Free movie screening Monday takes viewers inside Appleton’s Mile of Music festival

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) - Monday night, PBS Wisconsin hosts a free screening that takes viewers inside Appleton’s Mile of Music Festival in an all-new documentary and streaming archive of music performances.

Music enthusiasts are invited to see a special big-screen premiere of the new film during a special free screening at 6 p.m. on June 16 at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center, 355 W. Lawrence Street in Appleton.

PBS Wisconsin recorded the immersive and music-filled documentary during the 2024 festival in Appleton. Live performances and artist interviews provide a front row seat to the free community music festival that showcases more than 200 emerging artists each year.

“Mile of Music” premieres 8 p.m. Monday, June 23, on PBS Wisconsin and streaming online at pbswisconsin.org/mileofmusic.

A streaming archive of performances from more than 30 artists who performed at the 2024 Mile of Music festival will also be available at that site and on the free PBS app on all streaming devices and smart TVs.

Viewers will see and hear musicians from all over the world performing in a wide array of genres during the four-day celebration of original music and singer-songwriters.

The concert documentary and library of streaming performances explore the festival’s diverse settings — from intimate listening rooms to energetic public spaces — through the eyes of performers including Christopher Gold, Illiterate Light, Abby Posner, Ben Mulwana, Tommy Prine, and more.

“We are honored that PBS Wisconsin is able to share the magic of Mile of Music through the upcoming Mile of Music broadcast program,” Mile of Music founder Dave Willems said. “The Mile team has worked alongside the wonderful folks at PBS Wisconsin to make it happen since their very first festival visit in 2019, and are thrilled with the story that has been told with festival footage from 2024. We look forward to sharing our festival with a statewide audience, and beyond, through both the broadcast and online content.”

“The way the community of Appleton comes together to host all these musicians and music fans is just amazing to see,” PBS Wisconsin Mile of Music producer Colin Crowley said. “Everyone at PBS Wisconsin worked really hard on this production to create a show that conveys the feeling of what it’s like to experience all the musical performances and community connections that happen every year at Mile of Music.”

“What a great collaboration between both the Mile of Music and PBS Wisconsin teams,” said Deb Piper, PBS Wisconsin Cultural Affairs Executive Producer and Producer of the Mile of Music digital content . “We recorded so many artists that, in addition to the fantastic concert documentary, we have curated a collection of 32 extended performances that can be viewed online. There is something for everyone to enjoy!”

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