Summerfest 2022

For the 54th edition of the World’s Largest Music Festival, Summerfest’s “Big Gig” returned to the June/July months in 2022.  After moving the festival to fall in 2021, Summerfest are back to early summer, while keepin the weekend format from the previous year.  In 2022, the three weekends (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) took place June 23-25, June 30-July 2, and July 7-9.  As a result, there were two fewer days than the prior weeklong format. However, there was still plenty of music, food and fun, spanned throughout the 75-acre grounds on 12 different stages.

How I Selected the Days I Attended

Unfortunately, like most people in the world, work takes priority over pleasure.  Sadly, once again, I was unable to attend all nine days of Summerfest. In addition, the 100+ mile 2-hour one-way trip up north from the Chicago area needed to be considered with the cost of gasoline these days. With so many great artists performing each day, here’s what I helped me decide which days I was attending in 2022:

• My personal schedule, work, family, etc.
• Artists attending each day, trying to pick the days which had the most artists I wanted to see
• Weather forecasts, was it going to rain (although we know, weather can change so quickly)
• My friend’s availability to attend, as well at carpool

After careful consideration, I chose four days this year.  I selected two days from Summerfest Weekend 2: June 30 and July 2, along with two days from Summerfest Weekend 3: July 7 and July 9.

Summerfest 2022 Weekend 3 Headliners

2022 American Family Insurance Amphitheater Headliners:

Although a separate ticket is required for the headliners of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the artists are always a big draw for Summerfest. For Summerfest 2022 Weekend 3 the headliners included:

• 7/7: Rod Stewart with Cheap Trick
• 7/8: Backstreet Boys
• 7/9: Thomas Rhett with Ryan Hurd & Rhett Akins

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Although I ran to 15 different artists Thursday, for this day, the US Cellular Stage was my highlight as it had an amazing lineup of hot country stars: Erin Kinsey, Priscilla Block, Niko Moon and headliner, Russell Dickerson.

Other artists who highlighted the day were:

• Ayron Jones rockin’ out the crowd
• The Tubes
• Milky Chance and Portugal: The Man
• Up and coming artist: The Happy Fits

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Saturday was both my biggest surprise day, disappointment, as well as thinking back, my most regretful day.  The Warning were both my surprise, as well as my regret.  The band is a Mexican rock band from Monterrey, Nuevo León who was formed in 2013 by the Villarreal Vélez sisters.  The Summerfest stop was part of the U.S. tour supporting Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless. They were simply amazing.  What I regret most was having to move on to cover other artists and not being able to stay for the entire set.  With the way they are blowing up in the world, I missed my chance to see them up close without having to pay big bucks for seats up front. My disappointment really was that The Pretty Reckless had to cancel out for their performance that night.

Other highlights of the day included:

• Rocking with: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Chevelle
• Artists I’ve always wanted to see: Guster, Marshall Tucker Band, Sister Hazel, The Tubes
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Country artist: Priscilla Block, Niko Moon, Russell Dickerson

Summerfest 2022 Weekend 3 – Conclusion

The weather for Summerfest 2022 Weekend 3 was beautiful with mid to upper 70 degrees.  Add the breeze off of Lake Michigan, you really couldn’t ask for a nicer weekend, However, I’d say the music that weekend was even better.  A big thank you goes out to my good concert photography friends, Ed Spinelli and Andy Argyrakis.  It’s great to conversations carpooling back and forth to Summerfest, but these guys helped me out in a pinch covering artists performing on American Family Insurance Amphitheater stage.

Already looking forward to Summerfest 2023!

For more details, visit Summerfest.com, Facebook.com/summerfest or Twitter: @Summerfest.

Summerfest 2022 Weekend 3 – Photo Gallery