MILWAUKEE — Part of the beauty of Summerfest is looking beyond the big headliners and experiencing some of the more hidden talent.
Royal Prospect, from Sweden, is one of the bands that traveled the farthest to perform at the Big Gig.
“Our main inspirations are Coldplay, U2 and Kings of Leon,” said Oscar Reingsdh, the main singer. "We are a mix of pop and modern rock."
But Oscar is the only one of the four-person band who actually made it to Milwaukee. But, the show must go on.
“My bandmates got stuck in Sweden, their flight was canceled and another isn’t flying out until tomorrow,” Oscar said. “But we play this afternoon, so I’m going to take the stage with my acoustic guitar and do it myself.”
He ended up getting a great response from the crowd Wednesday afternoon.
“At least it still gives people a taste of our sound and who we are,” he said. “Our goal is to do this full time. Travel the world and bring people together with our music. That’s the dream.”
“It’s amazing to be here playing the World’s Largest Music Festival,” he said. “This is only our second time in the United States. It’s a huge opportunity.” — Oscar Reingsdh of Royal Prospect
So far, he’s living that dream. Royal Prospect just wrapped up a tour of Asia.
“It’s amazing to be here playing the World’s Largest Music Festival,” he said. “This is only our second time in the United States. It’s a huge opportunity.”
Royal Prospect was recruited here as part of Summerfest’s Emerging Artist Series, which highlights up-and-coming local, national and international talent. It takes place at the Johnson Controls World Stage. Fans vote every day for their favorite performance, and the winning bands get nearly $3,000 in gear, merchandise and services. By the end of the festival, two of the bands will get a College and Non-Commercial Radio Campaign from Planetary Group.
These performances really can be career launching points. Some past artists featured in the Emerging Artist Series have gone on to become nationally and internationally known, including Walk the Moon, Nathaniel Rateliff, Maren Morris, BORNS and the X Ambassadors.
