Metro Jam

06/17/2024

The Pretty Flowers featured songs from their latest release Company Sleeve in what was an ultra high energy set last night at Metro Jam. Great playing and songwriting, along with the incredible drumming of Sean Johnson. Definitely a passionate set! Thanks for joining our 45th!

06/16/2024

After a few tour dates in Ohio, Chicago and Milwaukee, The Mommyheads finally made it to Manitowoc! After a full day of music they began their journey back to New York! Thanks for making the trip to help us celebrate our 45th!

06/16/2024

This year's Metro Jam crowd flew courageous to our headliner Drivin N Cryin! Thanks to all for a great 45th!

06/15/2024

06/15/2024

Our old friends Charlie Bucket threw out some great classic rock with their own magical twist!

06/15/2024

Mark Birr gave a rousing set of Irish tunes that got the audience hankering for Irish Whiskey! What a way to start the day!

06/15/2024

Rose Cora Perry and The Truth Untold performed a rockin' set!

06/15/2024

If you weren't there to catch The Exotics...you were nowhere!

06/15/2024

We had a great opening night...today is going to be even better!! Come on down at noon!!

06/14/2024

Make sure that you get down to Metro Jam Friday night for the opening of our 45th Year!! There will be plenty of music, food trucks, beverages and soooo much more!!! See you then!!

For more info check: www.metrojam.org

06/13/2024

We wanted to get you a sneak peek at the Official 45th MJ T-Shirt! Bring a little extra cabbage so you can get the perfect Father's Day gift or snag one for yourself!

06/12/2024

This just in from Sean Johnson, the drummer for The Pretty Flowers:

Hey all! I will be hosting a 5k for festival acts, crew and attendees!

Saturday at 9am...meet up at Inn on Maritime Bay.
All paces! Let's check out the lake!

06/12/2024

Opening up for Drivin N Cryin this Saturday is The Pretty Flowers! Check them out!

The Pretty Flowers - Saturday June 15; 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

We are super excited to have The Pretty Flowers open for 2024 festival headliners, Drivin N Cryin. This weekend finds the band in Austin, TX to showcase at the SXSW festival/conference. From one great festival to another!

The Pretty Flowers is a four-piece indie rock band from Los Angeles composed of Noah Green (vocals/guitar), Jake Gideon (guitar/vocals), Sam Tiger (bass/vocals) and Sean Johnson (drums). Their music has been described as hooky, heartfelt and literate. The band's influences span more than a few decades of loud guitar indie and college rock, including: Guided By Voices, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Superchunk, and Teenage Fanclub.

The Big Takeover magazine said of The Pretty Flowers debut album, “Why Trains Crash”, "These Los Angeles hard power-poppers...play '90s style indie-rock that harkens back to later Replacements, early Weezer, a little Sloan, and quite a bit of Wilco.

In 2023 the band released their sophomore album, “A Company Sleeve”. The release ended up on numerous album year-end lists. Rosy Overdrive said, “The album is more than worth this wait–it’s a very strong collection of earnest guitar rock that incorporates bits of slacker rock, jangle pop, college rock, power pop, pop punk, and heartland rock all led charismatically by Green’s clear, everyman vocals”. Can't wait to hear them tis summer on the MetroStage! See you there!

06/11/2024

DRIVIN N CRYIN
Saturday June 15th 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Celebrating their 35th Anniversary, Atlanta-based folk rock act, Drivin N Cryin, have spent most of their career on tour. In October 1985 Drivin N Cryin played their first show at Atlanta’s famed 688 Club. The band quickly gained attention for their blistering live shows, and amassed a rabid fanbase in the fertile soil of the late-1980s Southeast music scene.

Now, 35 years later, and after releasing four full length albums on Island Records and one on Geffen Records, founding members Kevn Kinney and Tim Nielsen find themselves enjoying a milestone anniversary for the band, having survived the pressures of fame, a shifting musical landscape, multiple lineup changes, and miles of back roads and highways to arrive here.

After a gold record, 9 full-length albums, and a handful of EPs to their credit, the band still refuses to rest. In 2012, a documentary about the band, entitled Scarred but Smarter: Life ‘n’ Times of Drivin N Cryin, was produced. In 2015, a collection of 10 choice cuts from the band’s 4-EP “Songs” series, entitled “Best of Songs”, was released on Nashville’s Plowboy Records. Additionally, the band was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame the same year. The following year, Drivin N Cryin released a vinyl-only album, entitled “Archives Volume One”, with a collection of basement recordings from the years 1988 to 1990.

