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Playing a market four times in two years could seem like overkill for some acts. For singer/songwriter Jonah Kagen, however, it’s the calling card of an artist still firmly establishing his foothold in Milwaukee and beyond, working behind 2025’s “Sunflowers And Leather.” On the final night of Summerfest, Kagen made his return to Milwaukee, closing out the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard with a headlining slot.
To his credit, Kagen has brought a different experience to Milwaukee every time that he’s returned, and Saturday night’s set featured both a full band and a unique twang that invoked elements of country and Americana. Following the July 4th fireworks, Kagen stepped out to the stage, greeted by a crowd that only grew as fans wandered over from their viewing points to the Big Backyard. Opener “Simon” felt like a solid way to ease into the set, which would in total span over 70 minutes and involve much of “Sunflowers And Leather.” With every Milwaukee appearance, Kagen appears more confident as a performer, and on Saturday night, he was ready to take the spotlight for himself.
When he addressed the crowd, he was visibly appreciative of the bleachers filling up for him. At one point, he joked, “Normally at festivals we have a lot of people waiting for someone to play after us. But tonight we are who you’re here to see!” He would also joke about doing both parts of his collaboration with Sam Barber, “Burn Me” before trying to mimic Barber’s singing style. While he was in the middle of a large festival, Kagen was able to make the Big Backyard feel intimate, which is no easy task.
Midway through the set, the band would depart for a few solo songs, giving Kagen a chance to showcase the raw power in his voice with a few acoustic songs. “Chrissy” had a particular poignance to it, while recent single “Talkin’ About Jesus” followed with a Kagen on banjo, a rarity by Summerfest standards.
While it’s hard to say that at this point there’s tried and true material for the young singer/songwriter, there were moments that clearly have continued to work for him in any city that he goes to. “Save My Soul” got a great reaction from the Big Backyard crowd, singing along with the call-and-response chorus. He also would work in an unlikely cover of Swedish House Mafia’s “Don’t You Worry Child” which, somehow, works well with a folksy translation. Both moments, however, were strategically placed in the set, with Kagen figuring out how to hold an audience for the duration of his live show.
The night would end with hit single “God Needs The Devil,” which helped break Kagen thanks to airplay from the ever-missed FM 102/1. In turn, the Milwaukee crowd knew every word, with one last singalong to close out the festival. Kagen appeared most confident in his hit, which sounded especially tight on Saturday as the sound of fireworks from around the city echoed in the background.
Milwaukee has seen a lot of Jonah Kagen in recent years, but they’ve also watched him grow and evolve. Saturday night’s set was another addition to his history with the city, but one that proved him to be molding into an even bigger star with every return stop.
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