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Milwaukee’s lakefront came alive yesterday, as Summerfest 2025 officially kicked off with an unforgettable opening day. With the sun (mostly) shining, the beers flowing, and the music echoing across the grounds, festival goers packed the stages from early afternoon through late night. Whether you came for a blast of 2000s nostalgia, soulful sounds or even homegrown talent, there was truly something for everyone on Day 1.
From some of the entertaining early evening sets to the high-energy headliners, here are some of our favorite moments from Thursday's performances. Check out some of the artists we captured during opening day of the Big Gig!
Natasha Bedingfield
The Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard turned into one big singalong when
Natasha Bedingfield closed out the night with her infectious energy and
timeless hits. From “These Words” to the inevitable “Unwritten”, she had
the crowd shouting lyrics into the night sky.
Aly & AJ
Before Natasha took the stage, sister duo Aly & AJ brought major early-2000s nostalgia and modern indie-pop charm to the Briggs stage. Whether you grew up blasting “Potential Breakup Song” or just discovered their newer work, this set had something for fans old and new.
Gary Clark Jr.
On the Miller Lite Oasis stage, Gary Clark Jr. delivered a headlining performance that reminded everyone why he’s one of the most captivating guitarists of this generation. Bluesy, raw, and full of swagger, his set was a masterclass in modern rock ‘n’ soul.
Zinadelphia
Summerfest always shines a spotlight on rising talent, and Zinadelphia was a standout early in the day. With an effortlessly cool sound that mixes jazz, soul, and R&B, she gave off major “one to watch” energy for her first ever festival set, definitely a name you'll want to remember.
Joy Oladokun
Before Gary Clark Jr. took over the Miller stage, Joy Oladokun delivered a beautifully introspective and heartfelt set. Her honest songwriting and powerful vocals made for one of the day’s most emotional moments, showing that you don’t always need a big sound to leave a big impact.
Jack’s Mannequin
Over on the Generac Power Stage, Jack’s Mannequin brought all the feels to a packed crowd. Andrew McMahon’s piano-driven performance was a wave of nostalgia for fans who’ve followed his journey since the Something Corporate days, but it also felt refreshingly current.
Eric Benét
Milwaukee’s own Eric Benét performed at the BMO Harris Pavilion stage with soul, class, and serious hometown pride. Dressed sharp and sounding even smoother, his performance was a celebration of local talent and R&B excellence.
Mike Jones
Who? Exactly. Mike Jones threw it back to the early 2000s with a mid-day set full of bounce and big hooks on the US Cellular Connection Stage. His charisma hasn’t faded a bit, and the crowd definitely didn’t forget who he was once “Back Then” dropped.
Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more awesome shots from Summerfest all
week long! Follow OnMilwaukee on Instagram for even more from the festival!
