After attending my sixth Blue Ox Music Festival at The Pines Campground in Eau Claire, WI, it’s safe to say that the festival hasn’t lost an ounce of the magic that engulfed and enriched me while attending my first in 2017. Blue Ox is a truly special event for me, with its alluring woodland backdrop, friendly community of musicians and music fans, an intimate festival, and an annual rich offering of music. I’ve been lucky to share four of my Blue Ox experiences with Alex and two with my mom. It’s a place I’ve discovered artists that are now among my favorites, including Billy Strings and Them Coulee Boys. And a place where I’ve witnessed incredible performances by some of my favorite artists.
Every year of the festival I’ve attended has its own personality and flavor. Last year was the festival’s tenth anniversary, which was marked by a celebration of how far the festival has come since its humble beginnings. I reflected on the festival in my recap here. This year was notable since it was the first time that I attended the festival as a member of the media. I’m grateful for the recognition SWT has received of late, including from Blue Ox. The support has emboldened me to continue working on what we’re doing.
This year’s lineup was stockpiled with many amazing acts that offered a wide-ranging spectrum of sounds that included folk, rock, blues, funk, soul, country, Americana, Appalachian, and experimental music. I’m still trying to wrap my head around my eclectic musical experiences.
Below are more of my thoughts on the festival and some of the acts (you can find Alex’s thoughts and more here):
Weather That Keeps You On Your Toes:
One thing that has remained constant with the festival is the dramatic range of weather at Blue Ox. Torrential rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday threatened to derail the festival from the start, but everyone’s tenacious spirit helped keep things chugging along. There was a short music stoppage on Thursday due to storms and the Field Gate parking area turning into a muddy swamp. Kudos to everyone who helped keep things rolling. Friday was mostly cloudy with temperatures in the low 60s and 70s and high humidity, while Saturday was hot and humid in the upper 80s. A bit of everything, as is Blue Ox tradition.
Diamonds in the Rough:
Each year the festival provides acts that I wasn’t familiar with, but instantly made me a fan after seeing their impressive performance. Rising Appalachia and Clare Doyle were two of the acts that especially impressed me this year.
Rising Appalachia:
We arrived just in time for the Atlanta, Georgia, band’s set, and what a way to kick off our festival experience. As I noted in our social media post, the band gave a masterclass on how to create dynamic and poignant Appalachian music. Their style expertly combines new and old into a unique mix. They paid respect to where the genre originated while adding their own stamp to it. The crowd was swaying and getting sucked into the energy of the music.
Before playing their song “Catalyst,” the band hyped it up by saying that “we’ll see where it goes today.” The spontaneity, acrobatic, and improv-like quality of the performance of that song and others really impressed me. There were dueling harmonies and fiddles, cello, percussion, and upright bass, all combining to create a rich tapestry of sound. One of my favorite moments was when the band performed a beautiful version of “Amazing Grace,” giving it a stunning Appalachian makeover. I can’t wait to see where the band goes next and hope to catch them again soon.
Clare Doyle:
St Paul, Minnesota-based singer-songwriter Clare Doyle and her band opened the music in the festival bowl in style with a charismatic set of music full of great country and Americana tunes such as “Maybelline” and “The Catch”. Everyone in the band was having a blast performing on the Saloon Stage, and that energy riled up the crowd, who responded in kind.
During the set, Doyle said it was her second time at the festival, first as a fan and now as a performer. There weren’t any nerves, though, as she and the band performed like they were festival veterans. It was a pure joy watching them. The band’s song “High Again” about pure joy encapsulated the jovial feel of the band’s performance. To hype up her song “Showing Up,” Doyle told the crowd that “we can find power when we’re together” and how important it was to support each other in times of need. Doyle’s poignant way with words in and out of songs and commanding presence as a vocalist, as well as the band’s strong chemistry and playing, made me an instant fan. I’m really excited to see where Clare goes next and hope to catch another performance soon.
Anticipated Acts That Lived Up To The Hype (And Then Some)
Warren Haynes Band:
Warren has had a long and storied career that includes The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule. He also has four solo albums, including last year’s excellent Million Voices Whisper (you can read SWT’s review here). I’ve seen Warren once previously – a Gov’t Mule show in Milwaukee where they had to perform without their drummer who had gotten food poisoning. So, part of me felt like I hadn’t gotten the full Warren experience yet. It was a thrill to see Warren and his four-piece backing band play in the Blue Ox setting.
