Summerfest Day 9: Kenny Chesney

At 41, Kenny Chesney plays, sings and lives like he's 25. On his "Sun City Carnival Tour" he will certainly feature his new single, "Out Last Night, " the lead track from his "Greatest Hits II" disc, released May 19 on BNA Records.

Needless to say, his Summerfest stop will also be a greatest hits barrage -- a fitting follow-up to his 2007 "Flip Flop" tour, which one of the highest-grossing tours of that year.

In 2008, the Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM) Entertainer of the Year was the top ticket-seller in the country.

Chesney has become a modern-day Jimmy Buffet with his tunes rooted in tradition but amped up with rock, fun and humor (like most country music). With 13 albums under his belt, Chesney mixes the quirky ("She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy") with the down home and real ("The Good Stuff, " "Young," "Don't Blink.")

Expect a two-hour non-stop Chesney fest with a huge band, bras on the microphones, drunks in the crowd and maybe a few guest appearances -- similar to his recent sold out gigs at Soldier Field.

Opening the show are Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Lambert's most recent record is "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," which won the 2008 ACM album of the Year. Lady Antebellum won the 2008 CMA Horizon Award and the 2008 ACM Best New Duo / Group Award and has been nominated for a Grammy Best New Artist.

Tickets are $82 (red), $72 (yellow), $62 (bench) and $37 (lawn).

OnMilwaukee.com staff picks for Friday:

I plan to take my kids to see local family-friendly band The Chickadees at the Children's Theater at 2:15 p.m. Local singer-songwriter Mary Karlzen -- along with Anjl Rodee and Carmen Nickerson -- released silly-but-smart debut album called "Songs From the Great Outdoors" and I'm certain it will translate well into live festival music. If I find myself footloose and fancy free later in the evening, I'll check out Father Phoenix at 9:30 at the Groove Garage. --Molly Snyder Edler

Today is a big day for Milwaukee bands at the Big Gig. If you're into fun, block out an eight-hour chunk of your day and plant yourself at the Cascio Interstate Groove Garage from 1:30 to 10: 30 p.m. Who you'll see: Absolutely, White Problems, Jonathan Burke, Party by the Slice, Curb, Terrior Bute, Cougar Den, Red Knife Lottery and Father Phoenix. --Julie Lawrence

I'd love to see the Roots, but might want to beat the fireworks traffic by bolting after Fest veterans Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan play their 5:30 p.m. show at the Miller Lite Oasis. That's an early slot for a band making its 18th appearance at Summerfest, but it's also a 2 1/2-hour show. --Drew Olson

I didn't see The Roots last year, so I'll get another chance this year when Jimmy Fallon's house band plays at 10 p.m. at the Big Backyard. --Bobby Tanzilo

The full Summerfest line-up for Friday:

Marcus Amphitheater: Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum; 7:30 p.m.

Miller Lite Oasis: The Remainders, noon; Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, 2:30 p.m.; Katie Todd Band, 5:30 p.m.; Roman Candle, 8:30 p.m.; Train, 10 p.m.

Harley-Davidson Roadhouse with Miller Genuine Draft: WAMI Battle of the Bands Winner - The Form, noon; Start-Up 45, 2 p.m.; Malea McGuinness, 4 p.m.; Nick Howard, 6 p.m.; Green River Ordinance, 8 p.m.; Gavin DeGraw, 10 p.m.

U.S. Cellular Connection Stage with Leinenkugel's and FM 102/1: Fly By Stereo, 12:30 p.m.; Luna Halo, 3 p.m.; Nico Vega, 4:15 p.m.; Empires, 5:30 p.m.; Gringo Star, 6:45 p.m.; Vallejo, 8 p.m.; Shinwdown, 10 p.m. M&I Classic Rock Stage with Fiduciary Management, Miller Lite, 97.3 The Brew & My 95.7: Lukyn Skywyrd, noon; Shattered, 3 p.m.; Half Empty, 5:30 p.m.; The Lynch Mob, 8 p.m.; Lita Ford, 10 p.m.

Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Featuring The Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame With Miller High Life: Eventful Battle of the Bands Winner, noon; Ryan Sallis, 2 p.m.; New Dog Trick, 4 p.m.; Nikhil Korula Band, 6 p.m.; KHB, 7:30 p.m.; Rusty P's, 8:30 p.m.; The Roots, 10 p.m.

Potawatomi Bingo Casino Rock Stage with Miller Lite and 94.1 WJJO and 95 WIIL ROCK: Boo The Band, 1 p.m.; Substitute, 3 p.m.; Stray Voltage, 5 p.m.; Plane Side, 6:30 p.m.; Johnny Wad, 8 p.m.; Duff McKagen's Loaded, 10 p.m.

Mid-Gate Stage at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Pavilion with Miller High Life and 88Nine RadioMilwaukee: Ellen Winters Band featuring Warren Weigratz, noon; Bob Karnes High School All-Stars, 2 p.m.; WMIL Battle of the Bands Winner, 4:30 p.m.; Country Showcase - Kate & Kacey, 6 p.m.; Country Showcase - Candy Cobum, 7:30 p.m.; Country Showcase - Jessica Harp, 9 p.m.; Country Showcase - Brady Seals, 10:15 p.m.

JoJo's Martini Lounge with Miller Lite: Pre-Recorded Music, 12 p.m.; Penny Mae Dixon, 4 p.m.; The LoveMonkeys, 8 p.m.

Cascio Interstate Music Groove Garage with WMSE and the Shepherd Express: Absolutely, 1 p.m.; White Problems, 2:30 p.m.; Jonathan Burks, 3:30 p.m.; Party by the Slice, 4:30 p.m.; Curb, 5:30 p.m.; Cougar Den, 6:30 p.m.; Red Knife Lottery, 7:30 p.m.; Father Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.

Sentry SportsZone With Newsradio 620 WTMJ: First Robotics Team Competition, noon; Wheelchair Sports, 6 p.m.; Milwaukee Wave Soccer, 7 p.m.; Division BMX Stunt Team, 8 p.m.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Northwestern Mutual Children's Theater & Playzone: Mark Hayward: Cool Yo-Yo Guy, 12:15 p.m.; Mr. Billy: Music, Bubbles and FUN!, 1:15 p.m.; The Chickadees, 2:15 p.m.; Wayne & WingNut - "Crazy Puppets", 3:15 p.m.; Discovery World: Kitchen of Chemistry, 4 p.m.; Playground Kids Rock and Roll Revue, 4:45 p.m.; The Figureheads, 6:15 p.m.; David Seebach's Wonder of Magic, 7:30 p.m.