Inside the Mile

What happens when you combine a vibrant, one-mile stretch of Downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, with 200+ up-and-coming artists performing free shows with live, 100% original music over four days? You get to experience an unforgettable music-filled weekend with over 700 incredible shows!

Mile of Music kicked off in 2013 as a cover-free festival highlighting handcrafted artistry. The theme quickly caught on with music lovers everywhere and is still the focus today as The Mile continues to make music accessible to everyone with nearly all shows FREE to attend. We welcome the finest talent, including singer-songwriters, duos and multi-piece bands showcasing original roots music ranging from indie and folk-rock to soul, to folk, bluegrass and more! On top of that, we highlight homegrown talent and recruit the best emerging artists from all over the U.S.

Along with providing plenty of opportunities to take in the music, attendees are encouraged to make music while they're at The Mile, too! Our Music Education Team hosts dozens of hands-on music events like artist-led songwriting workshops and interactive drum circles.