza has not come back to Milwaukee's Summerfest grounds. It may happen again, but we don't know.

Marcus Center Seating | A Place for every Summerfest fan to sit

2009-12-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

I remember handing my center section, Marcus Amphitheater tickets over to a nice young woman who was headed to the bleachers. It was the break between Bauhaus and Trent Reznor at Summerfest. We came to see Bauhaus, and had no desire to sit so close to the Marcus Amphitheater stage for the next show.

They didn't believe us when we offered to trade our tickets for theirs. Eventually, they took the tickets and happily headed down to seats. We had more fun up near the beer stands on a warm summer night.

Who's Excited for Milwaukee Summerfest 2010??

2009-12-02T14:04:00.001-08:00

Even though the snow hasn’t come yet, I am already dying to find out the lineup for Summerfest in 2010. I’m not sure who is going to be hitting up the Marcus Amphitheater main stage other than Tim McGraw, but if things were my way I would love to see some great female acts this coming summer. Some chicks I think would rock the stage best are Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Time for some girl power up at Summerfest! Only time will tell if my wishes are granted…

Marcus Amphitheater hosts Milwaukee Summer Festivals

2009-11-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Though the Henry Maier Festival Grounds are most popularly known for playing host to the annual music festival Summerfest, the property is home to many of Milwaukee’s best festivals that most people don’t even realize.

One of the first events at the grounds each summer is Polish Festival, a great celebration of the Polish heritage with food, music and other cultural traditions. Next, Summerfest, the 10 day annual music event with 11 stages including the Marcus Amphitheater, features music from hundreds of live bands daily. Festa Italiana is later in the summer and is the second largest festival in Milwaukee and features Italian cuisine and culture along with a fireworks display nightly.

German Fest is a great event to relax and grab a brew, check out old-work artistry demonstrations and indulge in cuisine and is North America’s largest annual German festival. African World Festival is another fabulous event at the grounds to observe and enjoy culture, heritage and family activities. Arab World Festival is another great example of the diversity of events at the grounds, offering the cuisine, entertainment and traditional belly dancing among other cultural traditions and they even have live camel rides! Irish Fest is the world’s largest Irish festival and takes place annually on the third weekend of August and offers a great treat for Irish culture, dance and music enthusiasts. Mexican Fiesta offers up some spice on the lakefront and features the mouth-watering Latin and Mexican cuisine, marketplace goods and traditional music and dance. The last but definitely not least festival of the year at the Henry Mayer Festival grounds is Indian Summer which pays tribute to the Native Americans in the US and includes a competition Pow-Wow, a torch lit canoe procession prior to a fireworks display and various dance troupes.

Hope this list of all of these great events at the Henry Maier Festival Grounds is helpful and inspires you to get ahead on plans for next summer.

Summerfest Headline Acts, A View from the Marcus Amphitheater Stage

2009-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

The Marcus Amphitheater can hold 23,000 fans. When the venue is full, you can hear the roar of the crowd from the M&I stage just north of the venue. Summerfest Headline acts happily play for those thousands of fans for ten days. Sometimes the lawn section is free, if you grab a wristband when the Summerfest grounds open for the day.

The Summerfest bleacher sections are reserved, but when the crowd is smaller, you can find a spot to sit on the benches. There have been shows where you can try to work your way down to the reserved sections. Summerfest has only one 2010 headliner so far. I would expect that it will be months before the next act is locked in.

Marcus Amphitheater South Entrance at Summerfest Milwaukee

2009-11-13T06:47:00.000-08:00

It’s never too early to begin planning your Summerfest excursion for this next summer. When thinking about attending Summerfest, it’s important to consider things like where should I park? Once I get down there, how can I enter the Summerfest grounds? Conveniently located along the lakefront, Milwaukee’s Summerfest Grounds has three separate entrance gates: the north gate, the central gate, and the south gate. The North gate is located just across from the Art Museum while the central gate is in the middle of the park near the ticket booths and the motorcycle parking lot. Finally, the south gate is next to the Marcus amphitheater. If you have tickets to a show at the Marcus amphitheater, it is best to use the south gate. As always, your ticket to the Marcus amphitheater includes the price of Summerfest admission.

