Announcer: The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.

[guitar strumming]

[cheers and applause]

[upbeat guitar music]

[indistinct conversations]

Abby Posner: This festival is so special.

Adrian Enscoe: And the energy of everybody is so, like, off the charts.

Lucy Clabby: Everybody makes us feel like rock stars when we’re here.

Christopher Gold: It really does something to the atmosphere around town.

Cassie Boettcher: A weekend of all original music with artists from around the world coming to Appleton, Wisconsin!

Nathan Graham: It’s the best place for musicians and people who love music to be at.

Singer: Are you ready for some more music?

[cheers and applause]

Narrator: Funding for Mile of Music is provided in part by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Elizabeth Olson in memory of Modesta Olson, the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, TDS Telecom, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Lodging, catering, and production spaces for Mile of Music is provided in part by Hilton Appleton Paper Valley, Appleton Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Telmark Sales Solutions, Inc., Heirloom Kitchen, and by…

[“Hold On” by Leon Timbo and the Family Band]

[upbeat folksy guitar and bass music]

Yeah

Huh

Yeah

Hey

Let’s go into the fire and give it to ’em right here.

Where my people

The ones who know who I really am

The dreamers and lovers

If you need a prayer, they can send a prayer

Yeah, my father in heaven

Can we have some drinks down here

You’re not alone

Come here and take my hand

Take my hand

You got to hold on

Life is better when you get your friends together

You got to hold on yeah

Let the love fill the room

Hey, you got to hold on

Life is better when you get your friends together

You got to hold on hey

Let the love fill the room

Go and talk to ’em, Sinclair.

[groovy bass solo]

Come on!

Listen here, that’s my brother.

Dream a little dream a little

Don’t stop dreaming.

Dream a little dream a little

That’s why I make music, I’m a dreamer.

Yeah!

Dream a little dream a little

Dream a, oh ohh yeah

Get your friends together!

You got to hold on

Life is better when you get your friends together

You got to hold on

Let the love fill the room

Well you got to hold on

Life is better when you get your friends together

You got to hold on

Let the love, let the love fill the room

Fill the room

Yeah yeah yeah

[ending drumroll]

[cheers and applause]

We just made it here. I’m crazy about Appleton.

[rapid drumstick tapping]

Kim Mauthe: Mile of Music is a all-original music festival here in Appleton, Wisconsin. It’s a free festival for attendees, and it’s just a wonderful weekend of summer fun and original music.

Ian Thomson: It literally is a mile long of music, and it’s all very walkable. We produce over 200 artists, playing over 650-plus sets of music in 35 venues over the course of the four days.

Dave Willems: It’s really a celebration of original music. Multiple bands, singer-songwriters, duos, trios from around the country, as well as our Wisconsin singer-songwriters.

Ian: What makes it different than other festivals in the country? One, again, the sense of discovery. It is a developing artists’ music festival.

Melissa Freeman: Musicians that you don’t know, but you should.

Ben Mulwana: People from all over the state, people from all over the country come to Appleton.

Jeff Gorman: Everywhere you turn, there’s music. Every street corner, every bar, in hotel rooms.

Andrew Pierson: You can bounce around, choose which venue you wanna go to, choose which artists you wanna see. You make your own plan, make your own route throughout Appleton.

Dave: It’s an opportunity for us to show off what this community has, what this one-mile stretch of our downtown has. Hence the name Mile of Music.

This is where you can find your new favorite band.

[“Love in the Underground” by Bandits on the Run]

I

I’m dragging my heavy heart

Onto the platform and there you are

With a beat-up old guitar and a song about to start

Hold my heart, oh hold my heart

Oh let my weight hang in your hands

There’s something bright inside your eyes

I just might understand

I don’t know how

What a strange and sudden sound

We’re not strangers now

Finally found love in the underground

In the city of a million doors

Open one, there’s a million more

So what is it that you’re waiting for

Waiting for

I don’t know how

What a strange and sudden sound

But we’re not strangers now

Finally found love in the underground

[melodica solo]

[bright folk music]

What a strange and sudden sound

But we’re not strangers now

Finally found

Love in the underground

[cheers and applause]

[“New Orleans” by Abby Posner]

[upbeat acoustic guitar music]

At Mile of Music, we have a few listening rooms that we really pride ourselves on, and that’s really geared towards the singer-songwriter, acoustic or solo, duo, trio artists, anything without a drum kit.

