Summerfest Line Up Includes Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Migos & More (Updated)

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 11, 2017 6:00PM

Bob Dylan, photo courtesy Columbia Records

Milwaukee's Summerfest is celebrating its 50th year, and while we're still waiting n the full line up for the music festival, some pretty big names are already confirmed to appear.

From June 28 to July 2, and then July 4 to July 9, Milwaukee's riverfront will be taken over by the self-described "World's Largest Music Festival®." We're guessing that descriptor is applied by combining the number of days with the numbers of acts and multiplying it with the number of attendees? Math always hurts our head so we'll just assume there's some way that Summerfest supports that claim.

But one claim we have no problem believing is that Summerfest is once again on the path toward providing an incredibly musically varied bill that literally has a little something for everyone. Previously announced headliners for this year include Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink, Luke Bryan, Zac brown Band, and (ugh) The Chainsmokers.

The bar has been raised with just announced additions including Future, Big Sean, Migos, and Dierks Bentley.

But the biggest news is the line up announcement for the Outlaw Music Festival, Summerfest's closing concert curated by Willie Nelson. Nelson managed to rope in Nobel prize-winner Bob Dylan to headline the event. Sheryl Crow—touring behind her new album Be Myself—Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Margot Price, and Lukas Nelson round out the bill.

As our own Taste Of Chicago musical offerings have shrunk in recent years, Milwaukee's Summerfest has only grown, and gives us a good excuse to get out of town for a day or two to load up on some excellent live entertainment topped off by copious amounts of garlic summer sausage and cheese curds.

The way this year's bill is shaping up it appears we'll be heading for a visit to our neighbors in the north once again this summer.

Update, 3:45 p.m., Apr. 12: The full line up dropped this afternoon and it is impressive, featuring acts including Steve Miller Band, Bleachers, Alessia Cara, The Shins, Tegan and Sara, BJ the Chicago Kid, Saba, Whitney, and Peter Wolf of the J Geils Band. We also see Girl Talk is on the bill, which would be his first area appearance in years. And of course we're super stoked to see Huey Lewis & The News will be making an appearance as well.

The poster with the full line up is below.