- THREE DAYS GRACE w/ Sleep Theory, I Prevail, The Funeral Portrait
- HOG Fest 2026 Presented by 102.9 THE HOG
- 3/5/26 - Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- ©Justin Nuoffer / NuofferMedia.com
Milwaukee was buzzing long before the doors opened at the Fiserv Forum, as Hog Fest 2026 presented by 102.9 THE HOG brought a stacked night of hard rock and high-energy performances to the city. With The Funeral Portrait kicking things off, Sleep Theory fueling the pit, and I Prevail unleashing a pyro-packed assault, the stage was perfectly set for headliners Three Days Grace. Their reunion with vocalist Adam Gontier has sparked a new era for the band, and they delivered a massive, hit-packed performance that turned the arena into a sea of singing fans, circle pits, and pure rock chaos.
As the state of Wisconsin barrels toward the weekend, the area around the Deer District and State Street is alive and bustling. The bars are overflowing with people enjoying after-work meals or preshow drinks. The air is buzzing with excitement, and it increases with every step toward the massive Fiserv Forum. The courtyard is packed with fans waiting in lines to enter while the restaurants across the way blast Three Days Grace songs on their outdoor patios. After all, this is Wisconsin, and the patios open when the temperature hits 50 degrees. What better way to celebrate Hog Fest 2026 than with some outdoor cocktails?
The Fiserv Forum and its glass front light up the outdoor space, and when the doors opened, fans rushed through security checks. In the blink of an eye, Fiserv Forum was packed.
Opening the night was The Funeral Portrait. Drummer Homer Umbanhower walked out and waved to the crowd as he moved behind the kit, then waved again. The stage lighting began to rise, and a slight haze rolled across the stage. One by one, the band took their places. Colorful frontman Lee Jennings walked to the front edge of the catwalk that extended into the center of the pit. As launched into “Mad World” by Tears for Fears, the arena joined him, and the crowd was instantly in the palm of his hand.
Jennings danced up and down the catwalk, with bassist Robert Weston often joining him, as they ripped through “Generation Psycho” and “Blood Mother.” The Funeral Portrait is about as animated as a band can be. Pumping out tracks like “Voodoo Doll,” “Holy Water,” and “Stay Weird,” their nonstop action captivated the arena. They moved into the final two tracks of their thirty-five-minute set, starting with “Dark Thoughts.” Guitarists Cody Weissinger and newcomer Gareth Calk manned each side of the massive stage and bounced around with youthful energy.
Check out The Funeral Portrait concert photo gallery below:
When The Funeral Portrait launched into their set closer “Suffocate City,” the room erupted. The song is their biggest hit and is no stranger to airplay across Wisconsin and The Hog. Streamed millions of times and a staple of alternative and post-hardcore playlists, it lives up to its reputation in the live setting. The guitars roared and the drums pounded, while the crowd practically became part of the track, shouting the chorus back at the band. It’s a song that captures urban alienation and raw emotion, but live it’s a shared release, a cathartic wall of sound that turns tension into euphoria. By the time the final notes hit, it was clear why this is the track that defines The Funeral Portrait: intense, immersive, and impossible to forget.
Taking the stage and rocketing into “Fallout,” Sleep Theory set the tone early as frontman Cullen Moore told the Milwaukee crowd, “We just got back from the UK, and they were singing it so loud. This is America, and we are so much louder.” The eruption of cheers rang throughout the venue.
Sleep Theory meant business. They dished out heavy riffs from Daniel Pruitt’s guitar and slammed their way through “Parasite” and “Gone or Staying.” Bassist Paolo Vergara was uncontrollable, hopping and leaping around the microphone stand and onto the riser in front of him while remaining in perfect sync with drummer Ben Pruitt. His low end contributed to the vibe and festive feel.
Pumping out tracks like “Gravity” and “Words Are Worthless,” the mosh pit’s cardio levels spiked as the circle pit ran wild. Then came “Stuck In My Head,” the lead single from their debut full-length album, Afterglow. The popularity of the song had the barricade singing along, but when “Numb” arrived, the screams hit maximum volume. Moore’s reaction was written all over his face.
