Jimmy Buffett Returns To Alpine Valley In 2014 | Best Selling Buffett Songs Of All Time

The "Parrotheads" will be flying to Alpine Valley on August 23.  That's the day that Jimmy Buffett returns to Alpine Valley for an evening of music. Buffett tickets are already on sale, and they are going fast.  This year, Buffett is saving one of his last shows of the season for all the fans around Wisconsin and Illinois. His tour has already started, and he will spend most of the summer on the road.

Top Ten Jimmy Buffett Songs  

Is there any question as to which songs are in the top ten for Jimmy Buffett fans? Actually, there is. It depends on whether you like a song for its melody, or a song to dance to.  While I can say that it's hard to dance to "A Pirate Looks at Forty," I must say that it's certainly a big one for his fans.  Would anyone put "Son of a Sailor" up near the top? The song does have a great little vocal melody, and chorus.  In 1974 he wrote the song Come Monday. Forty years later, and one could call this song a bit more country when compared to his other music. For a song that represents a more modern Jimmy Buffet, one should give "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" a try. That's pure Buffett, if you ask us. To round the list out, we present the remainder: Last Mango In Paris, It's Five O'clock Somewhere, Volcano, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fins, and for sure, the "biggie" Margaritaville. 

Whichever songs you like, give Buffett a try this summer and head on over to Alpine Valley. Join in on the dancing and fun.  You might become a "Parrothead" too!  

        

Jazz In The Park Milwaukee 2014 Schedule | Ticket King Inc.

Jazz in the Park, one of Milwaukee's most popular summer music festivals, welcomed warmer temperatures this week by releasing the much anticipated 2014 lineup. Four national acts and a number of favorite local groups highlighted the event's 23^rd season at Cathedral Square Park, which kicks-off on Thursday June 5^th.

Founded in 1991, Milwaukee's Jazz in the Park has become a mainstay destination for music lovers of all styles and creed. The completely free event attracts over 8000 people every Thursday night June to September, and even features a pre-show happy hour that raises money for Milwaukee non-profits and next year's event.

The 2014 Jazz in the Park line up features an unprecedented four national touring acts and another nine groups from Milwaukee and the Midwest. Nabori, a ten-piece salsa band formed by members in Milwaukee and Chicago starts the festival on Thursday, June 5^th before Dumpstaphunk's brand of funky New Orleans sole begins the first of the four national tours on June 12^th.

Nick Waterhouse (July 24^th), Wicked Knee (August 7^th), and Forq (August 28^th) are the other tours making a summer stop in Milwaukee for Jazz in the Park. Forq's Michael League holds some ties to the state, also playing alongside Wisconsin-native Mike Maher in the Grammy winning group Snarky Puppy.

The 2014 local lineup includes returning favorites like rock-reggae pioneers King Solomon (July 3^rd) and longtime blues man Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Alter Boys (September 4^th). Award winning jazz group the Paul Spencer Band makes their Jazz in the Park debut on June 26^th after playing together for over 15 years at clubs on Milwaukee's south-side.

Jazz in the Park begins at 5PM every Thursday night from June 5^th to September 4^th at Cathedral Square Park. Happy-hour provided by Budweiser and Stone's Throw Winery goes from 5PM to 6PM. Music starts at 6PM.

2014 Jazz in the Park Lineup

June

5^th – Nabori

12^th – Dumpstaphunk

9^th – Hood Smoke

26^th – The Paul Spencer Band

July

3^rd – King Solomon

10^th – No Jazz in the Park (Bastille Days at Cathedral Square Park)

17^th – AhVantSoul

24^th – Nick Waterhouse

31^st – Chicago Afro Latin Jazz

August

7^th – Wicked Knee

14^th – 5 Card Studs

21^st – The Terry Sims Band

28^th – Forq

September

4^th – Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Alter Boys

Usher Tickets For Summerfest | Ticket King Wisconsin

Summerfest fans will certainly welcome Usher to the Marcus Amphitheater on July 6, 2014.  This looks like an exclusive tour date for Usher, as he has not scheduled any other shows for the United States this summer. That should be a treat for all fans. Bebe Rexha will be the opening act. Tickets for the Summerfest show date go on sale this Saturday.

When usher signed his record deal, it was after he dazzled the judges on Star Search. He was just fifteen years old at the time.  His dance moves were just as good as his vocal style. He hit pay dirt with his second release, with hit songs like “You Make Me Wanna?”  His next effort was bigger and better, selling close to five million copies. That album, titled 8701 had a number one hit.

Ten years into his career, he teamed up with Ludacris and Lil Jon.  The trio put together a song titled “Yeah!” That song can be found on the disk titled “Confessions,” and it went on to sell nearly 20 million copies. By 2005, Usher had a number of top ten hit songs, along with Grammy and Billboard Awards.  As the years have rolled on, fans found Usher on the hit TV show “The Voice.” Now it’s Usher giving the thumbs up or down to people who are looking for a big break. 

Kiss And Def Leppard Come To Alpine Valley August 15

Alpine Valley was once a major tour stop for popular bands.  It's been 35 years since the venue first opened, and times have changed just a bit. For 2014, we have seen just one concert announcement so far. Kiss with Def Leppard will be coming to East Troy on August 15. Judging by the fact that Dave Matthews has decided to stop at Summerfest, instead of his usual appearance at Alpine, one wonders what other bands will grace the stage of this lovely outdoor venue.

With it's VIP section, wide open grassy area, and amazing backdrop, one would think that Alpine Valley will stay open for years to come.  If the venue doesn't host at least four shows per year, how can that continue? Live Nation is the current owner, and they certainly have the ability to find talent to book that venue full. Why does it seem that they just can't get more headline shows to stop there? 

Summerfest certainly takes a bite from the competitive concert market. Many headline acts would rather hit the Marcus Amphitheater stage, during one of the ten days that the "Worlds Largest Music Festival" is open. Chicago has their own version of Summerfest, and has also hosted a number of outdoor concerts in the past few years. It's tough to compete with the "big city" treatment that an artist receives when they come to play in Milwaukee or Chicago. Yes, Alpine Valley is just 45 minutes from either city, and that can also have a negative effect on booking. The competition is certainly stiff.  

Finally, there is one factor that looms large, and that's the logistics of getting in and out of Alpine Valley. We have all heard the stories of people spending three or four hours trying to get out of the grassy parking lots at Alpine Valley. The smart folks find that leaving before the show ends is the best way to get home. If the weather isn't perfect, a muddy parking lot and slippery grass are what you can expect when you get to the venue. Milwaukee's Summerfest grounds have ample parking, and even at the worst of times, getting on the road after Summerfest ends is a delay of fractional proportions when compared to leaving East Troy. 

Still, there is something magical about sitting on the lawn at Alpine Valley. On a warm summer night, the moon can hang just over the roof of the venue, bathing the hills and trees in a warm glow. That's when you understand why an Alpine Valley show is so spectacular. Let's hope that there are more great bands coming to Alpine this season.  It would be a shame to see the venue go unused.