Country Jam 2017 (Image: Caitlyn Berlin)

ROCK FEST

25th Anniversary Rock Fest • July 12-14 • 24447 County HWY S, Cadott • Tickets $89-$500 • www.rock-fest.com • Rock n’ roll fans from around the world will gather Thursday, July 12 through Saturday, July 14 for some head-banging, crowd-surfing, beer-drinking kind of fun at Rock Fest. The festival is the US’s largest rock music and camping event, and it’s located right in Cadott. This will be the 25th anniversary of the iconic festival, which has hosted legendary performers such as Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac and many more. This year, attendees will rock to featured headliners such as Disturbed, Incubus, and Godsmack, with many other performances throughout the weekend. While the music is enough to make for a great weekend, Rock Fest offers a wide variety of different experiences and exhibitions. Most notable will be the zombie crawl, where attendees dress up in their best zombie costumes for a chance to win a meet and greet and pit passes for the rest of the weekend. Other experiences include a tattoo parlor to get ink to commemorate the weekend, giant games, and a hammock haven with free massages. Rock Fest also offers helicopter rides and a chapel of love for attendees to get married or renew their vows. All that rocking will leave attendees hungry and thirsty, so thankfully there will be plenty of food vendors and bars at the event. Rock Fest is a place where rock music still matters; it’s a true rock experience that shouldn’t be missed. –Raquel Dorf

COUNTRY JAM

Country Jam • July 19-21 • Whispering Pines Campground, Eau Claire • Ticket prices vary (children 4 and younger free) • Parking $15/day or $40 for the festival • Camping available • countryjamwi.com • Dust off your cowboy boots and cutoffs: Country Jam Wisconsin is returning to the Chippewa Valley July 19-21. Three days of camping, top-notch country performers, and a non-stop good time await those coming to see the performances. For those who haven’t been to Country Jam, the VIP section offers reserved seating up close to the main stage and access to a variety of food, including a buffet, a variety of beers on tap, and flush toilets. There is also a Party Pit next to the stage, a Country Club which allows access to artist interviews, a SkyBox, and an Ultimate VIP experience for those looking for an even more exciting, up-close-and-personal experience. The general admission section offers seating (bring your own chair) on a first-come, first-served basis, and access to vendors selling food and drinks around the grounds. Both options offer access to the main stage and big-name country artists, including Blake Shelton, Alabama, Billy Currington, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, and Craig Morgan to name a few. There are two side stages featuring up-and-coming acts and classic acts, including Alter Ego, Lorrie Morgan, Hillbilly Vegas, and Maggie Rose. New this year is the fact Country Jam is cashless – wristbands are equipped with RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and Cashless Payment Technology – so you will use the same wristband to get in and pay for items throughout the grounds this year. Vendors are not accepting payments by means other than a wristband. –Haley Wright

Blues on the Chippewa 2017 (Image: Marcie Pannell)

ONE FEST

OneFest • July 28-29 • Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls • Ticket prices vary (children 4 and younger free) • Parking $5 on Saturday, free Sunday • Camping available at fairgrounds • one-fest.com • (715) 379-3742 • Beginning Saturday, July 28, and rolling in to the 29th, the Chippewa Valley will see its first large-scale Christian music festival at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. OneFest will provide a truly wholesome experience with live music in the great outdoors. The event’s motto – “One God, One Song, One Voice” – truly encapsulates the purpose of the weekend. Performers include Tenth Avenue North, Mandisa, Citizen Way, Love the Outcome, Sanctus Real, and Cloverton on the main stage and Light45, 513Free, Brayton Meyer, Brady Luke, Sparrows Rising, and CollECtive Choir on the side stage. This event also offers family-friendly fun such as outdoor sports, activities for younger kiddos, indoor activities, and a bounce house. There will also be a worship service at 10am Sunday with Pastor Ryan Fontenot and special guest performers We Are Leo. There will be food and beverage vendors all over the fairgrounds as well as merchandise, non-profit, and ministry vendors. This event is totally accessible with handicap parking and paved pathways. You can buy tickets online or in person at Calvary Baptist Church in Eau Claire, Mathison Chiropractic in Cadott, My Life Chiropractic in Lake Hallie, and Kings Way Bible and Gift in Rice Lake. Ticket prices vary, but group orders of 20 or more will receive discounted prices. The main stage has standing room as well as seating options available. –Julia Van Allen

BLUES ON THE CHIPPEWA

Blues on the Chippewa • Aug. 3-5 • Memorial Park, Second Avenue East, Durand • FREE • bluesonthechippewa.com • Blues lovers unite, there’s a festival for you! Of course, anyone can attend, but if you’ve been craving some blues music this summer, you’re in luck. On the weekend of Aug. 3-5, Blues on the Chippewa is taking over Memorial Park in Durand, just a half-hour drive from Eau Claire. This year they’ve added a second stage, giving attendees even more entertainment options – and they’re free! Fifteen acts will be spread out throughout the three days. Left Wing Bourbon, which provides a blend of soul, blues, and getting your boogie on will kick off the fest at 5pm Friday with Ghost Town Blues Band closing out the evening. The Avey/Grouws Band will get your body moving and ready for the Saturday lineup starting at noon, while Hamilton Loomis, a blues, rock and soul musician born and raised in Galveston, Texas, will cap off the second night. More fabulous acts to follow on Sunday: Three-time Grammy nominee Ellen Whyte will open up the final day with the Whyte-Orfield Band at 11am. With 35 years of experience fronting bands, Ellen is known for her breathtaking vocals, mixing blues, jazz, funk, and ballad stylings into her music. As the festival comes to an end, David Bromberg will grace the stage, closing out Blues on the Chippewa wit a set starting at 5:45pm. Known as “The Godfather of Americana,” he has performed on hundreds of records by artists such as Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, and more. His background in various styles will make for the perfect end to a blues-filled weekend! –Measha Vieth