By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published May 04, 2021 at 1:56 PM

It's a green light for Gathering on the Green, as the two-day outdoor music festival will return to Mequon's Rotary Park on July 9-10 with two newly announced headlining acts: country star Trace Adkins and retro rock favorites Cheap Trick.

Night one of Gathering on the Green will belong to four-time Grammy nominee Adkins, whose headlining show will be joined by opener Matt Wynn. The second night will then feature Cheap Trick – the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers behind hits like "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me" – joined by opening act 52nd Street: The Music of Billy Joel. 

This summer's edition will mark Gathering on the Green's 26th festival as last year's rendition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's festival will still include some COVID-19 precautions and protocols, including extra spacing, sanitizing stations and complimentary masks in addition to Gathering on the Green's outdoor setting. 

“After careful, thoughtful planning for the last year, we are incredibly excited and ready to resume our annual two-day summer music festival,” said Rob Kos, executive director of Gathering on the Green, in a release. “In coordination with local health officials, our community focused board of directors and our teams of volunteers, we look forward to putting on a great two-day outdoor music event that will be safe and provide incredible enjoyment to our ticket holders.” 

Tickets for both nights are available at Gathering on the Green's website. And stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more summer music updates as they become available. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.