by Mark Crawford
Whether you’re in the North Woods or strolling a city riverfront, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for live music this summer. Here are our picks of five outdoor festivals to satisfy just about any musical taste.
Birch Creek, Egg Harbor: Classical, jazz, and percussion and steel band music is performed all summer long by some of Wisconsin’s top youth musicians -- and music faculty from around the country -- in this rustic Door County setting. (920) 868-3763, birchcreek.org.
Concerts on the Square, Madison: Bring a blanket and a picnic to these six weekly outdoor performances by the Madison Chamber Orchestra, held on the beautiful grounds of the state capitol. Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Concerts start the last Wednesday in June. (608) 257-0638, wcoconcerts.org.
Summerfest, Milwaukee: Billed as the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest rocks all day long with top-name pop, rock, country, folk, and bluegrass entertainment on 13 stages. On the shores of Lake Michigan. (414) 273-3378, summerfest.com.
Hodag Country Music Festival, Rhinelander: Top country acts perform in the lush green surroundings of Wisconsin’s North Woods. Don’t miss the spirited battle of the bands featuring up-and-coming country bands from across the Midwest. (715) 369-1300, hodag.com.
Great River Jazz Fest, La Crosse: For four days in August, some of the country’s best jazz musicians perform in Riverside Park, along the Mississippi River. And make sure to catch the festive Mardi Gras-style parade. (608) 791-1190, lacrossejazz.com/jazzfest.html.
Sources:
Birch Creek: www.birchcreek.org
Concerts on the Square: www.wcoconcerts.org/concertsonthesquare2006.htm
Summerfest: www.summerfest.com
Hodag Country Music Festival: www.hodag.com
Great River Jazz Fest: www.lacrossejazz.com/jazzfest.html