91.1 The Avenue

07/23/2025

Mile of Music fans, meet—Hayley Reardon, a critically acclaimed folk-pop singer and songwriter, and a storyteller in the truest sense of the word. And she’s making her first appearance at the festival this year.

Raised in Marblehead, Massachuesetts, Hayley began crafting songs by age 11 and released her first full-length at 16. She later moved to Nashville, toured Europe and Germany, then settled in Barcelona for awhile—absorbing flamenco rhythms and Catalan language along the way.

Hayley’s songs are intimate journals - or postcards, perhaps: reflective, layered, and written across places she’s called home and have a lyrical and melodic weight beyond her years.

Her sound blends folk-pop intimacy with flamenco textures, in an inviting, organic way. On her 2023 EP Changes, she duets in Catalan with Judit Neddermann and last year’s live album Live at Starseed Studios was recorded with flamenco guitarist Pau Figueres and bassist Arnau Figueres.

She has shared the stage with renowned artists including Lori McKenna, Rodney Crowell, and Dar Williams, Anaïs Mitchell, and Xavier Rudd among others. What can you expect at Mile? A voice that's both delicate and commanding, songs that carry emotional weight, and a performer whose global journey brings a feeling of quiet depth to every lyric.

Her Mile debut is full of promise—don’t let it pass you by.

🎙️Previews air every day at 9am, with additional coverage throughout each day.

The Avenue’s Mile of Music Preview is made possible with support from Nicolet Bank, Abel Insurance, Appleton Downtown Inc. and Appleton Community Music.

Hayley Reardon Nicolet Bank Abel Insurance Appleton Downtown Appleton Community Music, Inc. Mile of Music Festival

07/22/2025

One of the loudest, sweatiest, most unforgettable sets at Mile of Music 2016 came courtesy of a Nashville outfit called Blackfoot Gypsies. If like us, you have fond memories of that appearance, you can relive that energy, seven years later, because they’re back at the festival just under a new name as DeeOhGee returns to Appleton this August. Blackfoot Gypsies morphed into DeeOhGee—but the DNA hasn’t changed.

And if you’ve seen them before, you know what they bring: raw energy, snarling soul, and a reckless kind of joy.

The trio—Matthew Paige on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Zack Murphy on drums, and Dylan Whitlow on bass and harmonies—has spent the last few years refining their sound into something bigger and bolder.

Their 2021 album New Way of Life is packed with what they do best—explosive garage rock, rootsy country soul, and psych-tinged Americana. Critics have called it “cosmic swamp rock” and a “barn-burning wall of sound” that channels everything from Gram Parsons to early Black Keys. That’s a fair description!

And let’s be honest: DeeOhGee live is a different animal. No frills. Just three guys channeling something wild and communal. Their return visits to Appleton—outside the official festival lineup—only strengthened their following here. Packed shows. Fans buzzing. Requests to bring them back? Loud and clear.

They’ve toured across the U.S. and Europe, built grassroots fanbases in basement venues, bars, festivals—and are now back at Mile with more confidence, more grit, and bigger songs. Their latest single, “Better Days,” leans into fiddle-laced optimism while still punching with that ragged blues-rock beat. It’s the kind of song you throw on during a long drive—or shout from the back of a bar.

So, our recommendation? make plans for DeeOhGee at Mile of Music. This is their home stage now—it’s good old-fashioned, high-voltage rock from a band that knows how to ignite a room—and their return to Mile is going to do exactly that. It’s everything you want from a Mile of Music set.

🎙️Previews air every day at 9am, with additional coverage throughout each day.

The Avenue’s Mile of Music Preview is made possible with support from Nicolet Bank, Abel Insurance, Appleton Downtown Inc. and Appleton Community Music.

Deeohgee Nicolet Bank Abel Insurance Appleton Downtown Appleton Community Music, Inc. Mile of Music Festival

07/21/2025

Mile of Music listeners, get hyped— Nashville based band Winyah, is making their Mile of Music debut! They are a band who have come out of the gate strong and definitely have the mark of a band on the rise.

Originally from Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the band takes its name from Winyah Bay, a historic waterway in their hometown. Their deep connection to the region seeps into their music, blending Southern rock, indie, and alternative influences into something fresh yet familiar.

Winyah burst onto the scene in early 2023 and quickly made their mark. In 2024, they got the call to play Bonnaroo, they had exactly three original songs and a tough decision—either figure it out, or miss the opportunity of a lifetime. So they locked themselves in a warehouse in Columbia, South Carolina, crashing on couches, writing and recording enough material to fill an entire set in just a month and a half. That music became the foundation of their debut album, Lot to Learn.

Within a week of that festival appearance, Winyah landed a deal with Atlas Touring, setting off a whirlwind year of touring. And that debut album, earned critical praise for its blend of sharp, poetic lyrics, and intimate melodies, and the band's ability to weave multiple influences.

They’ve shared stages with acclaimed artists such as The Red Clay Strays, The Vegabonds and The Stews. And just ahead of Mile of Music, they’re playing Lollapalooza. They’re road warriors with real fan momentum—critics call their live shows "electrifying,"

Their sound combines punchy guitar solos with soulful vocals, and is rooted in indie and southern-rock traditions. Whether you want something to think about or just something to dance your socks off to – they deliver both.

🎙️Previews air every day at 9am, with additional coverage throughout each day.

The Avenue’s Mile of Music Preview is made possible with support from Nicolet Bank, Abel Insurance, Appleton Downtown Inc. and Appleton Community Music.

