SUMMERFEST

16 must-see acts at Summerfest, from the Weeknd to Arcade Fire to Janelle Monae

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Huge stars, exciting up-and-comers, top-notch Milwaukee talent.

Summerfest has them all in spades.

That's often the case, but that's particularly true for the 51st edition of the World's Largest Music Festival, returning to the Milwaukee lakefront June 27.

Among the 800-some acts you'll find culture-shifting superstars that haven't played Milwaukee in ages, if at all, alongside buzzy newcomers and incredible homegrown talent.

These 16 top recommendations don't even scratch the surface when it comes to what's in store at Summerfest. You can find more daily suggestions — plus read headliner bios, discover local acts, search for artists by genre and more — with our interactive Summerfest schedule at jsonline.com/summerfest.

TOP 5 HEADLINERS

In the midst of an ugly legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, who she accused of misconduct, pop star Kesha came back with the greatest album of her career with last year's "Rainbow," and performed one of the best concerts in Milwaukee in 2017. She's at Summerfest July 4.

1. Kesha: Before #MeToo there was #FreeKesha, when the pop artist tried to get out of her record contract after accusing former producer Dr. Luke of abuse. The legal issues continue, but Kesha was able to release "Rainbows" last year, without question her greatest album to date, from the powerful "Praying" to the horn-swinging, empowering anthem "Woman." 9:45 p.m. July 4, Miller Lite Oasis.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit played the Outlaw Music Festival at Summerfest last year, where its passionate set outshined fellow Outlaw acts like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Sheryl Crow. The group returns to Summerfest July 5.

2. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit: After he sobered up, Jason Isbell started writing some of the strongest songs of his career, continuing into last year's "The Nashville Sound," where he expanded his scope to chronicle how our divisive sociopolitical environment is affecting all of us. 9:45 p.m. July 5, BMO Harris Pavilion.

Recalling the energy and creativity of Prince, Janelle Monae earned the blessing of the Purple One himself who appeared on her 2013 album "The Electric Lady." Her Summerfest show July 6 — her first Milwaukee appearance since 2011, follows the April release of third album "Dirty Computer." She'll be at the BMO Harris Pavilion July 6.

3. Janelle Monae: Heir apparent to Prince — from her out-of-this-world funk to her electrifying live shows — the long-acclaimed Janelle Monae recently released the most personal and powerful album of her career, "Dirty Computer," the best-reviewed album of 2018 so far according to Metacritic, and featuring the late Prince himself as one of her many notable guests. 9:45 p.m. July 6, BMO Harris Pavilion.

Pop superstar The Weeknd will play his first Milwaukee show ever July 7 at Summerfest's American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Weeknd is the eighth most-streamed artist in the world on Spotify and his latest hit, "Pray for Me," is the lead single for the Kendrick Lamar-curated "Black Panther" soundtrack.

4. The Weeknd with Big Boi: The Big Gig's biggest get for 2018, the Weeknd is at the tip-top of the pop A-list, and will play Milwaukee for the first time about a month before topping the bill at Lollapalooza. Lolla won't have Big Boi though, one-half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo OutKast, to say nothing of his strong solo work, who opens this show. 7:30 p.m. July 7, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. $64.50 to $164.75 at the box office (200 N. Harbor Drive), (800) 745-3000 and ticketmaster.com. Tickets include Summerfest general admission July 7.

Arcade Fire will close out Summerfest on July 8, for its first Milwaukee concert since the then little-known band appeared at the Mad Planet in 2004. The Big Gig show comes a year after the release of the band's fifth album, "Everything Now," which netted Arcade Fire its first-ever No. 1 single, with the AAA chart-topping title track.

5. Arcade Fire with Manchester Orchestra: The interchangeably angsty and transformative, and highly influential, indie rock band played two shows at Mad Planet when it was just starting out. Fourteen years later, it finally returns to Milwaukee, and with a perfect opener, the equally adventurous and cinematic rock band Manchester Orchestra, on the bill. 7:30 p.m. July 8, American Family Insurance Amphitheater. $60.40 to $86. Tickets include Summerfest general admission July 8.

TOP 5 UP-AND-COMERS

Caroline Rose combines indie rock crunch with sticky pop hooks, droll humor with somber subject matter, on her terrific new album "Loner." She plays Summerfest's Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at 5:30 p.m. June 27.

1. Caroline Rose: Branching out from her folk origins, Rose draws from '70s rock, and even Justin Timberlake, on new album "Loner," tackling somber subject matter with dry wit and sticky pop hooks. 5:30 p.m. June 27, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

2. Dusk: Appleton's Amos Pitsch brings his adventurous sensibilities from Tenement to his new country-dusted, NRBQ-inspired project, featuring fellow lead vocalists Julia Blair and Ryley Crowe. 6:45 p.m. June 28, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

Pop artist MILCK's powerful "Quiet" was used for several pop-up performances during the Women's March in 2017, and has become a leading anthem for the #MeToo and #Time'sUp movements. She's at Summerfest June 29.

3. MILCK: The pop artist born Connie Lim premiered her empowering anthem "Quiet" through a series of flash mob performances during the first Women's March, putting her song on the front lines of a major societal movement. 8 p.m. June 29, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

Carlie Hanson went from working at a McDonald's in rural Wisconsin to finding a fan in Taylor Swift. The teen pop artist performs one of her first live shows at Summerfest June 30.

4. Carlie Hanson: The 17-year-old Hanson went from working at a McDonald's in a small Wisconsin town to being an L.A.-based pop artist, with Taylor Swift included in her growing fan base, and a tour with Troye Sivan coming this fall. 6 p.m. June 30, U.S. Cellular Connection Stage.

When 2018 comes to a close, you'll see indie rocker Soccer Mommy (birth name Sophie Allison) on many best album of the year lists for this spring's "Clean." She plays the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage on Summerfest's final day July 8.

5. Soccer Mommy: Sophie Allison's rock project was highly heralded by several major music outlets ahead of this spring's confessional and captivating "Clean," one of the best-reviewed debut albums of the year. 4:15 p.m. July 8, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

TOP 6 LOCAL ACTS

1. G reatest Lakes: Talk about a perfect opener for Grizzly Bear. Greatest Lakes creates lush, moving psychedelic-dipped rock swimming in sweet harmonies. 8 p.m. June 27, Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

2. Telethon: The little-known garage rock band made a big splash with last year's sprawling 30-track rock opera "The Grand Spontanean." Just as impressive: its electrifying live show. 4:15 p.m. June 28, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

3. Lex Allen: Following a string of promising singles that turned him into one of the city's most in-demand acts, Allen exceeded high expectations with debut album "Table 7: Sinners and Saints," spanning from vamping feel-great pop jams to heartbreaking ballads to uplifting anthems. 8 p.m. July 1, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

4. Abby Jeanne: The soulful rocker produced her own impressive debut album "Rebel Love" last year, following it up with two polished and catchy new tracks that better convey Jeanne's jubilant live show. 8 p.m. July 3, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

5. Dead Horses: The folk duo's interchangeably radiant and shattering — and consistently personal — "My Mother the Moon" is one of the best local albums of the year, and one of the best albums of its genre in 2018, period. 8 p.m. July 5, Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.

6. Denny Lanez: Whether with moody trap or off-the-wall bangers, the Milwaukee newcomer conquers his live shows with superstar-worthy swagger. 8:30 p.m. July 5, Uline Warehouse.

More on Music

Find out about the week's must-see shows, concert tickets and more in the newsletter "Piet Levy's Music Picks." Subscribe at jsonline.com/newsletters.

Piet talks about concerts, local music and more on "TAP'd In" with Jordan Lee, 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9).