Newcomers and veterans of all kinds fill Summerfest lineup
MILWAUKEE(CBS 58) --- There are all types of different performers at Summerfest. It's part of what makes the Big Gig so special. From international mega-stars to local up-and-comers, and from touring festival newbies to local veterans, there truly is a spot for everyone.
CBS 58 Morning News anchor Mike Curkov likes to scroll deep down the Summerfest lineup. This year, like many years before, he found Mark Hayward: The Cool Yo-Yo Guy.
Hayward is performing on the kids' stage at the Northwestern Mutual Community Park Thursday, Friday and Saturday of opening weekend and doing several impromptu performances throughout the grounds. Just like he's done every year since his first year, 25 years ago in 1997.
He says he's matured right along with Summerfest.
"My first performance, I was just a youth." said Hayward. "I barely knew how to button up a shirt. I'm definitely more presentable and Summerfest is definitely more presentable. It's amazing. You've got so many big, incredible stages. It's not like Summerfest didn't know what it was doing in 1997, they did, but they really know what they're doing now."
See the Cool Yo-Yo Guy perform Thursday 6/22 and Friday 6/23 at 5:30PM and 7:30PM and on Saturday 6/24 at 4:00PM and 6:30PM.
Indie-pop artist Holy Pinto also caught Mike's eye, mostly because he is wearing a Milwaukee Bucks Eric Bledsoe jersey in his promo pic. Holy Pinto is the stage name for Aymen Saleh's work. The singer-songwriter came to Milwaukee from Canterbury, England in 2017, staying on a friend's couch while touring in North America. He made Milwaukee his home in 2018. And fell in love with the Bucks and the rest of Milwaukee.
That journey influences his music, like the song 'Milwaukee' which has a very familiar-looking music video but also has a universal appeal.
"We all get taken different places in life, even if it's moving out to the suburbs of where you grew up." explained Saleh. "Or nearby but a different area. We all can relate to that kind of thing. Just starting fresh and having new experiences. It actually goes down really well on tour. That was the thing where I was like, why would anyone care? I think it could be anywhere but I particularly fly the Milwaukee flag because I love the place."
Holy Pinto plays Saturday June 24 at the US Cellular Connection Stage.