Rapper-turned-rocker Machine Gun Kelly is ready for Summerfest’s biggest stage… and he's bringing a special guest: Avril Lavigne.
He’s headlining Summerfest, America’s largest music festival, on July 1 in Wisconsin. It’s part of a 42-date North American summer tour announced Monday morning that also includes what’s likely a headlining slot at Lollapalooza July 29 (the Chicago festival’s full lineup arrives Tuesday) and wraps up at the Cleveland Browns’ stadium in Kelly's hometown Aug. 13.
Even though he just played in Wisconsin five months ago, Kelly (real name Colson Baker) will have new music to share. His second pop-punk album “Mainstream Sellout” — the Billboard 200 chart-topper “Tickets to My Downfall” in 2020 was his first — comes out Friday, preceded by singles like “Emo Girl” with Willow and “Ay!” with Lil Wayne.
Lavigne — who's celebrating the 20th anniversary of her breakout album “Let Go” with signature hit “Complicated,” and has a new pop-punk album out, “Love Sux” — will open the Summerfest show. Iann Dior, the emo-inspired rapper who teamed with 24KGoldn on 2020 hit “Mood,” will also open.
“It was so much fun to get back into that sense of wanting to rock out,” Lavigne told USA TODAY last month about working on the new record. “I didn’t really overthink anything. I got together with people who understood me in this genre and we complemented each other so well.”
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Summerfest box office and ticketmaster.com. Prices have not been announced but will include Summerfest general admission July 1.
It is the sixth amphitheater show announced for Summerfest 2022, taking place June 23 to 25; June 30 to July 2 and July 7 to 9.
The others: Jason Aldean with Gabby Barrett June 23; Justin Bieber with Jaden, Harry Hudson and ¿Téo? June 24; Halsey with the Marias and Abby Roberts July 2; Rod Stewart with Cheap Trick July 7; and Thomas Rhett with an opener to be announced July 9.
