Summerfest

[statman0007]

So I'm going to sound like a terrible Wisconsinite, but I haven't been to Summerfest in years and I was wondering if someone could give me some info on how it works. If there is a specific concert at Summerfest that I want to go to do you buy the tickets in advance? If so, about how early do you have to get them and about how much do they run?

Thanks for any info you can give!

[pitchleague]

you're not a terrible Wisconsinite. You've at least gone to Summerfest before. I lived in WI for 26 years and not once did I go to Summerfest.

[rluzinski]

A general admission ticket gets you full access to all stages accept the Marcus Amphitheater. The Ampitheater has "free" grass seats usually available on a first come, first serve basis but they generally go very quick. Tickets to Summerfest were $12 last year (or was it $15?) but they have many specials to get in at a reduced price or for free. Ticket promotions and music acts have not been announced yet.

 

Summerfest.com

[brewcrewreview]

Many great side acts have already been signed so far!

 

Summerfest Concert Schedule

 

I'm really excited about Phil Vassar, Sugarland, Randy Travis, Weird Al, and George Thorogood!

 

 

(edit: compacted long link --1992casey)

[dadofandrew]

Wow, those are some big names for the side stages, but maybe some are for the main venue.

[brewcrewreview]

Nope.

[bork]

I also believe that buying a ticket to an act at the Marcus Amp. includes admission to Summerfest. Many acts recently have been charging for grass seats. I seem to recall prices for the few announced acts going for $25-$80.

 

As for when tickets go on sale, you'll have to check the concert announcements. They usually go on sale shortly after the concert is announced.

[PrinceFielder28]

So far they have signed one act i would go see and that is Roger Water's, but the tickets are way overpriced...we can blame ticketmaster for that.

[brettac1]

I think the only way I'll go is if Wilco is there. Otherwise, the only larger event I'm going to go to is the Pitchfork Music Festival (Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation in it's entirety, sign me up!).

[temke]

Quote:

---

So far they have signed one act

---

 

havent there been a couple amphitheater shows announced. some country person and some "current rock" band...neither of whom i can name right now...but remember hearing about them

 

EDIT: just looked it up. the first name i couldnt come up with was toby keith. the other was the fray. john mayer is also listed on pollstar.

[EsoxLazer]

I'm pretty bummed about not being able to make it to Summerfest this year. It will be the first time in many, many years that I haven't made it down there. Its not so much Summerfest as its the fact that many friends and old acquaintances come in from out of town and we all get together for a week of parties, concerts, and baseball games. They have some pretty good deals to get in at a discounted rate but they are making it harder and harder each year. I am pretty annoyed with the lack of handstamps/wristbands for acts at the Marcus. I guess thats just the way it goes with big business these days.

[brewcrewreview]

New headliner announced today:

 

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=582004

 

 

(edit: made link 'clickable' --1992casey)

[BrewCrewForever]

Yay Bon Jovi. I won't be at that show.

[patrickgpe]

i can already predict the threads here stating how summerfest is catering to the baby boomers and not people in my age group (mid 20's). This doesn't help

[buckingham94]

tickets for shows at the Marcus (i.e. not grass seats) do indeed include park admission. No, it wasn't an act of generosity by the fine folks at Summerfest, they just started tacking on an extra surcharge a few years back. But considering how much you'll already be paying in surcharges to Ticketmaster, you'll hardly notice!

 

As for grass seats, availability really depends on the show. For huge shows like Prince, or The Dead a few years back, they charge for grass seats, but they are still free for most shows. For smaller shows (like the inevitable and inexplicable annual BoDeans show) they don't even bother checking grass seat tickets, they just wave you in. For other shows (like Tom Petty a few years back) you have to get there right when the park opens to get free grass seats.

 

As for the side stages, for most bigger shows people will camp out all day in the front rows to save seats, so that might be an issue if you care about that. Otherwise hop up on a picnic table and enjoy.

 

And check the promotion schedule. A lot of times you can get in free with a few bags of frozen vegetables or a stack of old books or whatever, but you usually have to enter the park by a certain time.

 

 

And as far as who Summerfest is catering to, it is old people and hippies, because, according to my friend who has worked in the main office at Fest for the last several years, old folks and hippies buy a ton of beer and don't cause trouble.

[mothershipconnection]

Bon Jovi is a headliner while B.B. King, Frampton, Asia, and FOREIGNER are side acts? Heck, I'd rather pay to just see "Dirty White Boy" than go to a Bon Jovi concert for free.

[dadofandrew]

Colby will have to verify, but I think the Bon Jovi concert will be one of the top 2 draws at SF, barring a Beatles reunion (I don't know any other names at SF, to be honest). Supposedly, they are selling oodles of tiks at Country Jam in Eau Claire for the day they are there.

[TooLiveBrew]

Summerfest always does a great job of finding superb acts for the side stages.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that some artists prefer playing to a more intimate/smaller crowd, so it's not always a, "Summerfest gave Band A the Amp, and Band B the Leine's stage?!" situation.

 

BB King rules. Bon Jovi does not.

[temke]

bon jovi will sell out the amp

 

that is all you need to know

[gypcasino]

One thing to keep in mind is that some artists prefer playing to a more intimate/smaller crowd

 

Well that's what they'll tell you when they're relegated to playing smaller venues anyway.

[TooLiveBrew]

Well, and it's actually true for some "big" artists

[brettac1]

Heck, I'd rather pay to just see "Dirty White Boy" than go to a Bon Jovi concert for free.

 

You're "Cold as Ice", bro.

[uecker9]

You're "Cold as Ice", bro

 

ah, but he's no "Juice Box Hero".

[gypcasino]

Isn't Mick Jones the only original guy in Foreigner? If that doesn't scream "side act" I don't know what does.

[danzig6767]

Bon Jovi is a headliner while B.B. King, Frampton, Asia, and FOREIGNER are side acts? Heck, I'd rather pay to just see "Dirty White Boy" than go to a Bon Jovi concert for free.

 

Your post made me wonder how much i'd have to be paid to sit through a Bon Jovi concert.I'd assume there will be some nice eye candy in the crowd to look at outside of 35-40 year old women with heavy black eyeliner and to tight of jeans for their bodies.Regardless of some attractive ladies,i doubt that would be enough for me deal with two hours of Bon Jovi on my ears,even with free tickets.

 

Their music is brutal,but i gotta admit that i'd love to have lived John Bon Jovi's life for awhile.He probably could have set records for amount of tail begging to be with a guy.I was in my teens during those hair metal years,let's just say John was a tad bit popular with the girlies.

 

BTW,i can't believe Asia is actually still a band and getting gigs.You look around at popular current music of today and alot of these crappy 80's bands could outdraw them in concert i bet.Pretty strange to me how the majority of big selling concert acts are older bands or older solo acts.