COMMUNITY & CAMARADERIE. We can all probably use a little more love, humor, and community in our lives these days. The Love Never Stops Tour is offering all of that on Tuesday, March 4, for free! (Background photo by Mike O'Brien)

Valentine’s Day came and went, but the love keeps on rollin’ with tonight’s Love Never Stops Tour at 2 Roots Wine & Art Gallery in downtown Eau Claire. There’s enough going on in day-to-day life as it is, and if you’re trying to get out of the house for a couple of hours and enjoy some community camaraderie, this free music and spoken word event is just the thing.

Organized by Eau Claire’s Writer-in-Residence Ken Szymanski, the event made its debut last February and returns tonight with eight readers (Mary Allessi; Laura Buchholz; B.J. Hollars; Sarah Jayne Johnson; Elan McCallum; Andy Patrie; Doug Pearson; Ken Szymanski) and six musicians (Derick Black; Scott Hayden; Cathy Reitz; Jeff Reitz; Jerry Teclaw; Emily Watkins) .

Open to all ages, the event will run from 7-9pm, alternating between stories and songs.

“The songs are meant to complement the stories, so that it takes the emotion of the story and gives it a soundtrack,” Szymanski explained. “There’s so much variety that it creates curiosity about what’s coming next, knowing it will be another new take on the theme.”

The theme, of course, is love. Specifically, the trials and triumphs of love.

“Last year, there was a mix of sad stories, funny stories, embarrassing stories, and profound moments, too. And the music took each of those moods to another level,” Szymanski said. “At the end of the night, everyone went home feeling good. And if that’s the case, why not make it an annual tradition?

“People are so disconnected now that it’s good to put life on pause, hear some good stories and songs, and see life in a better light.”

Swing by 2 Roots Wine & Art Gallery tonight at 7pm for the feel-good, free-to-attend community hangout.