Kim: The musicians get to be really present and so does the audience, and they kind of feed off of each other in that way.

Well, pit on my shoulder

Pit in my mind

Drink down that loneliness and leave you behind

I’m goin’ down to New Orleans

Where my soul belongs

Well, I’m gonna sing to the devil

Oh with the barrel of my gun

Well, poison in my water

Poison in my head

Poison drippin’ slowly

To your side of the bed

I’m goin’ down to the Bayou

Lay my soul to rest

Well, I’m gonna find me that someone

I ain’t gonna settle for less

Hey!

[bluesy acoustic guitar music]

Yeah

Ian: Focus is on the artist.

Thank you, guys.

Ian: Your attention span is directly at that stage. They’re just being paid attention to in the way that they should be.

Appreciate ya.

It’s really created a more intimate experience.

[“Tell it to the Wind” by Joy Clark]

Joy Clark: I love that the focus is on paying attention to the words and just being respectful to the environment and knowing how to read the room.

When I was just a little girl

I’d go outside

And listen to the wind

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

I thought it held all my secrets within

I’d see the clouds roll by

And the leaves blow down my street

I wondered if it’d take my dreams and set them free

And I tell it to the wind

Ooh I ooh I

[guitar strumming]

[cheers and applause]

I want to bring my heart. I want people to sing with me. And I want to, I want people to be free to clap and to dance and to snap as well. It doesn’t always have to be, you know, you can hear a pin drop.

[“Shine” by Joy Clark]

Second verse.

[bluesy electric guitar music]

Glow like a star

Shooting fire and grit

And don’t leave any part of you behind

Arms open wide

I wanna see you lit

So get up get up get up get up

And take this ride

‘Cause you can’t keep from shinin’ anymore

And I see your light creepin’ through that door

And won’t you come out and play with me

‘Cause I’m gonna need everything that you can bring

Shine your light

Radiate the great that makes you you

Shine your light

Illuminate your truth in everything you do

Come on shine your light

And radiate, radiate yeah

Illuminate your true in everything you do

Hey

[bluesy electric guitar music]

[cheers and applause]

Melissa: If you are a singer-songwriter presenting something thoughtful and you have that, everybody’s with you, everybody’s listening, is a very powerful experience that can’t be taken for granted because it does not always happen.

[“Feathers” by Valley Fox]

[gentle bluegrass music]

Well, the leaves on the trees

In the summertime breeze

All on the ground come fall

A bird in spring doesn’t wait to sing

She don’t want me at all

No she don’t want me at all

Throw the feather out the window

Doesn’t mean it’s gonna end though

Dead bird’s got a friend

So she ain’t gonna sing anymore

Put a lock on the front door

What’s a bird gonna hunt for

Flatland boys are done for

She ain’t comin’ back anymore

No, she ain’t comin’ back anymore

Well, the leaves on the trees in the summertime breeze

All on the ground come fall

A bird in spring doesn’t wait to sing

She don’t want me at all

No, she don’t want me at all

Joe Wais: The listening room venue for us is perfect. We’re a mellow, like, folk band and with some intricate harmonies, so having a listening room with a really attentive audience is really cool for us.

Laura Bomber: You don’t get a stage like that, that often.

Did a bird ever really sing

Or tell me I clipped a wing

Plucked feathers on a heart string

She ain’t flyin’ here no more

No she ain’t comin’ back anymore

Well, the leaves on the trees in the summertime breeze

All on the ground come fall

A bird in spring doesn’t wait to sing

She don’t want me at all

No she don’t want me at all

[cheers and applause]

Joe: Thank you.