Tim McGraw at Summerfest June 24th

2009-11-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Though the leaves have fallen from the trees and the cool weather is in full effect, the Milwaukee World Festival officials have not forgotten about Summerfest 2010. The first Summerfest show officially scheduled will be country star Tim McGraw on June 24 at the Marcus Amphitheater.

His opening acts will be Lady Antebellum and Love and Theft. The ticket prices and the date of their on-sale are yet to be determined but it has been made official that Summerfest will be running from June 24 to July 4, 2010.

Summerfest Admission at with Marcus Amphitheater tickets

2009-10-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

Situated next to the M&I stage on the Summerfest grounds, the Marcus Amphitheater boasts some of the summer’s hottest tickets around! Case in point, Kiss played there this past summer. When you purchase a ticket to a concert at the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest, admission to Summerfest is included with the price of your ticket. When you enter the Summerfest grounds, your ticket will be scanned and then once you arrive at the entrance to the amphitheater, your ticket will be scanned again. The quickest way to access the Marcus Amphitheater is to enter the grounds at the south gate entrance.

During the Summerfest season, certain shows at the Marcus Amphitheater have free seating available. On the day of selected shows, a limited supply of wristbands that grant free lawn access are made available on a first come, first serve basis. Wristbands are only available once you have paid you have paid for your ticket to the Summerfest grounds. All Marcus Amphitheater events are rain or shine, so all sales are final.

Marcus Amphitheater Seating Chart, Sections, And Reviews

2009-10-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee is an outdoor music venue that has a capacity of 23,000. The theatre is divided into four main categories of seats. The red sections numbered one, two, and three, is closest to the stage and is covered. The center section at the Marcus Amp. begins with row A and goes up to row GG. Sections 1 and 3 start with row D, and go to Row GG.

The seating area begins to slightly elevate at row M and continues to elevate the rest of the way up all the way to the back of the venue. This allows the people sitting in sections further back to still have a clear view of the stage. The yellow area, sections four through eight, are right behind the red area and is also a covered section. This section has rows A through X.

These two sections are actual seats with backs, ample aisle space and leg room. Following these areas the bleacher sections begin. The bleachers are the Marcus Amphitheater area that is not covered and made up of benches, as opposed to chairs. The open general admission grass section wraps around the back of the venue and is the final area for which tickets are sold.

Whether you are looking for the best seats at the Marcus Amphitheater up front and center in the red section, or just want to get in to see the show and sit in the bleachers, there are plenty of seats to choose from.

Marcus Amphiteater Shows and Summerfest Moments

2009-10-05T06:35:00.001-07:00

Summertime in Milwaukee brings around a lot of fun and exciting things to do. One of the main events that pull people from numerous states to come here is Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival. With a dozen different stages to choose from, there is an assortment of music to listen to. The only concerts that require additional admission are at the Marcus Amphitheatre. This outdoor venue, with a capacity of 23,000, easily sells out. Fans lined up and filed in to see their favorite bands perform. Whether you are into Rock and Roll, Country, R&B, Pop, or Soul, music lovers of all sorts could get their fill with the plethora of artists that came to the Marcus Amphitheatre in 2009.

The 2009 concert lineup started on the opening night of Summerfest with a completely sold out concert showcasing Bon Jovi. Summerfest tickets are always available, but you never know if if the Marcus Amphitheater shows will sell out. The lawn seats at the back of the venue were flooded with people excited at having the chance to be there in the theatre. All of the fans eagerly awaited the much anticipated event.

Keith Urban, with special opening guest Counting Crows, also packed the house for another off the charts performance. At one point during the show Keith Urban walked off the Marcus Amphitheater stage, down the aisle, and to the middle of the walkway that separates the red and yellow sections. A stool and microphone were there waiting for him. He sat down and addressed the crowd by saying, “Who has the best seat in the house now?” He sang a few songs from there and then made his way back up to the stage, shaking hands and high fiving everyone he passed. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the concert, as well as how Keith interacted so well with the adoring fans.

Additional country stars George Strait, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Antebellum wowed the thousands of admirers who came out to those concerts. The nights that these artists performed at the Marcus Amphitheater, there was a sea of country fans donned from head to toe in cowboy hats, jeans, and, boots. With an assortment of songs like “Beer in Mexico” by Kenny Chesney, right on down to “Honk if You Honky Tonk” by George Strait, everyone went home with a smile on their face.

