Milwaukee Music Scene: A Conversation with Piet Levy on Summerfest, Venues, and the Future of Local Talent

As the annual Summerfest festival kicks off, we take a look at the state of Milwaukee's music scene through the eyes of Piet Levy, a music writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, Levy shared his insights on the city's concert scene, the decline of Alpine Valley, and the impact of the new venue next to Fiserv Forum.

Why has the concert scene at Alpine Valley declined?

Levy explains that while Live Nation is booking younger acts to try and attract younger music fans, the venue is unlikely to return to its glory days in the '70s and '80s in terms of volume. The availability of other venues for tours to choose from in the market, including other amphitheaters in Chicago run by Live Nation and Summerfest's updated American Family Insurance Amphitheater, has contributed to the decline. Additionally, some regulars have stopped touring or passed away, such as Dead & Company and Jimmy Buffett.

Is Summerfest ever going back to 11 days straight?

Levy believes it's unlikely that Summerfest will return to 11 straight days again. Officials have told him they prefer the new format that allows them to dip into a third weekend in terms of bookings. He suspects operational costs are lower, and in terms of attendance, ticket sales, etc., they're more likely to do better business on weekend days than a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday like in the old days. However, he notes that anything is possible.

What is the effect of the new venue next to Fiserv Forum on the city's concert scene?

Levy predicts that we'll see a lot of EDM and rock bands that play The Sylvee in Madison hit the new FPC Live venue outside Fiserv Forum, especially since FPC Live books them both. He believes Milwaukee will be able to support more shows at a new venue and the kind of volume of shows we're seeing at its most direct rivals, like the Rave's Eagles Ballroom and the Miller High Life Theatre. Those long-running venues with great histories and connections will continue to have loyal acts that want to keep playing there and working with them.

What is the biggest change you see happening to the Milwaukee music scene over the next 5 to 10 years?

Levy is excited about the future of Milwaukee's music scene, noting that he has been amazed by the types of music being made in the city and the types of artists coming here. He believes we'll continue to see more innovation and diversification. "I'm excited for the future," he says.

How has your experience been covering the live music scene in the Milwaukee area since 2012?

As a music writer, Levy is always impressed by how rich a music city Milwaukee is. He notes that it keeps growing, from more and more concerts to an explosion of incredibly talented local acts who are able to make and distribute music with greater ease thanks to the internet. Many talented artists—and even whole scenes like our innovative and nationally recognized hip-hop scene—are getting noticed. Continuing to show up and speak out will help our music scene and industry in the short-term and long-term.