With Dave V. Johnson on drums, and the band’s newest member, Laur Joamets on guitar, (originally with Sturgill Simpson) added to the lineup, Drivin N Cryin continues to tour the U.S. to great acclaim. Island Records re-released their highly recognized “Mystery Road” album through Universal Music Group (2017) & Darius Rucker cut Straight to Hell on his album, “When Was the Last Time”, released October 2017 with guest vocal appearances by Luke Bryan, Charles Kelley, and Jason Aldean.

“Mystery Road” was named one of “The 50 Best Southern Rock Albums of All Time” by Paste Magazine that year as well. In 2018, New West Records re-released their self-titled 1997 album with a new name, “Too Late To Turn Back Now!”. In addition, the band recently celebrated the release of their 9th studio album, “Live the Love Beautiful”. Produced by former band member, Nashville’s Aaron Lee Tasjan, the album was released on Drivin N Cryin Records to much praise.

A quote from the band’s lead singer, Kevn Kinney, gives a little insight into what Drivin N Cryin is all about: “We are a band that’s like your record collection”. Drawing influence from a wide array of musical elements, Drivin N Cryin has developed a unique sound over the years. Their name derives from the eclectic nature of this sound: a little drivin’ rock n roll and a little country twang. Comfortable with their past and confident in their future, the band has an arsenal of songs, a full tank of gas, and no plans of stopping any time soon.

06/11/2024

We are just days away from our 45th year of Metro Jam! The festival continues to be a great musical showcase for a variety of national, international regional and local acts and as always it remains a FREE event...thanks to our great sponsors!

We want to especially thank our presenting sponsors Cher-Make Sausage, TDS Telecommunications and Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc. for not only supporting Metro Jam but our lakeshore community in so many ways!

We also encourage you to check out all of the great sponsors at our website and on our posters that blanket our community. Please support these businesses and give them a "big thanks" for making Manitowoc a great place to live!

The weather looks to be great this weekend! Keep watching our FB Page for more up to the minute details on this year's festival including food and beverages, MJ Merch and of course MUSIC!!!

06/10/2024

If you can get your hands on the Summer 24 edition of No Depression, there is a great article on Drivin n Cryin and Kevn Kinney. A must read!!!

06/10/2024

! is so incredibly excited to be rocking your state on June 15 for !!! Past headliners include and . Honoured to be the first ever Canadians on the bill.

06/10/2024

Help our nonprofit partner with a goal to raise over 2,000 food items for their mission!

This weekend at Metro Jam Grow It Forward Community Food Center is doing Cans For Koozies!

Bring 4 non-perishable canned food items to GIF's beverage tent to receive a FREE CAN KOOZIE! or you can purchase a can koozie in support of GIF's mission for $2.00.

Every dollar provides 3 meals to our neighbors in need! We continue to be grateful for the support we receive in our community!

Come down to Washington Park this weekend and enjoy Metro Jam! We hope to see you there!

06/09/2024

Here we come Manitowoc Wisconsin!!
We are excited about next Saturday !!
June 15 … thank you for inviting us …
We are looking forward to a full day of great music …. I am really looking forward to seeing Combustor at 4 pm!! They have a great new album out with one of my favorite songs TIGHTROPE … you can hear me on background vocals!!
See you there!!!

06/07/2024

A week from tomorrow, next Friday, here is the opening night's line up! Looks to be a great 45th!!

06/05/2024

We thought we would share what Kendra at the Green Bay Press Gazette had to say about this year's Metro Jam:

Metro Jam seldom disappoints when it comes to sliding an act nobody saw coming onto the summer music calendar. Atlanta rock band Drivin N Cryin, fronted by Milwaukee native Kevn Kinney, are the big draw at 8:30 p.m. June 15 for the 45th year of the free two-day music fest. Get there by 7 p.m. to catch Los Angeles indie rockers The Pretty Flowers’ opening set.

06/04/2024

We are less than two weeks away!! Time to review what will all be happening...at the happening known as Metro Jam!!!

06/01/2024

Check this out!!! On June12th, The Manitowoc Tavern on Wheels will be doing a salute to Metro Jam! What a great way to kick off our 45th year! Catch the "Tavern" on Wednesday...rest on Thursday and rock out all weekend down at Washington Park!!!!

05/28/2024

With May just about wrapped up, Drivin' N' Cryin' are ready to rock the month of June! Metro Jam is excited to be part of this run of shows...and don't forget, the show is free! Plus an excellent line up leading up to our headliner! Check out www.metrojam.org for full details.

