Every August, Mile of Music turns downtown Appleton into a four-day celebration of original music. With hundreds of live performances from singer-songwriters and bands across the country, it’s a defining event for the Fox Cities music scene and a highlight of summer in Wisconsin.

This year, we noticed something cool: a lot of Mile 12 artists are singing about water. From rivers and lakes to rising tides and deep breaths, the theme flows strong throughout the music. So we built a playlist that dives right in!

Introducing The Mile Over Water, a curated Spotify playlist packed with water-themed songs from Mile of Music 2025 artists. Whether you’re planning your weekend lineup, hitting the road to Appleton, or just daydreaming about that first guitar chord on College Ave, this playlist is for you.

Stream it now:

featuring:

• Bombargo – Walking on Water (just dropped!)
• BRETT NEWSKI – Life Under Water
• Disconapse – Deep Breath (a hometown favorite from right here in the Fox Valley)
• Selina Boland – Living Water
• King Margo – Waters Rise

…and more original music from this year’s Mile of Music lineup.

Whether you’re a local, a road-tripper, or a longtime fan of the festival, The Mile Over the Water taps into everything we love about Mile of Music. Honest lyrics. Real instruments. A deep sense of place. And since we’re the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, we couldn’t resist tying it all back to what keeps this region flowing: clean water.

music and water connect us

So before the festival kicks off, take a moment to soak in some songs that celebrate both.

Learn more about the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, and keep an ear out. The water’s always singing if you know how to listen.