Nicolet Bank Abel Insurance Appleton Downtown Appleton Community Music, Inc. Mile of Music Festival

07/20/2025

Airing Sunday at 8pm: THE SWONGOS are taking surf music into other dimensions
The Swongos (Thomas Mangelsen - guitar, Lisa Mangelsen - bass, Brian Liggett - drums) are a surf band from NW Wisconsin (what?!) with a twist. Make that many twists. The foundation of their music is surf, but from there they add layers of exotica, spy, psychedelic rock, metal, alternative, and even jazz (thanks to vibes player Thomas Mattioli) for sonic creations that can be described best by just looking at their album cover art. The colors, textures, and shades that inhabit their original instrumentals is unique and will have you becoming the titular Curious Tourist from their first release. Get ready for something refreshingly different—it's The Swongos!

Tune in, stream at avenueradio.com, with our app or on your smart speaker Sunday evenings at 8pm for Into The Music following Backstories with Christopher Gold.

Into The Music Darrell B Love

07/20/2025

07/20/2025

These artists fit into both the “something old” and “something new” categories of the festival. We’re talking about Meaghan Farrell and Megan Slankard.

Let’s start with what we already know: both Megans are straight up festival favorites.

Meaghan Farrell, with her unapologetically honest lyrics and bold-yet-playful presence, captivates audiences with sharp songwriting, emotional edge, and a natural ease onstage. She connects instantly. She's all heart with a hint of salt. Megan Slankard, meanwhile, is Mile of Music royalty. With a blend of powerhouse vocals and indie polish, this San Francisco indie-rocker has sold tens of thousands of records independently and toured with everyone from Dire Straits’ David Knopfler to Pat Monahan of Train.

Both Megan’s have stepped into sets with other festival favorites like Jamie Kent, Dan Rodriguez, Bascom Hill, and others. They don’t just collaborate—they elevate the moment.

And now? The Meaghans are bringing all that chemistry into The Meaghan Project.

This isn’t your typical duet—The Megans hadn’t even heard each others’ music yet when they vowed to start a band! They met in late 2021 in an online chat – Farrell was a Rock Boat regular and Slankard a Rock Boat hopeful at the time. An online friendship bloomed, but it wasn’t until Mile of Music 2022 when the two were brought together for the first. And a musical super nova was born.

You’ll want to mark your schedules for all the variants – Meaghan Farrell, Megan Slankard AND together as the Me(a)g(h)an Project. Especially if you’re looking for the set where collaboration becomes something bigger, and where two Mile veterans become one unforgettable duo.

🎙️Previews air every day at 9am, with additional coverage throughout each day.

The Avenue’s Mile of Music Preview is made possible with support from Nicolet Bank, Abel Insurance, Appleton Downtown Inc. and Appleton Community Music.

Megan Slankard Meaghan Farrell Nicolet Bank Abel Insurance Appleton Downtown Appleton Community Music, Inc. Mile of Music Festival

07/20/2025

It's Sunday Morning Sunrise at August Haven this morning 10-noon!

✨Today is the day! ✨

Hosted by 91.1 The Avenue featuring live music from Adam Gaines, we invite you to join us for our Sunday Sunrise Live. Enjoy live music & refreshments on us right in our Appleton showroom.
Learn more here > https://www.augusthaven.com/events

07/19/2025

Join Rob and Dr. Pat for their weekly listening party 7pm-midnight tonight when the guys will be spinning the new Kaleo album "Mixed Emotions." Tune in, stream online at avenueradio.com, using the free 91.1 The Avenue app, or with your smart speaker.

The Saturday Night Spotlight is made possible by support from NewARTSpace, DeLeers Construction and Rock n' Roll Land.

newARTSpace Rock n' Roll Land

07/19/2025

Wisconsin pride is on the bill this year — meet Moonglow, a Milwaukee-grown pop‑soul band delivering groovy rhythms, jazzy flourishes, and danceable energy. Making their very first appearance at Mile of Music this August, this is one hometown act you’ll want to catch.

Formed in 2019, and named for the jazz standard, Moonglow brings together Joe Humiston (vocals & keys), Isaac Repinski (guitar), Sterling Dorsey (drums), Brent Gastrau (bass), and Tyler Kraft (sax). Their self-titled debut (2021) blends funk, city pop, neo-soul, jazz, rock, and R&B

Humiston said, “We dwell in the realm of funk, pop, soul, rock and R&B… there’s not a lot of bands in Milwaukee that sound like Moonglow.” They may be a bit of an outlier in their hometown, but after spending some time with their music, Moonglow makes it to my “must see” list”

And Live is where Moonglow shines. They’ve played the Black Cat Alley summer block party, Cactus Club, and similar venues all across Milwaukee, always pulling a crowd.

What makes Moonglow special for festival-goers? They weave through groovy bops, slow jams, fast jams, and quirky melodic flourishes, all underlaid with tight musicianship and genuine stage chemistry. And, they’re homegrown!

As one fan put it: Moonglow is “a dynamic vocals-and-keyboard-led group… get ready to get groovin’ with music that will tug on your nostalgic heart strings”.

If you want vibrant grooves, jazzy lift, and a festival set that’s both fresh and deeply hometown — make time for Moonglow this August.

🎙️Previews air every day at 9am, with additional coverage throughout each day.

The Avenue’s Mile of Music Preview is made possible with support from Nicolet Bank, Abel Insurance, Appleton Downtown Inc. and Appleton Community Music.

MOONGLOW Nicolet Bank Abel Insurance Appleton Downtown Appleton Community Music, Inc. Mile of Music Festival

07/18/2025

Hang out with Rob for the Friday Night Spotlight 7pm-midnight. Tonight Rob is taking a deep dive into The Kinks THE JOURNEY part 3.

The Friday Night Spotlight is sponsored by Nicolet Bank.

Tune in, stream online at avenueradio.com, using the free 91.1 The Avenue app, or with your smart speaker.

Nicolet Bank

07/18/2025