By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Apr 19, 2021 at 1:30 PM

We've partnered with the Wisconsin State Fair to share some of our favorite stories of the #greatmkesummer. Join us at the Fair this summer! Get all the details on the 2021 Wisconsin State Fair here

The Bud Pavilion at Wisconsin State Fair Park, which like everything else had been stymied by the coronavirus outbreak, will return this summer with its Wednesday Night Live free live music series.

The venue is the only one hosting live music outside of State Fair and Harvest Fair.

“We’re thrilled to be back in action,” says Bud Pavilion’s Leanne Hock. “Last year devastated so many entertainment and service workers. We’ll once again bring in the best cover bands in southeast Wisconsin with an extended schedule that adds more shows.

“It’s going to be great to have people back at the Pavilion.”
The venue includes a full-service grill, indoor and outdoor seating, 20 HDTVs and multiple bars, including the Goose Island Ale House.

Here is the lineup of cover bands for 2021:

  • June 9 – Cherry Pie (‘80s rock)                                              
  • June 16 – The Toys (pop/rock)                                         
  • June 23 – Rebel Grace (country)                                      
  • June 30 – Almighty Vinyl (classic rock)                                                
  • July 7 – Generation Z (current pop)                                        
  • July 14 – The Cheap Shots (pop/rock/country)             
  • July 21 – The LoveMonkeys
  • Aug. 25 – The Now (rock/classic rock)
  • Sept. 1 – Bella Cain  (country/rock)
  • Sept. 8 – 33rpm (rock)
  • Sept. 15 – Cherry Pie (80s rock)
  • Sept. 22 – Madison County (country)

Doors for all shows open at 6 p.m. and music runs from 7 until 10:30 p.m.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.