The Heart of Rock and Roll is still beating — right here in Appleton

Huey Lewis set his musical, the Heart of Rock and Roll, in Milwaukee. Had he moved that setting north 100 miles, his protagonist might not have had to choose between his hometown factory job and his musical passion.

That’s because the music – a whole, magnificent mile of it — comes to Appleton every August and we lucky residents get to lap it up in great, glorious gulps.

I am as delighted by Mile of Music today as I was when it first rolled out 11 years ago. The venues have improved since then; an app now helps me plan each day, and alerts me to pop up concerts and schedule changes; and the food options, thankfully, have increased dramatically.

All of that is a real credit to event organizer Dave Willems and his team.

But, honestly, I’d park myself downtown with a water bottle and a couple pieces of lint-covered chewing gum to sustain me if it meant I could listen to all that beautiful music.

Live musicians, especially those who write and perform their own tunes, breathe their souls into the mic. They write their lives on lyrical notes and then send them our way. All we have to do to receive them is listen.

The whole process is so generous and brave I often can’t believe I’m lucky enough to witness it.

So, today, I am watering the plants, feeding the gecko, cleaning the bathrooms, checking the expiration date on the milk and giving the kitchen counters one last swipe.

I’m getting a sneak peak at some of the acts tonight and then tomorrow, I’m heading down to the Mile.

I hope to see you there!

*I definitely don’t mean to diminish Summerfest and I know the Heart of Rock and Roll lives in Milwaukee too. I just love Mile of Music and the spotlight it shines on songwriting musicians.