Music Events

Big Bluegrass for Blue Ox 2017

Eric Christenson, photos by Mike O'Brien |

Blue Ox 2015
Blue Ox 2015

The lineup for the third annual Blue Ox Music Festival was released this morning, and it definitely keeps up its trend of curating one of the finest roots and bluegrass festivals in the country amongst the pine trees of Paul Bunyan country at the Whispering Pines Campground in the outskirts of Eau Claire. 

Now in its third year the fledgling music fest is flying high with an absolutely stacked lineup of bluegrass greats like the Punch Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, the Sam Bush Band (who’s played all three years of this thing), and Railroad Earth; alt-country staples like Son Volt and the Drive-By Truckers; and even some local flavor courtesy of the Chippewa Valley’s own Evergreen Grass Band, Them Coulee Boys, and LASKA. And of course, Blue Ox’s band behind the wheel Pert Near Sandstone – who have curated and hosted the fest since it’s conception – will play two nights of music.

Blue Ox 2016
Blue Ox 2016

More artists are expected to be announced in the coming months, but here’s the full lineup:

Pert Near Sandstone
Punch Brothers
Greensky Bluegrass
Drive-By Truckers
Railroad Earth
Sam Bush Band
The Infamous Stringdusters
Son Volt
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Grateful Ball
Keller & The Keels
Jeff Austin Band
The Travelin’ McCourys
Dead Man Winter (feat. Dave Simonett of Trampled By Turtles)
The Steeldrivers
Split Lip Rayfield
Willie Watson
Fruition
Henhouse Prowlers
Rumpke Mountain Boys
Billy Strings
Colter Wall
Trout Steak Revival
Dead Horses
White Iron Band
Them Coulee Boys*
Evergreen Grass Band*
Joseph Huber
LASKA*

*Local!

Coming June 8–10, Tickets on Sale Now

Blue Ox, which kicks off its eclectic three-day party from June 8 to 10, despite this only being their third summer in existence, has quickly risen the ranks to become one of the coolest roots music festivals in America, and we can take it all in right here in the Chippewa Valley. 

“Between the lineup, improvements and additions to our festival venue, and the incredible fans we have, it is going to be a fantastic year,” says Jim Bischel, the executive director of Blue Ox as well as Country Jam. "We can’t wait until June.”

Tickets are on sale from now until January 26 at a special introductory rate. General admission three-day tickets are $145, and children under 13 are free with a paid adult – and remember, unreserved tent camping and parking is included in the general admission pass. To learn more about the festival, tickets, and camping, head to  www.blueoxmusicfestival.com