For the people to be silent in a room and listen to, like, every word you’re saying is amazing. It’s like every songwriter’s dream. And it’s just an honor to have people listen to what I’m saying. It’s amazing.

[“New York Minute” by Cassie Boettcher]

I always knew you loved out East

Much more than you’d ever love me

So I’m glad we never tried

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

Different coasts in opposite directions

Not like I fantasized

So go

Go

Through this open door

You dream of leavin’

For the lights of New York

Meet a pretty girl

Fall in love

Give her everything I know she’ll be enough

But if you ever get sick of the coffee runs

And the accents

And the arrogant suits

I’d find you

In a New York minute

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

[cheers and applause]

[Cassie laughing]

[“Just the Same” by Barnaby Bright]

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

And I’m the kind of girl

Your parents warned you of

I wish I could hold a steady job like I could love

And I swear sometimes I feel like I could drown

At the thought of settlin’ down

Like every other good girl does

But you still love me when push comes to shove

And I pinch myself every day

Still can’t believe when I hear

Hear you say

Oh thank God you were born this way

I like you just how you came

Oh thank God you were born this way

‘Cause you and I

We’re just the same

When somebody knows you

When somebody needs you

When somebody loves you

In spite of you

Oh thank God you were born this way

‘Cause you and I

We’re just the same

‘Cause you and I

We’re just

The same

[ending guitar note]

[cheers and applause]

[buckets drumming]

[applause]

[bright ukelele music]

Leila Ramagopal Pertl: Participants that come and want to watch one of the artists at the Mile also have a chance to come and get involved in 40 to 50 hands-on events that Mile of Music does every year for the education portion. Creating their own pieces of music, which allow them to discover their own birthright of music making.

Teacher: And the woodchuck laughed

And the woodchuck chucked

If a woodchuck could chuck wood

The music education team has been amazing. You need to have young musicians and inspire creatives, young and old.

An education in music means really just a community coming together around joy. Whether you can just hit a drum one time, that you’ve been a part of how the soundscape of the Mile of Music has played out for that year. And that kind of gives people who attend the Mile a little bit of a chance to understand, like, why music-making might be important to the artists. It’s ’cause they felt what it was like to make music and make music in community.

Teacher: Okay, nice job. Give yourself a huge round of applause on that. Your first song.

[“Levitate” Ben Mulwana and the Village]

[bluesy electric guitar music]

I built the room I’m standin’ in

Stole my soul like an invalid

I can’t seem to figure out how to live in it

‘Cause even the ceiling is closer than I remember now

But the brewer is stronger than the brew

That means that I am taller than the roof, babe

Maybe I just shook something loose

But take a look at this floor

And I’ve been makin’ it levitate

Levitate with my mind

And ooh I’ve been makin’ it levitate

With my mind

Whoa, yeah

[bluesy electric guitar music]

I heard some voices in my mind

Long enough to keep my brain on me

But they’re refusin’ since I didn’t stay

I should be free

Yeah

With my mind

And ooh I’ve been making it levitate

Levitate with my mind

[rapid guitar strumming]

Thank you very much.

[cheers and applause]

[“Unwavering” by Rainbow Girls]

[gentle electric guitar music]

Erin Chapin: Right here

I made my bed

Now it’s time to say goodnight

But he called me

I made my bed

Now it’s time to say goodbye

But he called me baby

[gentle electric guitar music]

I sold my seeds

Now I’m reapin’ the grief

But I’m lonely

As your garden grows

I pretend not to notice

My faith recedin’ back

Back

And you said

Eventually love ruins everything

I just wish

My attitude was unwaverin’

Waverin’

Unwaverin’

Unwaverin’

Unwaverin’

I made my bed

Now it’s time to say goodnight

But he called me

I made my bed

Now it’s time to say goodbye

But he called me

Baby

[cheers and applause]

There’s so many different ways to experience Mile of Music that you can make the experience your own.

[groovy rock music]

There’s so many different options of what you can do, which I think is part of the beauty of it.

