4 Stellar Acts You Missed at Summerfest

Milwaukee, WI - June 27-29, 2024

Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, occurred over three weekends in Milwaukee, WI this summer. Across 12 stages of live music, musicians of all genres performed. During weekend 2, Maude Latour, MUNA, The All-American Rejects, and Ethel Cain were among the artists who hit the festival stages. 

Maude Latour

For her first performance in Wisconsin, Maude Latour performed at the festival’s BMO Harris Pavillion on June 27, opening for MUNA. Latour, born in Sweden, grew up in New York and Hong Kong. She shared that her mother grew up in Oshkosh, WI with her grandparents still living in the city. Latour shared that she feels like an honorary Wisconsinite. 

She debuted her new song “Comedown” on the Summerfest stage, as well as fan favorites like “Furniture,” “Lola,” and “Walk Backwards.” 

She finished her set by hopping off the stage and joining fans in the pit for “One More Weekend.” She danced to the chorus and ran off into the crowd, thanking Wisconsin for the hospitality it gave her. 

MUNA

Another act with Midwest ties, MUNA, joined the 2024 Summerfest lineup. They followed Maude Latour at the BMO Harris Pavillion on June 27. MUNA’s lead singer Katie Gavin grew up in Chicago and came to Summerfest when she was in junior high to see The Fray. 

“I wonder if anyone from junior high is here,” she asked the audience.  In response, an audience member shared that Gavin’s mom taught their seventh-grade Social Studies class. 

“Give it up for Mrs. Gavin!” Katie exclaimed. The crowd responded with an exuberant cheer. The show-stealer of the set was the inflatable horse fans named Stacey, which Gavin kicked into the crowd for “Anything But Me.” Fans excitedly bounced two of the bouncy animals throughout the pavilion. MUNA’s performance was filled with funky dance moves and friendly competitions. Katie and Guitarist Jo Maskin ran around the stage trying to hit each other’s butts in a game-like manner. All the while, MUNA played WLW bangers such as “What I Want,” “One That Got Away,” and “Silk Chiffon.” 

The All-American Rejects

2000s pop-punk royalty The All-American Rejects braved the rainy conditions of Summerfest’s Uline Warehouse stage on June 28. The downpour made their set unforgettable, as headbanging to the early aughts jams with sopping wet hair made the nostalgic vibes more powerful. 

Frontman Tyson Ritter gave ‘em hell (pun intended) throughout the entire performance, jumping on speakers and thrashing despite Mother Nature’s plans. He even brought an intoxicated shirtless man onstage, who he deemed as “Milwaukee’s Breast,” to dance with him. It was almost as iconic as Ritter’s performance in The House Bunny… almost.

The crowd sloshed and jumped through the puddles for bangers like “Move Along,” and “Dirty Little Secret,” screaming along at the top of their lungs to the lyrics. It brought the phrase “singing in the rain” to a new level. 

Ethel Cain

Ethel Cain brought Summerfest to church on June 29 at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage. Fans waited hours in the summer heat, donning white lace gowns and giant cross pendants inspired by Ethel Cain’s 2022 album “Preacher’s Daugther.” 

She opened the show with the unreleased song “Dust Bowl,” before stepping offstage to join the audience at the barricade for “A House in Nebraska.” Ethel Cain took time, holding hands and eye contact with people, creating an emotional connection with the audience. 

Ethel Cain performed another unreleased song titled “Punish,” an emotional song, which she asked the crowd to stay quiet for. It was a harsh contrast to the heartfelt screaming occurring during tracks “Thoroughfare” and “Crush” mere moments before. 

With a cover of Jackie DeShannon’s 1974 hit “Bette Davis Eyes” and an energetic rendition of “American Teenager,” Ethel Cain’s short but sweet hour set came to an end. It was a fantastic cherry on top of the Summerfest weekend.