Summerfest will officially celebrate Juneteenth for the first time in its 57-year history on opening night June 19, adding five more acts for the previously announced festivities Tuesday, including two playing the Milwaukee festival’s BMO Pavilion.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Isley Brothers will headline the BMO Pavilion June 19, with R&B veteran and Milwaukee native Eric Benét as their opening act. Reserved seats go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the box office (200 N. Harbor Drive) and summerfest.com. Prices have yet to be announced but will include Summerfest general admission June 19. Additional seating will be available for Summerfest general admission ticketholders on a first-come, first-served basis.
Three other acts have also been added to the lineup for June 19: rapper Fabolous, Buffalo Nichols and the Shonn Hinton Experience. The latter two have Milwaukee ties: Nichols is the stage name for Milwaukee music scene veteran and blues artist Carl Nichols, while Milwaukee native Hinton leads his own blues rock band in his hometown, in addition to high-profile guitar work, including a recent performance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” with Blackpink singer Rosé of her hit Bruno Mars collaboration “Apt.”
The five new acts join five that were previously announced for Summerfest’s Juneteenth celebrations: Gary Clark Jr., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ginuwine, Joy Oladokun and Mike Jones. Details on those performances, and performances from Fabolous, Buffalo Nichols and the Shonn Hinton Experience, will be announced.
Summerfest is partnering with Northcott Neighborhood House for the celebration, which will include an opening ceremony at Maier Festival Park at 6 p.m. June 19, featuring performances, remarks from representatives and acknowledgement of the year’s Juneteenth scholarship recipients. The traditional Juneteenth Day parade and festival on King Drive will still take place during the day.
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Taking place June 19 to 21, June 26 to 28 and July 3 to 5, Summerfest has also announced 13 other shows for 2025.
Its largest venue, the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, has concerts lined up with: Def Leppard with Tesla (June 19), Hozier with Gigi Perez (June 20), James Taylor with Jason Mraz and Tiny Habits (June 21), Lainey Wilson (June 26), The Killers (June 27), Megan Thee Stallion with Flo Milli (June 28) and Benson Boone (July 3).
Shows already booked for the BMO Pavilion include: George Thorogood & the Destroyers with Foghat (June 20), Japanese Breakfast (June 21), the Avett Brothers (June 26), Cake (June 27), Riley Green (June 28) and Chicago (July 4).