Manitowoc's Metro Jam unveils its full Saturday lineup. Here's who will take the stage ahead of The Producers.

Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
Updated ·7 min read
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MANITOWOC - Manitowoc’s free-admission summer musical festival Metro Jam, slated for June 16-17 at Washington Park, has announced its full lineup for June 17.

Almost.Certain will kick things off at noon June 17, followed by Fryin’ Kielbasa Band at 1:15 p.m., Ladybird at 2:30 p.m., The Keystones at 4 p.m., Xposed 4Heads at 5:30 p.m., Turn Turn Turn at 7 p.m. and the previously announced festival headliners The Producers at 8:30 p.m.

The festival starts June 16 and festival organizers said performers for that day will be announced in two weeks. The Metro Jam website lists slots for three performers that day — at 5:15, 6:35 and 8 p.m.

This is Metro Jam’s 44th year. Washington Park is at 1115 Washington St. The festival is presented in partnership with and in support of Grow It Forward, which also coordinates the beverage and food concessions for Metro Jam.

Metro Jam is a unique music festival that attracts fans from across the state and brings well-known national performers to Manitowoc. The Green Bay Press-Gazette has described Metro Jam as “the musical oasis in the busy Wisconsin festival scene.” People can find the latest on Metro Jam at metrojam.org.

Here’s more about the June 17 performers.

Almost.Certain

Almost.Certain is a three-piece American NeoSoul band from Manitowoc. The band formed in 2017 from a collection of eclectic, music-loving nerds who met in middle school and who all just couldn't get enough Silk Sonic, Erykah Badu, or any 1990s hip-hop. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses a 1990s/2000's R&B/NeoSoul vibe and lyricism, with a low-key and intimate style that will make you want to relax with a glass of wine. Almost.Certain has had the opportunity to perform around the U.S. With a mix of covers and original music, they have a little something for everyone. They have also released original music on all major streaming platforms under Almost.Certain. The group features Jemma Herrmann, Xavier Gilcrest and Drakkar.

Fryin’ Kielbasa Band

Fryin’ Kielbasa Band is led by Manitowoc natives Tom Chermak, Mike Fordney and Dean Peterson, all founding members of the Fordney Bros. Band. The band has created an updated 1970’s blues and rock experience with a new touch of vintage country. Appleton native Rod Reynolds joins on bass. Reynolds is the founder of the longtime family band Baba Ghanooj and currently plays in the Jeremiah Jams band. Rounding out the band is drummer Glynn Forrest. His background includes being a touring professional classical percussionist from his native land of Scotland.

Ladybird

Ladybird is a new Milwaukee alt-country band that broke into the Wisconsin music scene in 2021 with its debut single “Zoomer.” The song is filled with images of barreling down two lanes of open road and laughing with friends at a bar. It’s all set to a beer-buzzed country shuffle that goes down as easy as two (or five) cans of PBR. “Zoomer” is the lead single from its debut EP, "Introducing…," released in late 2021. Ladybird is the latest project from Milwaukee musician Pete Freeman. Freeman’s previous work includes the 2020 album "Meat & Potatoes" and the 2019 album "Wisconsin Stories." Joining Freeman in Ladybird are Scott Parker (bass), Sam Szymborski (guitar) and Aidan Gouran (drums).

The Keystones

The Keystones
The Keystones

The Keystones is an alternative modern-rock band based in Milwaukee. Born in Waukesha, the very same place as the electric guitar, the members of this unique, out-of-the-box rock group hail from the golden era of grunge guitar, one that’s full of heavy tones and hypnotizing garage beats that dance between Brit-indie-rock and new-age modern rock sounds. They’re a far cry from the glitzy, indie pop groups that seem to fall out of the woodwork these days, and they’re OK with that. Their goal isn’t to find the glossiest sound. In fact, they want to make the town that created the guitar as we know it proud. The group is composed of Jack Sherman on vocals and guitar, Matt Sherman on vocals and bass, and Eddie Curran on vocals and drums. The band played a well-received feature set at the Midwest Showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas, this March.

Xposed 4Heads

Xposed 4Heads
Xposed 4Heads

The legendary Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards-nominated Xposed 4Heads are a witty, dance-driven party band with high energy and colorful performances, like their mash-up of The B-52's and Devo. Their original music is a crossover flashback to the synthesizer-driven dance music of the 1980s and the quirkiness of Devo and The Talking Heads. Led by Mark G.E., his band of Milwaukee luminaries and veterans have headlined the DEVOtional Devo fan festival in Cleveland as well as played shows at Summerfest, Pridefest, Brady Street Festival and numerous music festivals. Xposed 4Heads have songs playing on radio stations all over the U.S. and abroad featuring music from their albums "Urgency Squad," "Ultra Cloud" and "Planet A’ Go-Go." Their music has been called "Godhead!" by legendary DJ Rodney Bingenheimer on SiriusXM. For the last 10 years, their songs have consistently been in the Top 20 on WMSE 91.7 FM in Milwaukee.

Turn Turn Turn

Turn Turn Turn
Turn Turn Turn

Turn Turn Turn is a trio who bonded over their mutual love of close harmony of the 1960s and 1970s country, folk, and pop music and formed an original Americana band that follows in those footsteps. To create their distinctive sound, the band “turns” to the distant past of early American recorded music, “turns” again to that renaissance of the 1960s and 1970s, and finally “turns” again to the present looking forward. Members Adam Levy (guitar, vocals), Savannah Smith (guitar, vocals) and Barb Brynstad (bass, vocals) are all mainstays of the Minnesota music scene and together craft an infectious, pop-infused Americana.  Even though Turn Turn Turn was born initially as a cover band, the group's original material — sweetheart alt-country folk-pop — quickly stole the spotlight. Turn Turn Turn’s Laurel Canyon meets 1970's Nashville cosmic soul vibe is layered with three-part harmonies that stitch the band’s musical tapestry together. Brynstad, Smith and Levy each have distinct voices, and the combination, their “fourth voice,” is greater than the sum of its parts. The group is touring with a full band this summer in support of its new release, “New Rays From An Old Sun.”

The Producers

The Producers
The Producers

The Producers are a new wave/power pop band from Atlanta that came to prominence in the early 1980s as music video icons. The band first formed as a Beatles cover band named Cartoon before performing its own material in nightclubs around the Atlanta area. The band toured extensively with Cheap Trick and The Motels and also played with such acts as Toto and Hall and Oates. The music video for “She Sheila” from the “You Make The Heat” album found its way to the eyes and ears of the fledgling MTV generation, where it became popular among its viewers. The end of 1982 saw The Producers headlining MTV’s New Year’s Eve Rock n’ Roll Ball, where their lively and energetic performance helped the world usher in the new year. Subsequent albums followed with the band’s third album, “Run For Your Life,” being released in 1987 on its own label. That album featured a collaboration between The Producers and Kansas, “Can’t Cry Anymore,” a song that appeared on both “Run For Your Life” and the 1986 Kansas album “Power.” The Producers regained a major label contract in the late 1980s with MCA Records and recorded what was to be its fourth album, “Coelacanth.” Because of a revamping at MCA, the release was canceled and The Producers chose to put “Coelacanth” out on its own in 2001. The Producers continue to play regular live shows throughout the United States.

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This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc Metro Jam unveils Saturday lineup headlined by The Producers