EPHEMERAL SOUND. At 8pm on Saturday, May 3, Joe Westerlund (left) and Trever Hagen (right) will perform in the Leona's Pizzeria (406 Galloway St., Eau Claire) music venue, connected to the newly-opened pizza shop. (Submitted photos)

An immersive evening dedicated to ambient improvisation awaits with Joe Westerlund and Trever Hagen.  The duo extends an invitation to witness the art of spontaneous sonic landscapes as melodic themes and fragmented musical ideas intertwine with textures of noise.

“Trever and I have been exploring this softer yet very exploratory side of ourselves lately,” Westerlund said. “We aim to create a textural tapestry that we use as the framework for improvisation between our acoustic instruments.”

At 8pm on Saturday, May 3, the duo will perform in the Leona's Pizzeria (406 Galloway St., Eau Claire) music venue, connected to the newly-opened pizza shop. LIVE at LEONA’s hit the ground running just months ago, and has since featured a diverse range of musical styles that will pique the audience's curiosity, according to Jordan Duroe, the venue's events organizer.

“(Trever and I) aim to create a textural tapestry that we use as the framework for improvisation between our acoustic instruments."

JOE WESTERLUND

percussionist, improviser, and composer

Westerlund and Hagen's new improvisational project became a perfect fit for the venue's celebration of artists, returning to their Eau Claire roots, Duroe said.

“Trever and Joe’s respective musical histories and collective pedigree are sure to bring people to Leona’s and see what this new duo is up to,” Duroe said. “It will be a unique performance by two artists that have played internationally, but also have significant local ties.”

The two friends share a bond that extends far beyond their musical collaboration, Westerlund said. Their friendship began in the heart of Eau Claire, where their paths first crossed at the age of seven.

Growing up together, the duo explored the hidden corners and outdoor landscapes of their hometown, building a connection that would lay the foundation for their future musical endeavors.

Trever Hagen (left) and Joe Westerlund (right) promote their upcoming Midwest tour, concluding the run at Leona's Pizzeria. (Image via Instagram) 

“Eau Claire (shaped) the way I've learned to operate in the world of music,” Westerlund said. “(The city) has really shaped the people we are playing with, the people we are playing for, the people we are setting up shows with. Eau Claire was the incubator for all of it.”

Hagen continues to live in Eau Claire after 14 years of living abroad and around the United States; Westerlund is now based in Durham, North Carolina, but visits his home in Western Wisconsin frequently.

Westerlund — improviser, drummer, and composer — co-founded and played in Megafaun, while collaborating with Arnold Dreyblatt, On Fillmore, and Justin Vernon of DeYarmond Edison and Mount Vernon. Additionally, he worked as a session drummer for Watchhouse, Daughter of Swords, Jake Xerxes Fussell, and Califone. Currently, he tours and records with Setting and as a solo artist on the artist-run recording company Psychic Hotline.

Hagen — a trumpet player and producer — has collaborated with Bon Iver, Mouse on Mars, Marijuana Deathsquads, CARM, and Aero Flynn. While promoting his solo trumpet electronica albums, he is also one-third of the electronica pop trio, Heavy MakeUp.

The music they create individually across numerous projects — and in tandem — will continue to inspire emerging Eau Claire artists, Duroe acknowledged. On May 3, the duo's approach will focus on intuitive musical interaction, building upon fleeting motifs and abstract sounds to construct a one-time and ephemeral experience for all present.

“(Trever and Joe) contribute as active members of this arts scene and community,” Duroe said. “(It’s) invaluable to have established and visible artists — like these two — around in the scene to ask questions of, collaborate with, look up to, and take inspiration from.”

Doors open at 7:30pm for this 18+ event. The Joe Westerlund and Trever Hagen Duo will perform at 8pm. There is a $15 cover charge.

Stay up to date with upcoming live music, events, and gatherings through LIVE at LEONA's (connected to Leona's Pizzeria at 406 Galloway St., Eau Claire) on their social media platforms (@LiveAtLeonas). For additional event and music inquiries, connect with Duroe via email at jordan@liveatleonas.com.