UWMilwaukee Pantherfest Marcus Amphitheater tickets available

2009-09-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

The early forecast for Milwaukee this Friday calls for sunny weather, and no rain. We're in the middle of a wonderful warm spell. Let's hope that the third year of Pantherfest will have large crowds at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Drawing the fans in will be Dashboard Confessional and Common. Call it "Screamo" or "Emo," Dashboard confessional led the pack of those that wear their emotions on their sleeves. They are five years into riding the wave of emotionally charged music. Marcus Amphitheater tickets are still available for that show.

Hip Hop fans will recognize Common, as one of the top level acts currently in rotation. You can hear his "music" in films and on the radio. In between the acts, there will be a fireworks display. The sun sets earlier and earlier these days, but that just leaves more time for music at The Marcus Amphitheater.

Lil Wane at Marcus Amphitheater and Universal Soul Circus at Summerfest

2009-09-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Universoul Circus will be in full swing at the same time Lil Wayne hits the Marcus Amphitheater stage. The Summerfest grounds can play host to multiple events at the same town. The question for me is where does the tent go up for the circus?

I have no clue as to where the circus would set up, but I'm sure that the Summerfest grounds have a few great locations for a tent. The sad thing is that this circus still has animals. It's widely out of favor to have animals penned up, and confined to small cages. None the less, this circus still features tigers and elephants. Perhaps time will tell, but for now, I would never attend a circus that featured animals.

Lil Wayne performs at the Marcus Amphitheater, and the show starts at 7pm. It's a perfect night for the festivities.

Lil Wayne the Next Marcus Amphitheater Show

2009-08-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

Lil Wayne performs at the Marcus Amphitheater on September 2nd. Lil Wayne started his career on Cash Money Records. He was with the Hot Boys at that time. His solo album came out in 1999.

In 2001, Lil Wayne was shot by what he considered to be fans. These fans fired a few bullets into his tour bus. The bullet was slowed by the glass, and Lil Wayne was saved from a more serious injury. In 2004, Lil Wayne found success in his album Tha Carter.

At times, Lil Wayne has suffered artistically through the leaking of his music prior to its release. Other times, he's the cause of the delays. His latest album, Rebirth has yet to be released. We might see Lil Wayne's album on store shelves this November.

Summerfest Bands used to be booked by Bo Black

2009-07-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

I thought it was worth mentioning that Bo Black's name still gets mentioned when people talk about Summerfest. My friends think that she did a great job booking the bands for Summerfest. I realize that she probably didn't actaully book every single act.

These same friends recall that she also dated Tom Treblehorn, the former Milwaukee Brewers coach. She was certainly a person that would get her face in front of a camera, just to promote Summerfest. With each opening day, year in and year out, Bo Black would be on local television with that big smile of hers.

Summerfest Stages, and Marcus Amphitheater concerts

2009-07-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Looking back on Summerfest 2009, I must admit that I had a great time, and saw some awesome performances. As I can now compare Summerfest from year to year, I realized that many people don’t enjoy Summerfest to its full capacity. There are people that purchase tickets for a main stage act at the Marcus Amphitheater and see nothing else but that band. Many people also purchase parking passes for Lot H and have a special entrance to bypass the crowds. Though it is understandable that some people aren’t there to take part in the big hoopla of Summerfest and they just want to see one specific band, I personally enjoy most aspects of the fest. I love the crowds, the noise, and the excitement of it all.

When I go to Summerfest, I take the Freeway Flyer from the suburbs. The bus is usually fun and easy place to meet some new people and talk about what you’ll be doing once you arrive at the festival grounds. Everyone is pretty amped up to go hang out with friends and see their favorite bands so it is a pretty cool way to get there. In addition, you do not have to worry about parking. Once you arrive, its fun to walk around the grounds before you stop to see any music. Summerfest is a great place to spend a hot afternoon, down by the lakefront with some ice cream or lemonade. After enjoying weather and looking around at all the things vendors are selling, I check out the free stages. This past Summerfest, I saw Sound Tribe Sector 9, Matisyahu and Conor Oberst. They all put on awesome performances and it was a great opportunity to see big name acts for relatively inexpensive prices.

Summerfest is a great festival and fortunately, for us, it’s located in Milwaukee. Though it can be fun to get VIP treatment and skip lines and get preferred parking, it is also fun to enjoy all that Summerfest has to offer, lines and all.