[“Forever” by The Tunes]

I started to think

This was forever

Love just you and I

We’d be together

One of the great strengths of downtown Appleton is its walkability and the feeling of being able to move from a shop to a restaurant to a bar to an outside space.

Anything is a venue. Anything and everywhere is a venue.

The Tunes: I

Just, like, go downtown at, like, 10:00 A.M. and start walking around.

Asher Putnam: Maybe it’s not, like, the spot usually you would go to. Like, we’re here behind, like, a bar and just hanging out, and they let it go. Like, people from all walks of life. Doesn’t matter where you’re from, like, just let it go, head bang a bit, bounce a bit, have a good time.

[“Aching Bones” by Bella’s Bartok]

[energetic rock music]

Don’t be afraid to ask for more

He’s not around here like before

Pushin’ or pull if it feels right

I’m not gunning for this fight

If you were walkin’ in my shoes

Just be prepared I sometimes lose

As you follow in my steps

Keep in mind these words I said

One for the road

Sleep when we’re dead

Never alone

When lost with your friends

Lyin’ beside you

Sleepless in bed

How will you know

If I leave it unsaid

Ooh

It’s just how it goes

Ooh

This life that we chose

Oh

So on with the show

[gentle keyboard music]

[cheers and applause]

I think the variety of venues is, it’s one of the things that makes the festival unique, but I think it’s also one of the things that helps create the atmosphere of, like, discovery, because you might be seeing someone you’ve never heard before in a place that’s never even hosted a show before, with people who’ve also never heard this band or this artist.

[“The Riverbed” by Christopher Gold]

Longer blinks but I’m still not sleepin’

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

I found a lotta holes but I dug no graves

It rusts in the water where it rests so sweetly

Laid down in the sand of the riverbed

I made a run with just a dollar to my name

Hopin’ someday I could turn it into 10

I found each place that I came across was just the same

Familiar faces chased me

They just had different names

And fear became

The name I gave my faith

And that faith gave me away

Their fear became

The name I gave my faith

And that faith gave me away

I made a run

With just a dollar to my name

Hopin’ someday I could turn it into 10

I found each place that I came across

Was just the same

Familiar faces chased me

They just had different names

Ian: So from a fan’s perspective, it’s just really the ability to come to our downtown and then just go into venues. And if you don’t like something, you can go right next door. But there’s definitely gonna be something you’re going to like. I think we guarantee it. This festival generates music that is for everyone, for all members of the community as well.

Christopher: Thank you.

[cheers and applause]

[“Swade and Antoine Intro” by Twan Mack]

[upbeat hip-hop music]

Listen it’s a-a simple snare

A simple kick a simple hat

I’m singing foreign, I’m never born, I really rap

Controller boy take your queen

It’s chess and never checkers

You twist inherently wrong, I call you Chubby Checker

The novelist who wrote “Marvelous” he is not returned

I turn your [record scratch] into ashes

Leave you in the urn

They put me in your division so now we’re dominating

I’m known as one of the best, though I’m not nominated

We just kind of walk from Jones Park to Houdini Plaza and down to Lawrence, just kind of hit that loop. If we don’t like the band, then we move on. If we like ’em, we stay.

She like to hear the wind blow

Uh huh uh huh

So she rolls on down the window

Uh huh uh huh

Can’t remember how to let it go

Uh huh uh huh

But I’m ready ready set to know

[hard rock music]

I think a fairly accurate description would be a musical walk in the park. You know, everyone just kind of congregates and just casually goes from place to place. Check out a band for 20 minutes and then 30 minutes, walk to the next one.

It’s so fun to try to figure out how to cram as much music as you can into four days, and then realize that your schedule is gonna fall apart somewhere, and it’s gonna lead you into, or the festival will lead you into something absolutely amazing. It happens every year.

[“When You Get Home, Please Write Me a Few of Your Lines” by Scott H. Biram]

[bluesy electric guitar music]

Baby when you get home

Unh

Hey won’t you sit down and write me a few of your lines

Baby when you get home

Mm hmm hmm mm mm

Whoo hoo

Won’t you sit down and write me a few of your lines

That’ll be a consolation

Yeah

Mama for my worried mind

Whoa

Baby

Unh

[bluesy electric guitar music]

[cheers and applause]

I had to pull that one out, man.

