APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The nationally-renowned music festival, Mile of Music, is set to serenade Appleton in 2026 for its 13th year, and on Thursday, the first 50 artists were announced.
Mile of Music organizers announced the first 50 artists on Thursday for ‘Mile 13’ set for July 30 through August 2 throughout downtown Appleton, including locally and nationally distinguished musicians.
This year’s festival will also see the transition to a ‘non-profit, community-driven initiative.’
“The festival has reached heights we never dreamed of, but the Willems Marketing & Events team has taken the fest as far as we can with our resources and now we’ll turn to our beloved music community as well as the larger community for strategic and greater support to entrench this special vibe in Appleton and the Fox Cities,” festival creator and curator Dave Willems said.
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Mile of Music launched in 2013 and has seen more than 1,300 musical acts since. This year, the artists represent 27 states and seven countries. Officials say that more than 40% of the 2026 lineup is either from Wisconsin or has Wisconsin ties.
Festival organizers estimate the number of attendees for Mile 13 to again be in the 90,000 to 110,000 range, with an estimated economic impact of $8 million-plus.
First 50
- Admiral Radio – Columbia, SC
- The Astronomers – Oshkosh, WI
- The Back Alley – Chicago, IL
- The Braymores – Chicago, IL
- Buddy Red – Atlanta, GA
- Chris Pierce – Los Angeles, CA
- Creature Comfort – Nashville, TN
- The Crosses – Milwaukee, WI
- Crys Matthews – Nashville, TN
- Crystal Bowersox – Nashville, TN
- Daniel Rodriguez – Boulder, CO
- Dave Hause and The Mermaid – Philadelphia, PA
- Descartes a Kant – Guadalajara, MX
- Donna Woodall – Milwaukee, WI
- Don’t Panic – Stroudsburg, PA
- Easy Honey – South Carolina
- Farayi – Boston, MA
- Flamy Grant – Asheville, NC
- Gin Mill Hollow – Madison, WI
- Good Boy Daisy – Scottsdale, AZ
- Hannah Geller – San Diego, CA
- Harvey Street – Raleigh, NC
- HuDost – Bowling Green, KY / Montreal, QC
- Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir – Fredricksburg, VA
- Koyal – Los Angeles, CA
- KP Hawthorn – Nashville, TN
- Ladybird – Milwaukee, WI
- Leon Timbo & The Family Band – Nashville, TN
- Morgan St. Jean – Los Angeles, CA
- Muddy Ruckus – Portland, ME
- New Nostalgia – Chicago, IL
- Nigel Wearne & The Spectres – Woodford, Victoria, Austraila
- Noah Guthrie – Greer, SC
- Otis Gibbs – Nashville, TN
- Palm Ghosts – Nashville, TN
- Pat Byrne – Austin, TX
- Rachel Maxann – Nashville, TN
- Rags and Riches – Lexington, KY
- Roberta Lea – Norfolk, VA
- Ron Artis II – Hawaii
- Ruby Mac – Rhode Island
- Ruth Theodore – Winchester, UK
- The Saint Cecilia – San Jose, Costa Rica
- Stillhouse Junkies – Durango, CO
- Surfing For Daisy – Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Susan Werner – Chicago, IL
- Tommy Prine – Nashville, TN
- wht.rbbt.obj – Chicago, IL
- Will Hoge – Nashville, TN
- ZDAN – Nashville, TN
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