GuitarTown Music Festival

GuitarTown Music Festival is coming to Waukesha in June 2026 for their inaugural event!

On June 13th, the spirit of innovation returns home for a festival that’s anything but standard. Join the City of Waukesha for the Guitar Town Music Festival, an electrifying celebration of the man who gave the world its “G-string” soul: Les Paul.

They are setting the bar at a custom shop level for a full-throttle immersion in the sound that changed the world. This event is a total gold-top experience, featuring:

• Live Original Music: Catch the next generation of artists as they find their signature sound.

  • The GuitarTown Music Festival is set to electrify the stage with a powerhouse lineup of six original rock and roll bands, each ready to showcase the raw energy and versatility of the electric guitar.

• The Instrument Petting Zoo: Don’t be fretful—get hands-on and find your rhythm!

  • The festival also features an instrument petting zoo, where aspiring rockers of all ages can get hands-on with a variety of instruments to discover their own musical spark.

• The Heritage Tour: Take a burst of inspiration as you explore the iconic Waukesha sites where Les Paul’s journey began.
  • The festival offers a deep dive into music history with guided tours of Les Paul historical sites in Waukesha by the Les Paul Foundation., complemented by a special collaborative exhibit curated by the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum.
• Visual Arts Makers Market and Exhibits

  • The festival will feature a vibrant Makers Market, where a diverse collective of visual artists will be showcasing and selling their unique, handcrafted goods and original creations.

• Food and Drink and Fun Eats:

  • The festival will offer a full spread of delicious food and beverages, headlined by the award-winning craft beers of Raised Grain Brewery.

GuitarTown Music Festival lineup:

Spirit Shakers (Kenosha) | 12:00 – 12:45 PM

The Racing Pulses(Madison) | 1:15 – 2:00 PM

Violet Wilder (Milwaukee) | 2:30 – 3:15 PM

ValleyKil (Eau Claire) | 3:45 – 4:30 PM

The Last Beess (Waukesha) | 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Bellevue Suite (Milwaukee/Waukesha) | 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Whether you’re a lifelong “axeman” or just love a good beat, don’t let this date slide by. Come see how the legacy of Les Paul provides the bridge to Waukesha’s identity today.