[guitar strumming]

Thank you.

There are people who have very specific, favorite ways that they like to enjoy music. And there are people who, like myself, who like a lot of variety. And I love a great listening room. And I also love a packed, crowded, hot club with a loud band.

[“Pack It Up” by Diet Lite]

[upbeat hard rock music]

Turn me over when I’m done

I’ll be here anyhow

I’m your roaster coaster down payment

A real kick in the mouth

[upbeat hard rock music]

Pack it up

Pack it up

Pack it up, pack it up, pack it up

[upbeat hard rock music]

[cheers and applause]

Max Niemann: It’s been high octane, high energy, heartwarming.

Evan Marsalli: Great mashed potatoes.

We’re so happy to be here.

Kelson Kuzdas: Very welcoming.

Great mashed potatoes, great prime rib.

[groovy music]

Mile of Music is very artist focused and community forward. We pride ourselves on taking care of the artists 100% from the time we initially make contact with them all the way through ’til when they leave.

Jake Cochran: From the moment we booked it to getting on site, we feel really taken care of. The logistics are super smooth and easy. There’s a sign-up sheet for a free massage. There’s amazing food ready for us anytime we want it. It’s a pretty prime place to be.

Mac Inglis: There’s an artist care program here that includes things ranging from dental care to chiropractic care to massages to tons of free food.

Getting some hearing tests, even being able to get your hair cut, those are things that you just never really have access to at a lot of festivals.

Regina Strayhorn: We enthusiastically signed up for a dental appointment.

Sydney Shepherd: Yeah, we’re all going to the dentist tomorrow.

And massage therapy.

Vanessa Wilbourn: I had my ears tested today. She is not going deaf, grateful for that.

I went to the chiropractor earlier on the company dime. We’re playing with house money tonight, baby.

Mike Savino: I’d say we feel very appreciated here.

Josiah Wolf: That’s what I had heard about the festival before. That’s all I heard about it was free health care. My friend who was here, he’s like, “Oh, man, you could get a massage and your eyes checked and your ears, get custom earplugs.” I’m like, “Oh, that sounds nice.”

Tracy McNeil: We got our hearing checked today, and we got, like, free molded ear plugs that are gonna be shipped out to us. It’s really cool, it’s really cool. And they really look after you. It’s such a great vibe.

[“Way with Words” by Minor Gold]

[gentle acoustic guitar music]

You can wake me from a bad dream

Tied to tracks on the silver screen

But I ain’t livin’ in a movie

You help me to believe

When my world’s goin’ under

You pull me into your thunder

With sands shiftin’ from below me

You help me to believe

‘Cause you

Got a way with words

When the night is never endin’

You can make it like a slow dance

Got me livin’ in the moment

You helped me to believe

When I’m tired of bein’ down and wanna give up

Everybody’s sayin’ what I got ain’t enough

Tired of this game and no way to win

You helped me to believe when I’m fallin’ again

‘Cause you

Got a way with words

Dan Parsons: Being on the road for a long time, like, you have, like, you have good nights and bad nights. It’s like, you know, 50/50. But, like, coming to a festival like this, like, every night seems to kind of be like, just like a treasure.

Tracy: It’s great. People are, like, up for it. And they just give you that energy back. Whatever you put out, they give right back.

Yeah.

And it just keeps the fire going. It’s, yeah, we’ve been so, so lucky.

Everywhere I turn I feel your eyes on me

But I can never reach ya

[bright acoustic guitar music]

And I’m not sure what I’ll find

If I dare to cross that line

Ahh

You

Shine like gold when you’ve won

You found your place in the sun

And ain’t it good for everyone

You

You break the ice beneath my feet

When you’re on a losing streak

You know you’ve just been beat

You can’t turn the other cheek

Lookin’ at the stars I saw a face

I thought it was the Mona Lisa

Looking at the stars I saw a face

I thought it was the Mona Lisa

[cheers and applause]

Dan: Thanks, y’all.

