The Taste of Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest have lots of similarities. Both festivals attract thousands with food, fun and big name musical acts. They both span the same 10 or so days each summer. And this year they both got Stevie Wonder.
But for my money I'll take Summerfest over the Taste any day of the week.
As the name suggests, the Taste is primarily a food festival, while Summerfest promotes itself as "The World’s Largest Music Festival." This is a live music blog, so obviously the concerts are a big reason why I prefer Summerfest, but not the only one. As the Sun-Times pointed out earlier this week:
"Summerfest is what Taste should be. Summerfest lines are shorter, the lake breeze is cooler and the music bookings are more adventurous."
In the Taste’s defense, it is local and the entertainment is free. So we get Stevie for free on Saturday, while cheeseheads will have to fork over $40-$80 to see him tonight. The Chicago fest will have about 75 musical acts between the Petrillo Music Shell (for the headliners) and the Taste Stage (for local bands). But because of the massive crowds, many Chicagoans refuse to go near Grant Park this time of year.
Summerfest, on the other hand, charges $15 for general admission and even more if you want to see one of its nightly headliners at the Marcus Amphitheatre (although they do give away free lawn tickets to some of these shows). But with more than 700 acts playing on 11 stages, there are plenty of bands worth the $15 entry fee. The festival takes place from noon to midnight June 26-July 6 on a 75-acre park on the shore of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee. Check out some of the names below and see if you’re willing to make the 90-mile trek.
Thursday, June 26
7 p.m. Stevie Wonder (Marcus Amphitheatre)
11 p.m. Gnarls Barkley
11 p.m. Cowboy Mouth
11 p.m. They Might Be Giants
Friday, June 27
7:30 p.m. Rush (Marcus Amphitheatre)
10 p.m. Rusted Root
10 p.m. Think Floyd
10 p.m. Fantasia
10 p.m. Flobots
Saturday, June 28
8 p.m. John Mellencamp with Lucinda Williams (Marcus Amphitheatre)
8 p.m. Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves
8 p.m. Old 97’s
10 p.m. BoDeans
10 p.m. Blondie
10 p.m. Dashboard Confessional
Sunday, June 29
7:30 p.m. Steve Miller Band with Joe Cocker (Marcus Amphitheatre)
8:30 p.m. Dickey Betts
10 p.m. Galactic featuring Boots Riley
10 p.m. The Polyphonic Spree
10 p.m. Michael Franti and Spearhead
Monday, June 30
8 p.m. Rascal Flatts (Marcus Amphitheatre)
8:30 p.m. A Tribute to James Brown featuring Bootsy Collins
10 p.m. Matisyahu
10 p.m. Sean Kingston
10 p.m. Candlebox
10 p.m. Gin Blossoms
Tuesday, July 1
7:30 p.m. Alicia Keys with Stephen Marley (Marcus Amphitheatre)
7:30 p.m. Railroad Earth
7:30 p.m. Dirty Dozen Brass Band
8:30 p.m. Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
10 p.m. Yonder Mountain String Band
10 p.m. Keller Williams
10 p.m. Zappa Plays Zappa
10 p.m. O.A.R.
10 p.m. Filter
Wednesday, July 2
7:30 p.m. John Mayer (Marcus Amphitheatre)
8 p.m. Dieselboy
9 p.m. Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 p.m. The Crystal Method
10 p.m. O.A.R.
Thursday, July 3
3 p.m. Drive-By Truckers
7:30 Tim McGraw (Marcus Amphitheatre)
10 p.m. Thievery Corporation
10 p.m. Lucinda Williams
10 p.m. The Wailers
10 p.m. Kansas
10 p.m. Plain White T's
10 p.m. Gomez
Friday, July 4
7:30 p.m. Stone Temple Pilots (Marcus Amphitheatre)
8 p.m. Phil Lesh and Friends
10 p.m. The Roots
10 p.m. Slightly Stoopid
10 p.m. Mountain
10 p.m. Less Than Jake
Saturday, July 5
3 p.m. The Zombies
8 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with Steve Windwood (Marcus Amphitheatre)
10 p.m. Rodrigo y Gabriela
10 p.m. Steel Pulse
10 p.m. Cheap Trick
10 p.m. Cracker
Sunday, July 6
7:30 p.m. Jonas Brothers (Marcus Amphitheatre)
9 p.m. Earth Wind and Fire
9 p.m. Mickey Hart
9:30 p.m. Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi
10 p.m. The Bravery
10 p.m. 311
10 p.m. Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels
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Jim Collins
Jim Collins follows Chicago's live music scene for the Windy Citizen with his Live Wire blog. He recently graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a master's degree in new media. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter for one of the Sun Times News Group's suburban newspapers and a small daily in southwestern Michigan. Jim's also a music junkie, who appreciates a wide range of musical tastes. From hipster to hippy, raver to rapper, he likes it all. More
Comments
Summerfest all the way!! So much better music and food. Those cheezers really know how to eat!!! Always a good time in cheezer land.
Haven't been to Summerfest just yet. I did, however hit up 'Taste' last summer....and was profoundly 'meh'. Much like Looptopia, it appeared to be an open space full of people wandering somewhat aimlessly about. At least at 'Taste' there's the idea of "let's eat some bad food." Even then, the "bad" part kind of negates any good that might arise from the notion.
I would have to go with Milwaukee's Summerfest without a doubt over the Taste of Chicago even though I live in Chicago! This is due to the better atmosphere, food, and the overall friendly feeling you get at Summerfest. The music is a hell of a lot better and you are not so crammed and jam packed like the Taste. I have been to the Taste twice before since I used to work down in the Loop, and I wonder why I even bothered to go. The people are crazy and the food is ridiculously expensive. With Summerfest, I have gone at least 3 times including Bon Jovi last summer. To me, Summerfest is a pleasant place which you can just relax and take a load off while walking freely (without feeling crammed) and getting that wonderful breeze from the lake. In addition, I can’t tell you how much better it is to see all those bands at Summerfest and going crazy to finalize your pick of which ones you really want to see. Around this time of the year, I can honestly say that I wish I lived in Milwaukee to take in all the wonderful things more often, which Summerfest has to offer.
Do you ever think that Chicago will "get the hint" and develop their own new type of Taste?
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