The Big Gig is Back w/ Sarah Smith Pancheri and Bob Babisch

This week, we are honored to have Sarah Smith Pancheri (COO and VP of Sales and Marketing of Milwaukee World Festival) and Bob Babisch (VP of Entertainment, Milwaukee World Festival) join us – and we can’t believe they were able to take a break to hang with us in the middle of Summerfest preparations. 

To start out, the crew shares our top picks for things to check out at Summerfest (see list below). 

Sarah and Bob join at 17:50. Past arts experiences that highlight their love of arts and music (19:40), what’s changed and what’s stayed the same in Milwaukee arts and culture over the years (29:00), what makes the Milwaukee audience and experience unique for touring artists (37:10), the thrill of discovering new music (41:20), making the shift to a three-weekend format (45:15), anticipating the logistics of the vaccination and COVID test requirement (54:25), both Sarah and Bob take a turn being the Czar of Arts and Culture (57:50). 

Follow Summerfest: @Summerfest 

Music Transitions: “The Marina,” The Docksiders 

302 Ephemera 

Summerfest Schedule 

9/2 to 9/4:  

• Lindsay: Yola, Leon Bridges 
• David: Steely Dane 
• Mac: Indigo Girls 

9/9 to 9/11 

• Lindsay:  Klassik, Tank and the Bangas, Nikhil Korula Band 
• David: Wilco 
• Mac: Living Colour 

9/16 – 9/18 

• Mac: Joan, The Bleachers 
• David: Thurston Moore, Pixies, GGOOLLDD, Psychedelic Furs 
• Lindsay: The Black Pumas 

Imagine Friends playing Summerfest 

• Klassik 
• You Win!!! 
• Trapper Schoepp 
• Peter Mulvey & Sistastrings 
• Reyna