[reverberating electronic sound]

Jake: It’s like every audience, there’s gonna be a couple people who know us. But a lot of it is new people. A lot of it are people who have just heard that we’re a cool band to see, or a friend said, “Go check these guys out,” or whatever. And we definitely come from a perspective of we want to win every audience over. Every show really, really matters to us. And to, like, watch the faces of people who are seeing us for the first time kind of light up throughout the show is really a special thing.

[“Blood Lines” by Illiterate Light]

[hard rock music]

Brother holding brother

As our tears fall from the open sky

Give me one good reason why one man lives and one man dies

Carrying his body, broken cold like it was that night

Brother holding brother and I’ll never turn my back

Hard times

Will never break

These blood lines

No

Okay

We have a very unique performance style. I’m playing a synthesizer with my feet, and then I’m playing guitar and singing and really jumping around stage as much as I can. And then, of course, Jake is standing up while he’s playing drums, and he’s at the front of the stage with me. We’re fully right on top of the audience.

Stay strong

I’m comin’ for ya

Runnin’ through the night

Hang on

I’m runnin’ for ya

Runnin’ through the night

And I said, hard times

They’ll never break

These blood lines

These blood lines

These blood lines

[cheers and applause]

How we feeling

[cheers and applause]

All right

[bright mandolin music]

Melissa: Musicians are our voice, our communication, our presentation to the world. And so I think musicians and art in general, all creatives help those of us who need a little bit more help in our expression feel connected.

[groovy saxophone music]

I think what we do well here at Mile of Music is we do allow that fan engagement. It’s all part of our identity. And again, these artists, as developing artists, emerging artists, they wanna have access to the fans, to greet the fans at the merch table.

Fan: You guys are awesome.

Ian: Fans love the idea of being able to walk down the street and see the artists walking by them, and strike up a conversation with them.

Is this your first time in Wisconsin

Yeah

Abby: Meeting all these fans and being able to connect after the show, and they care and they show up even if they don’t know who you are, so everyone has honestly just shown up with nothing but kindness and compassion and genuine curiosity and care for music.

You guys just absolutely–you’re my happy place.

Oh, thank you so much.

Bryce Rabideau: People are extremely friendly and supportive, and considering this is entirely original music all week, and the fact that people are just here to listen to what we do and make is amazing.

Ben: Everybody treated us with such a level of respect. They have such a different way, appreciation for music, I think, which you don’t necessarily get everywhere that you play.

Appleton, what’s up Kind of get a vibe of the town, and, you know, all the people, and people are recognizing us all over the place, which is kind of fun, and…

It’s a different– Audiences are more engaged than some festivals. They really wanna listen to the music. They’re there to party, also, but the ratio of party to listen to music is a little, a little higher on the music side than some festivals.

I wish that I could make it

Stop

[“How Did It Get Dark So Fast” by Tall Tall Trees]

[high-energy alternative rock music]

I was afraid that I let you down

Changing my story and losing my sound

Oh, it seems so simple when you’re around

A year within the day

If you want me to stay then I will stay

I’ll stay

[high-energy alternative rock music]

I mean, I feel like anywhere we go, we always kind of get to surprise people with what we’re doing, since we’re kind of, like, have a very unique sound. And, you know, not a lot of people play banjo in the way that I do. And Josiah, you know, and his drums and modular synthesizer setup. You know, we have, we make a lot of noise for two people and try and keep it fun. And, you know, we can bring some joy to some folks out there, and just have a good time.

[“Say Something Real” by Tall Tall Trees]

[cheers and applause]

[bright banjo and percussion music]

I was in the front seat you were in the back

She was in the middle oh sitting on your lap

West of California staring down the sun

The sky it was a prism and heaven came undone

It feels like the end and we’ve only begun

Clap your hands!