Haynes showed off his sublime skill on the guitar time and time again, with guitar licks that cut into the humid air and growled and howled with reckless abandonment and fervor. He also had a commanding presence as a vocalist. The rest of the band had opportunities to showcase their amazing talents as well, with injections of keyboards, bass, drums, and saxophone. It was a tour de force performance full of funk, blues, rock, and jam band tunes, with Warren offering a great sampling of the different corners of his career and artists that influenced him.
In addition to performing solo songs such as “Man in Motion” and “These Changes,” Haynes through in covers of Gov’t Mule (“Banks of the Deep End” and “Thorazine Shuffle”), Gregg Allman (“Just Another Rider”), Tower of Power (“What Is Hip”), and Van Morrison (“I’ve Been Working”). Haynes and the band ended the set in emphatic fashion with a commanding performance of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine” that included a keyboard-laden open and Haynes giving some jazz hands.
Hurray for the Riff Raff:
Formed in New Orleans in 2007 by singer-songwriter Alynda Segarra, Hurray for the Riff Raff has wowed listeners with their authentic, raw, and adventurous approach to folk and Americana. That includes last year’s fantastic The Past Is Still Alive. The set featured incredible versions of songs such as “Alibi” and “Buffalo,” showcasing her range as a singer and songwriter.
Segarra prefaced her song “Pyramid Scheme” by talking about the dangers of AI in music and the need for people to support real human-created art, exclaiming, “Let’s hear it for real-life musicians!” I fully support this message. There was a punk-like feel and urgency to the songs, and the band was dialed in, sounding amazing.
Performers That Get Better Every Time
Margo Price:
As I wrote in our social post, Margo put on an incredible show, turning Blue Ox into a high-octane giant open air honky tonk, with an impassioned performance of songs new and old that never relented in energy. Margo continues to showcase her brilliance as a songwriter and vocalist, speaking her mind and never mincing words in her songs and building on the rich outlaw music tradition. It was a thrill to hear songs from her new album Hard Headed Woman (out August 29) like “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down,” as well as well-traveled fan favorites such as “Hurtin’ On the Bottle.”
The Midwestern-born songwriter also threw in a cover of Waylon Jennings’ song “Kiss You Goodbye” as well as the song she originally did with Billy Strings called “Too Stoned to Cry,” with Margo’s guitarist and self-proclaimed favorite singer in Nashville taking on Strings’ parts.
Molly Tuttle:
New band? Not a problem. After playing with Golden Highway for her previous two Blue Ox performances, Tuttle showcased a new band that was just as impressive. She showed once again what an incredible and agile performer she is with a spirited performance that was a true crowd pleaser. The band featured top-notch musicianship top to bottom. The 4-piece backing band sounded really great, which is even more impressive seeing as it was only their sixth show together.
During the set, Tuttle shared songs from her forthcoming new album So Long Little Miss Sunshine (out August 15), including lead single “That’s Going to Leave A Mark.” The new songs have a more pop edge compared to her more bluegrass and Americana-tinged tunes. I thought they sounded as vital and invigorating as her past work. Towards the end of the set, as she was singing about breaking up with her old self, Molly confidently and defiantly threw off her wig, showing she’s fully happy with the person she is today and not afraid to share her true self. In addition to originals, Tuttle and her band performed fantastic covers of The Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow” and The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” (the latter with the preface about Tuttle working with Ringo Starr on his recent solo album).
St Paul & The Broken Bones:
Formed in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2012 and featuring former preacher-turned-singer Paul Janeway, St Paul & The Broken Bones have left an undeniable mark through their spirited brand of soul and R&B through high-energy live performances and five studio albums full of heart-on-the-sleeve lyric-laden songs. It’s earned them spots opening for The Rolling Stones and others. The band and Molly Tuttle were the two two replacement acts that were added to the Blue Ox lineup after Orville Peck dropped out to focus on his new Broadway gig. I’m really glad they were both booked. Janeway and his band put their heart and soul into their performance.
This was my third time seeing the band, and I think it was easily their best. Janeway has a commanding presence as frontman, finding ways to engage and interact with the audience. For example, during “Sushi and Coca Cola,” he had the crowd try to time their claps to the band’s beats. Janeway joked during the set that he hoped “you’re enjoying our bluegrass music” and later that the solution to get from a good time to a great one is cheese, especially in Wisconsin. Towards the end of the set, he came out into the crowd near the sound booth, climbing on the ladder that was brought out, singing passionately above cheering fans in a brightly colored robe. He later picked up the Blue Ox gnome, continuing to perform with the gnome tucked in his robe, appearing like the gnome’s face with his own. Janeway and the band created a special and incomparable Blue Ox experience that I won’t soon forget.
