First 50 Artists Announced for Return of Wisconsin's Leading Original Music Festival in August

With less than four months until it returns to Wisconsin for the fourth year, Mile of Music hosted a preview event today at OuterEdge Stage to unveil the first 50 names of new and emerging artists who will appear at the popular festival this summer.

The initial lineup consists of performers from four countries and 25 states, including Dreamers of Brooklyn and The Dove & The Wolf of Paris, France. It features a mix of fan favorites like Motherfolk and Wild Adriatic returning to the festival, as well as Amasa Hines, Quiet Hollers and other artists who will take the stage in Appleton for the first time. The festival will also welcome JE Sunde, Andrew Bryant and more performers who played solo sets in the past, but plan to return this year joined by their full bands.

Mile of Music - dubbed Mile 4 - will take place August 4-7, 2016, with 200+ acts and 800 live sets at 70+ venues across a one-mile stretch of downtown and the riverfront. It made its debut in 2013 and has since grown to become a festival that highlights the original work of many up-and-coming artists.

"The festival has really found its niche in showcasing new, largely undiscovered talent," explained Dave Willems, Mile of Music co-founder and marketing executive. "We've cultivated a fan base of nearly 50,000 and growing who have put Northeast Wisconsin on the map as a place to take in some incredible, original music."

All of the performances at Mile of Music are free to attendees - something that sets the festival apart from others in the U.S. and is made possible by the generous support of several sponsors. Tundraland Home Improvements is one of these sponsors as the company and its owner, Brian Gottlieb, have signed on to serve as the festival's presenting partner for the second consecutive year.

Cory Chisel, Mile of Music co-founder/music curator and Grammy-nominated songwriter, grew up in Appleton and says the city is a great spot for a festival of this nature given its welcoming vibe. "When we first talked about organizing a festival of this magnitude here, I felt confident that Appleton would embrace it," he said. "Coming into the fourth year, it's exciting to see how the community continues to be so enthusiastic about exploring new music and show such support to the visiting artists."

Along with live performances ranging from Americana and roots to indie rock and bluegrass, music education is another integral element of Mile 4. Lawrence University and its team of music mentors will once again be on hand to offer interactive music opportunities for attendees of every age with demonstrations, workshops and pop-up sessions throughout the four-day event.

The names of the 150+ remaining artists to appear at Mile 4 are expected to be released by mid-June. To learn more about the lineup of performers, news related to the event and Music-Makers Badges that allow attendance at a number of special shows, visit the Mile of Music website. Mile of Music can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Twitter.

For an inside look at the festival from Appleton-based Image Studios, check out this video: https://t.co/EHqgOdrAuC.

About Mile of Music
The Mile of Music is an artisan, original music festival that kicked off in August 2013. In its first four years, the festival has quickly flourished. It brought 200 bands and solo artists to Downtown Appleton in 2015 alone, with 800 live music sets performed. The collaborative event was co-founded by Appleton marketing executive Dave Willems and Appleton/Nashville-based national recording artist Cory Chisel, with support from nearly 100 community organizations and sponsors as well as 300 volunteers. For more information, visit http://www.mileofmusic.com.

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