You’re comin’ and goin’ and walkin’ and talkin’

And playin’ a foolish game

I was lookin’ at her lookin’ at you lookin’ at me

We could be another couple in love

And then wonderin’ what’s your name

I want you to go, want you to stay

Want you to say something real yeah

Say something real yeah

[high-energy banjo and percussion music]

[cheers and applause]

[“Born Again” by Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons]

[upbeat rock music]

I’ve been livin’ in a motel of sin

Well, I wouldn’t trade my life for the one you were livin’

I’ve been walkin’ that long mile again

‘Cause I’d never fit the shoes like the ones you were given

Yes we all lose ourselves in the end

We all just wanna get high, won’t you help me friend

And did you ever see that sun come shinin’ in

Well, then get born again

Corey Chisel: I think that artists like playing Mile of Music because you’re gonna see people in the audiences that you are dumbfounded are enjoying the music the way and to the level that they are enjoying it. It’s not like a little bit of enjoying. It’s a lot of bit of enjoying.

[upbeat rock music]

I’ve been feelin’ like my old self again

Because mama didn’t raise me to be no victim

[cheers and applause]

Let’s go.

[“Runaway” by Buffalo Rose]

Oh no no no

[upbeat folk music]

I don’t wanna run away

Mm mm

You got your questions you don’t like my answers

I talk in circles ’cause I can’t get straight

I do resemble what I can’t remember

I do remember ’cause it just can’t wait

You know they say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

I know you think it’s just a cool clich

I know you always think you know what I’m always thinkin’

I think you’re always wrong but honey that’s okay

No

No no no

Mm

Mmm

I don’t wanna run away

Forever’s just a long long way to go

Oh oh ohh

I’m sick of plannin’ everything

Reality is just a daydream

A daydream

Don’t let go

Oh oh ohh

Give it a break, come on!

I don’t wanna run away

[cheers and applause]

[bright acoustic music]

The way that the community has bought into this festival is what makes us what we are. And I think there’s that sense of pride and ownership in developing Mile of Music into what it has become.

[cheers and applause]

We have about 650 volunteers each year. We also have community sponsors to help keep it a free festival. And I think that’s a really big, important reflection of Appleton.

Dave: For artists to come here, to want to make their way here, we have to be that beacon. We have to be that oasis where they say, “Oh, we have to stop in Appleton on our tour,” or, “We have to get to Appleton for Mile of Music.”

Music is connection, and this is an experience that we have all, all of us, the entire community has curated to welcome creatives and music lovers.

That’s the power of live music. It brings us all together. It transcends us and genuinely makes us happier and better people.

[“Trouble” by Jeremie Albino]

[gritty blues rock music]

[bluesy harmonica music]

I’ve been drinkin’

Sure do fight

I’ve been gamblin’

All the night

Well

That trouble won’t leave me alone

Well, I’ll be leavin’

Won’t see this face no more

All that honey

All that gin

All that money

All the sin

Well

That trouble won’t leave me alone

No!

[gritty blues rock music]

All that honey

All that gin

All that money

All the sin

I’ve been drinkin’

Sure do fight

I’ve been gamblin’

All the night

I’ve done wrong

I can’t right

I’ll be leavin’

Here tonight yeah

[gritty blues rock music]

Well

Trouble will you leave me alone

[guitar ending note]

Thank you so much, everyone. Mile of Music, what a festival, eh?

[cheers and applause]

[“Rolling Down the 405” by Jeremie Albino]

[groovy blues rock music]

Said Jimmy left me high and dry

Haulin’ down the 405

Now there’s nothing left for me to say

Might get lucky and go fly away

Yeah I’ll be rollin’

Rollin’ down the 405

Ah da da da

Come on girl

I am rolling

[groovy blues rock music]

Thank you!

[cheers and applause]

Narrator: Funding for Mile of Music is provided in part by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Elizabeth Olson in memory of Modesta Olson, the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, TDS Telecom, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Lodging, catering, and production spaces for Mile of Music is provided in part by Hilton Appleton Paper Valley, Appleton Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, Telmark Sales Solutions, Inc., Heirloom Kitchen, and by…