Check out the Sleep Theory concert photo gallery below:
It was obvious that Wisconsin loves Sleep Theory, but all good things must end. They closed with “Static” – a track that fully shows the genre-bending the band is capable of. With an electronic intro and vocals pumping through an autotune filter, fans clapped as the song built and built. The hard rock dance track kept smiles on faces and bodies moving. Sleep Theory delivered and appears to be on the verge of a breakout in 2026.
When it comes to breakouts, I Prevail is the poster child of recent ones. The band’s move toward a heavier and more brutal sound grabbed audiences by the throat and forced them to pay attention. They came out swinging with “NWO” and “Bow Down.” Pyro lit up the Fiserv Forum as vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe stomped around the catwalk. Every slam of his foot matched the columns of flames shooting toward the rafters. The barricade rattled as fans rammed into it.
This was a complete change of pace from the previous bands. The eager audience was ready to blow off more steam, and it showed as I Prevail cruised through “Self-Destruction” and “There’s Fear in Letting Go.” Guitarists Dylan Bowman and Steve Menoian were hard to pin down, as both ran around the stage without hesitation while flames blasted around them. Their riffs were heavier than heavy, and the pair unleashed stank faces at every turn.
Heavy metal was alive. “Violent Nature” and its album mate “Into Hell” were on constant radio play during 2025. If the packed floor was any indication of their popularity, I Prevail hit a home run. Bodies flew and hands waved.
With fist pumps and the Bucks arena chanting “Hey” as one unit, the legendary “Sad But True” by Metallica served as the transition point to the back half of their forty-five-minute set. No matter how old you are, you know that song. Gabe Helguera’s bass drum kicked like a weapon that punched through your chest with every hit. His double kick dominated during “Rain,” keeping the band tightly together.
When Helguera had the opportunity for a drum solo, he let it rip as strobes fired around his kit. He then stood up defiantly with a fist raised and a smirk on his face before launching into the final stretch of songs. The sheer brutality of “God” pushed his endurance.
He was not the only one tested. Vanlerberghe dug deep and unleashed guttural screams as pyro once again erupted across the stage. “Hurricane” and “Gasoline” from 2019’s Trauma have long been live standouts, and tonight was no different. The songs are vastly different. The crowd sang through “Hurricane” and its soaring chorus, while “Gasoline” sent the entire floor into chaos.
Check out I Prevail concert photo gallery below:
The Michiganders were firing on all cylinders and blowing the roof off the venue, if not torching it. As their notoriety continues to grow within the scene, they will be a force for years to come.
Hog Fest headliners Three Days Grace are experiencing a renaissance after reuniting with vocalist Adam Gontier. Since that moment, excitement around the band has grown exponentially. Now they are back in Milwaukee, a city they openly say they love visiting. Having joined the Bucks the night before to throw out shirts and have some fun, it was now their turn to rock the arena.
With a wide-open stage setup, the only item on stage was a drum riser in the center. Behind it, a gigantic video board lit up with “Three Days Grace” scrawled across it. High above the catwalk, a circular lighting rig projected patterns and lights onto the stage below.
The show Three Days Grace planned was divided into three sections and stretched over an hour and a half. The setlist was expansive and covered both eras of the band with both vocalists.
Opening with “Dominate” from the 2025 release Alienation, the chemistry between the two singers felt warm and genuine. Each vocalist had a section, and it felt like the good old days. Fiserv Forum was on fire as the crowd screamed every word before they kicked into “Animal I Have Become,” the eight-time platinum single.
Gontier pushed every ounce of air from his lungs as his voice soared over the pit. Matt Walst loved singing from the front edge of the catwalk, stomping his feet on the ledge and engaging with fans on the barricade. This was the theme throughout the first third of the show.
Tracks like “Break,” “Home,” and “Pain” brought waves of nostalgia and joy. These songs transport listeners back to the moment they first felt their impact. On stage, the band was a well-oiled machine, with visuals, logos, and videos matching each song perfectly.
