APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Mile of Music is back in Appleton for it’s 11th mile, featuring all-original music.
Lawrence University has a strong presence at the festival, and brings more than 200 artists from around the United States, and even the world.
Long-time fan Gary Barth has sponsored the “Peace Love and Good Vibes” stage for six years now.
“I thought I should do something kind of crazy, and I looked up and there’s a tattoo shop across the street, and I’ve got tattoos too so I thought, why not get the logo. Last year I added the Appleton Wisconsin to it,” he says.
Around town, many know him as Peace Man.
Barth says, “It’s kind of like after so many years its like a family reunion is basically what it is like. I walk down the street, ‘Hey Peace Man!’, ‘Hey Gary!'”
He says this is one of the best festivals he has attended, and why he had to be a part of it.
Peace Man brought a cannon to shoot out T-shirt’s, stress balls and even rubber chickens between sets.
The Hilton Paper Valley Courtyard stage hits maximum capacity every year.
Audio engineer Brandon Johnson says the atmosphere has come down to a science.
“We know exactly how every instrument should sound, how the kick should sound, in every different order so, we walk around wirelessly, changing the sound all throughout the courtyard,” Johnson says.
His goal is to give everyone the best experience: the artists, the fans, and the volunteers.
“Marina City, Sweet Lizzy Project, We follow each other on Instagram and we just keep talking all year,” Johnson says.
Lawrence University lends their professionals, equipment and stages to continue and improve Mile of Music each and every year.
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