With the sun beating down I had spent the last 30 or so minutes hunkering down underneath the canopy of the BMO Pavilion. My shady experience, however, came to an end as my desire for experiences began to outweigh my need for relief from the sun.
When I set off, I had initially intended to make my way back to the Warehouse Stage, but I got turned around and arrived at the Power Stage just as “Caroline Jones” was starting her set. The first sign I had landed at the wrong stage was the country music sound of a fiddle and acoustic guitar as opposed to the punk-pop sounds I had been expecting.
Despite realizing my error her strong belting vocals kept me in my seat. During the first song she had a segment where the instrumentals dropped off and she sang a Capella. Frankly, I was just too impressed to move on. I simply had to hear more.
Her song “Everyone’s a Rebel ‘Til They Fall in Love” in particular resonated with me. The song mostly focused on her getting engaged and taking that step from independence to commitment.
“Normal Person” was another love song that felt relatable as it’s about someone accepting who you are completely. Like the last song, it wasn’t just about dating. It covered more complex relationship topics such as the decision of whether to have children together.
Honestly, I’m not sure if I don’t listen to music genres or musicians that emphasize it, but I feel like most songs don’t dive into the details of marriage. Personally, I found her take on that part of life refreshing.
In between numbers, she spoke to the crowd, mostly about her music career. Which includes opening for Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, and Jimmy Buffet. Overall, an impressive set of artists to open for! Of particular note, she has just recently become a member of Zac Brown Band. The paid headliner that night of Summerfest. She also made sure to call out Buffet for a writing credit on “Gulf Coast Girl.” A song about growing up in the sunny and inviting region of the Gulf Shores.
Overall, her show was certainly something out of my comfort zone. With that being said, I definitely did not regret landing at the wrong stage!
If you are looking to catch a show, her next local gig is in Chicago at the Windy City Smokeout on July 16th. Tickets are on sale now!
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Credit for Cover Photo @Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. Press Photos