As the performance continued, the night became interactive. Gontier said, “We just played you the earliest song we have, ‘Kill Me Fast.’ How about we go back and play you the oldest one we have?” The crowd erupted. He continued, “The very first one. I think most of you know it. It was an anthem for breakups and divorces and all sorts of crazy stuff. I want to hear everyone singing from the front to the back and from side to side.”
Barry Stock began the recognizable guitar intro, and the faithful crowd jumped to their feet as the band launched into “I Hate Everything About You.” Matt Walst grabbed a guitar to play rhythm alongside Stock, while Gontier took a walk around the mosh pit and in front of the seated section. As he sang, he high-fived and fist-bumped fans while a spotlight followed him around the arena floor.The energy from that moment carried throughout the rest of the set with “Apologies,” “Time of Dying,” and “Don’t Want To Go Home Tonight.”
The next portion of the show featured a campfire setup at center stage with wooden blocks for the band to sit on. They invited Cale Gontier and family onstage while the band played acoustic guitars. The introduction included a video from a close friend explaining the band’s history and roots. The mood was somber, but the emotional connection was powerful.
They opened this segment with “Get Out Alive.” The audience remained calm and focused on the moment. During “Chalk Outline,” the band mixed in Matt Walst’s previous hit “Porn Star Dancing” along with the classic “My Sharona.”
Adam Gontier explained that the band started because their hometown was small and there were only three things to do: sports, music, or drugs. Music became their way out. This led into “Lifetime” from 2022’s Explosions.
One of the most memorable transitions came when Gontier sang “Here Without You” by Three Doors Down a cappella while the stage was cleared. The nod to the death of frontman Brad Arnold brought the audience together for a moment of reflection and compassion.
Drummer Neil Sanderson climbed back behind his kit and waved to the crowd once again as bassist Brad Walst stood in front of him smiling. They guided the band into the Human single “I Am Machine.” The electronic sound and catchy chorus kept bodies bouncing as both vocalists dominated the catwalk.
This launched an avalanche of hits, including “Just Like You,” the new single “Mayday!,” and “The Good Life.” Brad Walst looked out at the crowd with a wide smile while his bass lines shook the arena. The upbeat tempo of “The Good Life” had him with one foot on a monitor while his fingers flew across the strings.
The crowd noise was deafening and left ears ringing. The band’s enthusiastic energy kept the momentum flowing. Eventually, the show reached its final stretch, and the finale was worth the wait. Three Days Grace delivered a greatest hits experience that made it impossible not to move and have a good time. The home stretch began with “Painkiller.” Matt Walst handled the vocals while running across the stage as Gontier grabbed a guitar and played rhythm alongside Barry Stock.
Preparing for “Never Too Late,” Gontier said, “If you know this next one, sing it with us. If it means something to you, sing it with us. If you have a cell phone or a lighter, help us with this.” Holding up a lit phone, he signaled the crowd. Barry Stock delivered the acoustic intro as the entire arena lit up. The meaning behind the lyrics landed like a sledgehammer to the chest. The song’s message about life and struggle resonates differently with everyone, and that emotional connection filled the venue. That warmth quickly exploded into chaos with “Riot.” The floor became one massive mosh pit. Pure unfiltered chaos as steam rose in clouds from the crowd. Then suddenly it was over. The band took bows and waved as they headed off to the next city.
Check out the Three Days Grace concert photo gallery below:
The long setlist delivered everything fans could have hoped for. Expectations were exceeded. Three Days Grace are masters of performance, and the heart they bring to the stage resonates deeply with fans. After more than twenty-three years of rocking the world, the band is entering new territory with their dual vocalist setup. The direction clearly points upward. Their music has dominated radio charts since the beginning, and nothing has stopped them from giving their audience everything. The hallways remained vibrant as fans hummed songs down the escalators and out into the courtyard and the calm Wisconsin night. Hog Fest 2026 was fantastic and left you feeling good.
Catch THREE DAYS GRACE On the Road…