Earth Wind and Fire Tickets, More Popular Then One Would Think?

2009-06-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to find out that the Earth, Wind, and Fire show at the Marcus was close to being sold out. That band had played a side stage last year, had been cancelled one year, and now they have nearly filled the Marcus Amp. When I checked with the box office, all I could find were a pair of bleacher seats near the back of the entire venue.

That surprises me. This band is coupled with Chicago, but they are not a huge draw either. It must be a nostalgia thing. Or perhaps it's just the right event for the older crowd to attend. Whatever the case, it should be a fantastic night of 1970's music. Earth, Wind, and Fire is one of those bands that had hit songs, but you would be hard pressed to remember the titles. When one of their songs starts up on the radio, that's when you say "oh yea, I know these guys."

Best Seats at the Marcus Amphitheater

2009-05-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I would suppose that it is all up to the person sitting in the seat, but I think I know the best views at the Marcus Amphitheater. It really depends on what type of experience you want to have.

I will start with the Trent Reznor show at Summerfest two years ago. I sat in the 20th row for the opening act. That was the band I wanted to see. The view was great, but the mix was terrible. It was all high end, and no bass. Visually, I could almost see the sweat on the faces of the musicians from that seat.

Before Trent came on stage, I handed my ticket to some kid who had a lawn seat. He was thrilled. I headed up to the beer booth at the top of the grass section. That booth is exposed to the elements, and that can a good thing. The evening was perfect. The breeze up there was warm. What amazed me was that the sound from the stage was so much better up there.

It was as if I was watching a show from a voyeuristic perspective, but that was ok to me. The sound was great, the lights were more effective, and that breeze was icing on the cake. When the show ended, I was one of the first to get out of the venue. No long lines for me.

Summerfest Dates Booked for 2009

2009-05-19T13:30:00.001-07:00

Kiss was the last band to be booked for the Summerfest run. They will play on June 27th. I don't have much to say about that. The Marcus Amphitheater tickets will cost you just shy of $90 after the fees are added up.

I don't know if this is a one-off show for Kiss, or if they are on tour. Why bother checking, they are coming ether way. Kiss had a few hit songs, but more than their fair share of fans. Perhaps it is the costumes, or the stage show, or the makeup. I don't that it's the quality of the music.

Things I've Already Forgotten at The Marcus Amphitheater...

2009-05-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Being a citizen of Milwaukee county, I've been to Summerfest grounds and of course been to the Marcus Amphitheater for a variety of events. The amphitheater is located on the south end of the Summerfest grounds (Henry Maier Festival Park as it is officially called) and has a seating capacity of 25,000. The venue caters to many different types of events from musical performances to presidential candidates, which my own experiences can reflect.

In 2006, I went to the Vans Warped Tour which is a national touring music festival, originally showcasing punk rock music but now featuring alternative rock, electronica and post-hardcore bands as well. When I went, a ska band called Big D and The Kids Table played in the amphitheater to a small crowd of about 200 kids. It was a great experience to have a more intimate performance in such a large venue. Another bonus was the amphitheater stayed nice and cool on such a hot summer afternoon and we danced and sang along more comfortably than if the show would have been outside. It was a great first experience at the Marcus Amphitheater.

A little more recently, I have seen Jack's Mannequin and Lupe Fiasco play for the UWM Pantherfest show and also I saw President Barack Obama speak on Labor Day. Pantherfest was a great experience because the university offered free shuttles from campus to the summerfest grounds and the concert was held in the Amphitheater. It was a great event because it was a diverse crowd because there were 2 totally different musical generes. It was also free for university students and still pretty cheap for nonstudents. The entire amphitheater was packed and the light show was great. I had excellent seats for both performances and had a blast.

Also seeing President Barack Obama on Labor Day was another very exciting experience in the Marcus Amphitheater. He came and spoke to the citizens of our community and gave a very enlightening and encouraging speech. This event was also free and was a great opportunity to see such a great speaker in a great venue. There was a very mixed crowd, with not only union workers but many students and other politically active community members.

Looking back on all of my random experiences at the Marcus Amphitheater, I can personally attest that it is a great venue to see a wide range of events in. It has a pretty large capacity and musical performances still come across pretty well. It's great location close to downtown Milwaukee and I94 makes it very accessible for people from all around the area. The Marcus Amphitheater is a great place to enjoy your next event this summer!