05/20/2024

Here's a little note from The Pretty Flowers! (We love their own MJ Artwork...thanks guys!)

We are stoked to announce we will be playing Metro Jam Festival in Manitowoc, WI on Saturday, June 15 with and many more. (Whaaaa?!l)
This will be our first time in Wisconsin EVER, so come out if you're near (hey, Chicago!) or far. We'd love to see you!
LFG!

05/10/2024

FIVE WEEKS UNTIL METRO JAM 45!!!
DRIVIN AND CRYIN HEADLINE Saturday June 15th!!!

We are only five weeks away from this year’s Metro Jam! We thought we would share this review from a show last year where Drivin’ and Cryin’ opened for the reunited Black Crowes:

The Black Crowes have a long history of bringing out compelling opening acts, from power-trio Gov’t Mule in the mid ‘90s to bluesy upstarts Dirty Honey last year. For this current run, they tapped Drivin’ N’ Cryin’.

The Crowes and DNC have a long history together, dating back to both bands’ late ‘80s Atlanta origins. Masters of mixing electric rock and acoustic country-folk, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ scored their biggest album, “Fly Me Courageous,” a year after “Money Maker” dropped.

The two bands definitely have an overlap of fans. At Orion, fans clearly made it a point to get there early enough to hear the opener. The amphitheater was around two-thirds full for Drivin’ N’ Cryin’. Like The Crowes, DNC are Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees.

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ opened their set with a couple of thunderbolts: 1989 anthem “Honeysuckle Blue” and riff-tastic “Fly Me Courageous” title track. In addition to delivering his relatable and haunting vocals, singer/guitarist Kevn Kinney was an amiable host.

Introing the closer of the band’s 40-minute or so set, Kinney said, “This next song’s about Romeo and Juliet … if they worked at Waffle House. Or at the Tip Top,” referring to the legendary long-shuttered Huntsville dive bar, where early in their careers both Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ and The Crowes performed.

After Kinney’s quip, the band slid into “Straight to Hell.” Although the sauntering country-rock tune isn’t DNC’s biggest hit, it’s their most-famous song. Kinney also dropped a shoutout to Huntsville brewery Straight to Ale into his “Straight to Hell” vocals.

Drivin’ N’ Cryin lead guitarist Laur Joamets, formerly with Americana grumpy-pants Sturgill Simpson, shredded impressively throughout the set. Original bassist Tim Nielsen and longtime drummer Dave V. Johnson kept a huge pocket. They upshifted to a punk-pace for a performance of “Acceleration,” a song from the band’s formative days.

Towards the end of their set, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ welcomed fiddler Faye Petree to the stage. Petree’s melancholic swoops and Joamets’ Allman-esque slide built “A Good Country Mile” into a pastoral portrait. Her playing also upped the saloon factor on “Straight to Ale.” The Orion crowd eagerly pitched in on the song’s choruses. More than a few beer filled cups were hoisted into the air as well.

You will be hoisting a few at this year’s Metro Jam in Washington Park, Manitowoc on June 14th and 15th! Visit www.metrojam.org for all the details!

04/18/2024

Dave “Elvis” Ehlert – Friday June 14; 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM

Dave “Elvis” Ehlert has been performing as the “King” since 1965, and that’s 12 years before Elvis died! Since Dave began performing as Elvis in 1965 he has become the longest running Elvis Tribute Show in the world. He has portrayed Elvis on stage during the terms of 9 U.S. Presidents! His voice has been considered the closest to Elvis by seven Presidents of various Elvis Fan Clubs. He is the first performer to be inducted to the Elvis Performer’s International Hall of Fame. We are excited to be bringing this King of all things Elvis to the Metro Stage as our 45th year opener…We’re all shook up, uh, uh, ha!!

06/26/2023

Finally getting around to one of Saturday's earlier acts; Flyin' KIelbasa Brothers. The band made their Metro Jam debut with a sizzling set that ended with a salute to Metro Jam founder Steve Heise (aka Falcon San Fernando, Steven T Grease, Wolfgang) with a rousing rendition of Spiders In My Pockets, written by Steve. The 'KIelbasas were joined by fellow Spark Plugz Ravin' Dave and BBQ Bob, Biff and Sheila Hansen, Bob Mittnacht, Pete Honzik, Chrissy Kornely and Mayors Kevin Crawford and Justin NIckles. All the Joy they bring!

06/19/2023

Thanks to Turn Turn Turn for successfully closing this year's Metro Jam! A great ending to our 44th year!!