Charlie Parr:
This was my sixth time seeing Charlie (two Milwaukee shows and the rest Blue Ox). My first time seeing him was with Alex in 2011 at Club Garibaldi in Milwaukee, and I’ve been a fan of his since. His raw, authentic, and honest take on folk and blues is something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of. His Blue Ox set was another opportunity to soak in his incredible talent.
This time he performed with the great Montana-based musician and close friend Tony Palcastro, with Parr on guitar and Palcastro on slide guitar. His often spitfire delivery of lyrics and tenacious ability to speak his mind are a thrill to witness. To preface his song “Cheap Wine,” he admitted that it was a disturbing, sad, terrible idea to perform the song at the fest, but slyly blamed Palcastro. Parr said he doesn’t write setlists, but it didn’t matter as he is a master at arranging songs that flow very well into each other. Favorites include “817 Oakland Avenue”, “Over the Red Cedar”, and “Ain’t Dead Yet.”
Sam Bush Band:
Sam Bush has been performing since the early ‘60s and continues to impress new and old fans with his entertaining performances. Many fans may recall his time in progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival in the ‘70s and ‘80s which also included Courtney Johnson, Ebo Walker, Curtis Burch, Butch Robins, John Cowan, Béla Fleck, and Pat Flynn. Those fans were rewarded with a cover of the group’s song “All Night Train”, which still packs a powerful punch. He also paid respect to artists important to him, including Jon Hartford (“Do the Boogie”, “Back in the Goodle Days”), Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers (“Born to Run”), and J.D. Crowe (“Born to Be with You”). He also gave an energetic bluegrass makeover to Buck Owens’ song “Only You (Can Break My Heart)”. “How long was I out?” Bush quipped during the set. He also admitted that the humidity they didn’t have in Telluride was in Eau Claire now.
There were ample danceable, bouncy melodies and a great mix of funky, jam band, and bluegrass-tinged tunes for fans to enjoy. Other favorite songs included “Same Ole River” (with the great chorus “Same ol’ river/Same ol’ sea/Same ol’ water rushing over me/Same ol’ moon/Same ol’ sun/Same ol’ race that we’ve always run/Same ol’ race that we’ve always run”), “Howlin’ at the Moon” (with many in the crowd howling along to the song), and the band’s final song “On the Road” that included an epic jam and a snippet of the Allman Brothers Band’ “Midnight Rambler.”
Pert Near Sandstone:
I’ve seen Minnesota-based band Pert Near Sandstone at all six Blue Ox fests I’ve attended, as well as a couple Milwaukee-based shows. Like Charlie Parr, the musicianship and songwriting are second to none. For their Blue Ox set, they performed a solid and entertaining selection of songs from their eight studio albums.
Favorites included “Appalachian Girl” (which was prefaced by the band telling a story of how they went to the Appalachian region and people told them they were singing it wrong…though they admitted it wouldn’t sound as good that way) and “Rattlesnake.” Banjo mastermind Kyle Tuttle (who was one of the MVPs of many Blue Ox sets) joined them on both songs. They also brought on stage a pair of music instructors from the Midwest they met in 2014 for a few songs, who also added to the band’s dynamic sound.
Everyone in the band was clearly having a great time performing, interacting and joking with each other (including how guitar strings went to purgatory as they broke so often). At the end of the night, they brought their families on stage for a final celebratory sendoff. Kudos to Pert Near for all your great music and for helping make Blue Ox into what it is today.
Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project:
The legendary Peter Rowan has left an undeniable mark on bluegrass and music in general since he started performing in the late ‘50s. His work includes teaming up with David Grisman in the bands Earth Opera, Muleskinner, and (perhaps most famously) Old & In the Way (which also featured Jerry Garcia and John Kahn).
For his Blue Ox show, he teamed up with David’s son Sam and his band. Together, they jelled seemingly as they showcased an engaging set of bluegrass music that paid respect to the genre’s history while injecting their own energetic life into the songs. The band’s talented lineup included fiddle player Shad Cobb, who is a Wisconsin native. They also brought out Kyle Tuttle for a few songs as well as Margo Price, who each added their impressive talents to the band’s rich sound.
