Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House Announce Additional Artists for Juneteenth Celebration

MILWAUKEE – (February 4, 2025) – Following the traditional Milwaukee Juneteenth Day parade and festival on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive; Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance and Northcott Neighborhood House invite the community to join in celebrating music and culture on Juneteenth Day at Summerfest on the evening of Thursday, June 19, 2025. Dedicated music and programming will take place across multiple festival ground stages starting at 6:00 p.m.

Today, Summerfest organizers added additional artists for the Juneteenth Day celebration at Summerfest, including:

• Fabolous
• The Isley Brothers
• Eric Benét
• The Shonn Hinton Experience
• Buffalo Nichols

These artists join previously announced headliners at Summerfest during the Juneteenth Day celebration including Gary Clark Jr., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ginuwine, Joy Oladokun, and Mike Jones.

“We remain thrilled with the partnership. Visitors and residents will appreciate continuing the Juneteenth Day celebration on the Summerfest grounds after the traditional Juneteenth Day festival and parade with the fantastic lineup of star-studded artists, especially Milwaukee’s own Eric Benét and Shonn Hinton,” said Northcott Neighborhood House Executive Director Tony Kearney.

The Isley Brothers with Eric Benét will headline the BMO Pavilion with Miller Lite on June 19, 2025. Tickets for reserved seating will go on sale this Friday, February 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. via Summerfest.com, Ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Summerfest Box Office, and include admission to Summerfest the day of the performance. Concerts at the BMO Pavilion during Summerfest offer seating options for all evening headlining performances. Fans have the choice of reserved seats available for purchase or free general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the show.

For more information about the Juneteenth Day Summerfest celebration, visit Summerfest.com.

About The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers stand alone in the history of American music as a band with an unparalleled impact on the likes of the Beatles and Ice Cube. With a chart-topping presence spanning eight consecutive decades, from the ’50s to the present day, they have etched their place as one of the most influential groups in the history of popular music.

Originating as a teenage gospel quartet in the mid-’50s, formed by the eldest Isley Brothers— O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald, and Vernon—their musical journey took a tragic turn when Vernon, aged 13, met an untimely end while riding his bike. Undeterred, the remaining three brothers, spurred by their parents, relocated to New York City in 1957 to embark on a rock ‘n’ roll career. The inaugural fruit of their collaboration was the iconic “Shout!”—a massive hit with enduring popularity, featured on the Animal House soundtrack and likely playing at events worldwide. From their debut single and album in 1959, the Isley Brothers continually redefined their music and its genre, dominating the black music charts like no other. With notable figures such as Jimi Hendrix and Elton John joining their ranks as backing musicians, the Isley Brothers crafted a legendary discography. Their journey included early rock ‘n’ roll success, a stint with Motown Records, and a prolific independent phase with T-Neck Records, reshaping R&B along the way.

Their repertoire encompasses diverse works, from the underrated Givin’ It Back to soul-funk masterpieces like 3+3 and Go For Your Guns, and even ventures into glitter rock with Brother, Brother, Brother. They embraced disco with Winner Takes All and later produced one of the finest quiet storm albums, Between The Sheets. Transitioning to the ’90s with baby-making jams, a triumphant 2001 comeback (Eternal), and the 2006 release Baby Makin’ Music, the Isley Brothers prove there’s an album for every mood. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 alongside former guitarist Jimi Hendrix, the group achieved Songwriter’s Hall of Fame induction in 2022 and received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Boasting millions of records sold, sixteen Top 40 albums, and sold-out arenas worldwide, their impact is indelible. In 2022, their latest studio album, Make Me Say It Again Girl, garnered critical and commercial success, featuring collaborations with Beyoncé, Earth Wind & Fire, El DeBarge, and Snoop Dogg. Undeniably, the mighty Isley Brothers continue to captivate audiences, proving that more than 60 years after teaching us how to “Shout,” they remain eternal living legends in the realm of music.

About Eric Benét

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Eric Benet grew up surrounded by music as he so aptly describes it, ‘on a cellular level.’ His siblings loved to sing and harmonize together, and the family had subscriptions to all the industry music magazines, so the seeds were being planted. He realized early in his life that this mathematical formula works: family+love= music. When he was in college, he formed a music group with his sister and cousin called Benet.The group put a demo together and in 1991 they scored their first record deal with EMI. After the record didn’t generate a hit single and the label dropped them his sister decided to return to her job, but Eric was in it for the long haul and was committed to persevere. Life was challenging at the time- he was a single father to daughter India after his partner was killed in a car accident and making ends meet by working at UPS.

During that time, he made a few more demos which found their way to Alison Ball at Warner Bros Records who had been with EMI. She knew a hit when she heard one and his second album, True to Myself, was released to great acclaim in 1996. He followed with A Day in the Life (1999) which generated his first #1 single with Tamia, Spend My Life. His life changed dramatically after that time, and he started touring internationally finding tremendous joy in hearing his music and lyrics sung by fans all over the world

Benet joined forces with uber record producer David Foster and together they made the Hurricane album (2005) which received great acclaim. As an artist committed to storytelling it was only natural that acting should follow. He both developed and acted in the TV series Snap on All Blck and has had roles on New York Undercover, For Your Love, Real Husbands of Hollywood, etc.

After experiencing his own frustrations early in his career, Benet was inspired to start his own company that would uplift artists and allow them to express their creativity while being treated with fairness and respect. He joined forces with longtime friend and experienced music executive Ball to create JBR Creative Group (www.JBRCreativeGroup.com). The company is behind Benet’s most exciting album to date, Duets, which features duets with today’s top R&B recording artis. Duets EP was released in the fall and “Something to Make Love” to with Tamar Braxton hit #1 on the R&B charts.

Benet is committed to the charity In A Perfect World (www.IAPW.org) which his wife, Manuela Testolini, started in 2005 to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy in poor countries. The charity has built 3schools across eight different countries. The couple live in Los Angeles with their children, Lucia (12) and Luna (10).

About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance

Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is one of the most iconic celebrations of music in America, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience. Since its inception in 1968, Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a premier national music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring hundreds of performances across 12 stages, throughout the 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Summerfest 2025 will take place June 19-21, June 26-28, and July 3-5. For the latest information, visit Summerfest.com, or Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok: @Summerfest.

Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., producer of Summerfest, continues to fulfill its nonprofit mission of bringing the community together and providing a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation to the public, through music and special events.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.