Them Coulee Boys:
Eau Claire, Wisconsin favorites Them Coulee Boys have used the festival to hone their craft, developing into one of Wisconsin’s best live bands. The festival is where I first saw the band and instantly became a fan of their punk-like, DIY approach to Americana.
For their set Saturday night, the band played a great, high-energy set of songs spanning through several albums of their discography, including from their new album No Fun In The Chrysalis, which came out earlier this year. The crowd-participation favorite “Time to Find Your Muse” had a short but sweet injection of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” They also injected Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” into their performance of their song “Shakin’ the Cage.” It was a perfect (and in a way full circle) way to conclude my Blue Ox experience.
Finally, here are some final stray observations and thoughts on some of the other acts:
- Dig Deep brought an exciting, heavy metal approach to bluegrass. During the set, they launched into a fiery cover of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” with the band commenting after how happy they were to see the tie-dye mosh pit.
Dig Deep; photo by Joshua M. Miller - After interviewing The Last Revel recently for an upcoming Q&A on the site, I was excited to see the band perform some of their new songs live. I enjoyed hearing new songs like “Solid Gone” as well as their older songs. The band has been going strong since reuniting a few years ago, and a big reason is their tight chemistry, amazing musicship, and talent. That was on full display at Blue Ox with a fantastic set.
- Catlettsburg, Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Cole Chaney and his band brought deeply personal and reflective lyrics and great country, folk, and rock melodies to the Saloon Stage on Thursday evening. They had a long journey to get to Eau Claire that included dodging severe weather and tornadoes, and I’m thankful they were able to make it as I enjoyed their set quite a bit. At one psychedelic-tinged segment of the set, Chaney exclaimed, “I know you aren’t tripping!”
Cole Chaney; photo by Joshua M. Miller - It was a pleasure to see Sam Bush join the Mountain Grass Unit on fiddle and vocals for a few songs during their Thursday evening set. It was a chance for the band to play with one of their biggest musical heroes, and they jelled really well together. It was a great bluegrass nightcap for that evening.
- I enjoyed Colorado-based Big Richard’s great harmonies and interplay between instruments. Favorites included “Millionaire” (about fighting the establishment) and a great cover of Pink Floyd’s “Time.”
Big Richard; photo by Joshua M. Miller - Asheville, North Carolina-based Tall Tall Trees is a one-man band of Mike Savino that creates music that is comparably “weird” and experimental compared to others at the festival. He creates self-described “experimental and psychedelic banjo music.” He ran his homemade instrument, dubbed the “Banjotron 6500” through a series of effects and loopers to enhance his lyric-driven songs. Despite the untraditional methods, he won me over with his personable dialogue with the crowd and DIY spirit of songs such as “Waiting on the Day” and “Feel Good!” He said that he hoped to one day play a three-hour psychedelic banjo show. I hope you get that chance someday, Mike!
Tall TAll Trees; photo by Joshua M. Miller - Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Long Mama kicked things off in the festival bowl on Saturday and shared an invigorating and engaging set of Americana songs. Between singer-songwriter Kat Wodtke’s great lyrics and vocals and the band’s impressive chemistry, I recommend seeing them if you get a chance. The band sounded great on older songs such as “Learn This Game” (with a great galloping melody) and “Take It Out”, as well as new songs “Dark Roses” (with an epic sounding melody) and “Need Someone” (about helping others as a way to fix the country).
Long Mama; photo by Joshua M. Miller - Perhaps the most emotional set of the festival was Amigo The Devil, who performed a moving set on Friday evening. Frontman Danny Kiranos and his wife Katarina lost their house in a fire a couple of weeks before the festival. But Blue Ox and fest goers were there to lend their support. It was a cathartic and emotional hour of hard-driven music described as “murder folk” with deeply personal lyrics and themes.
- During his set, Willie Calile joked that the folk process is when one treats someone you know poorly. Favorites included the singalong of “Your Heart’s a Big Tent” and the humorous “Big Butt Billy” (with witty lyrical line “posture that troubles the mind” and funny comedic dialog interjections throughout).
Thanks, Blue Ox, for another year of amazing memories!
Joshua is co-founder of Scummy Water Tower. He’s freelanced for a variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including: Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, Guitar World, MTV News, Grammy.com, Chicago Magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, MKE Lifestyle, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, A.V. Club, SPIN, Alternative Press, Under the Radar, Paste, PopMatters, American Songwriter, and Relix. You can email him at josh@scummywatertower.com.
