Summer Means Outdoor Music: Here’s When and Where to Hear It
previewing the Chippewa Valley’s numerous concert series
James Johonnott, photos by Andrea Paulseth
Sounds Like Summer Concert Series
Thursdays at 6pm • Phoenix Park • Eau Claire
Volume One’s annual downtown Eau Claire concerts draw a couple thousand music-loving locals to Phoenix Park for the best in original local music, community, and pretty dang good sunsets, too.
Jun 2: TeawhYB + Miles Blvd + westkorea
Jun 9: The Nunnery + Songa + Hana Fleur
Jun 16: Nick Anderson & the Skinny Lovers + Parker Reed and the Lucid Dreamers + Emily Watkins w/Maggie Sills
Jun 23: Jesse Stratton Band + The Driftless Revelers + Wyatt Thomson
Jun 30: Pit Wagon + Brian Bethke + Dylan Martinson
Jul 7: We’re Wolves + Noah Estrada + Fathom
Jul 14: Dave’s Manual + Matt Caflisch + Wildcat Hawkins
Jul 21: Sad House Guest + Hemma + Spencer Douglas
Jul 28: Asparagus + Orchid Eaton + Sarah Ohr
Aug 4: Jerrika Mighelle + The Woodland Spring + Sean Jordan
Aug 11: Orenda Fugue + Motherwind + DJ Harm
Aug 18: Irie Sol + Dames + Vicky Yang
Aug 25: FM Down + The Over Unders + Emma West
Tuesday Night Blues
Tuesdays at 6:30pm • Owen Park • Eau Claire
During Eau Claire summers, every Tuesday is blues day. Tons of locals gather in shady Owen Park along the Chippewa River to take in all the blues goodness that emanates from the bandshell. Learn more online from the Chippewa Valley Blues Society.
May 31: 7 Swings The Blues
Jun 7: Joyann Parker
Jun 14: Paul Tweed Band
Jun 21: Bridget Kelly Band
Jun 28: Tommy Bentz Band
Jul 5: Ross William Perry
Jul 12: Jay Stulo Band
Jul 19: Howard “Guitar” Luedtke & Blue Max
Jul 26: Whyte Orfield Band
Aug 2: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
Aug 9: Stefan Geisinger Band
Aug 16: Avey Grouws Band
Aug 23: Mark Cameron Band
Aug 30: Mojo Lemon
Music Over Menomin
Thursdays at 7pm • Menomonie Public Library • Menomonie
The Menomonie Public Library hosts this awesome annual concert series which brings together tons of music fans and artists to Menomonie for a celebration of the rich Chippewa Valley music scene.
Jun 9: Mojo Lemon Blues Band
Jun 16: Home Grown Tomatoes
Jun 23: Sue Orfield Band
Jun 30: Dawn Marie
Jul 7: Patchouli & Terra Guitarra
Jul 14: The Cutaways
Jul 21: Old Soul Society
Jul 28: Take2Day
Aug 4: Cathy Reitz & the 7Swing
Aug 11: North of Dixie
Rock’n on the River Summer Concert Series
Wednesdays at 6:30pm • River Prairie Park • Altoona
This series at the River Prairie Park amphitheater in Altoona focuses on rock music, whether originals or some near-and-dear classic favorites from yesteryear. Learn more online.
Jun 15: The Thundermen
Jun 22: Outland
Jun 29: HGT Band
Jul 6: The Raddies
Jul 13: Margaritville
Jul 20: Big Deeks
Jul 27: 40 Fingers
Aug 3: 2nd Time Around
Aug 10: City Limits
Aug 17: Sage
Aug 24: Divided Highway
Aug 31: The Thundermen
Kickin’ It Country Summer Concert Series
Mondays at 6:30pm • River Prairie Park • Altoona
This River Prairie concert series puts country in the spotlight right on the Eau Claire River. Find out more online.
Jun 20: Golden Band
Jun 27: Raquel & The Wildflowers
Jul 11: Brady Luke Band
Jul 18: Bear Creek Band
Jul 25: Eclectic Barn Boys
Aug 1: Kid Kactus & The Tumbleweeds
Aug 8: Buffalo Ridge
Aug 15: North of Dixie
Aug 22: Ranger Rudy & The Swingin’ Wingtips
Aug 29: Southern Serenade
Sunday Summer Concert Series at Riverfront Park
Sundays at 6pm • Riverfront Park • Chippewa Falls
Check out the local favorites in this series hosted on the amphitheater at Chippewa Falls’ scenic downtown Riverfront Park. Find out more on Facebook.
Jun 12: The Cragars
Jun 19: JFT Party band
Jun 26: Drift revelers
Jul 2: Bear creek band/mark croft
Jul 10: Raquel and the wildflowers
Jul 17: Stefan Geisinger Band
Jul 24: Kyle Renfro Trio
Jul 31: The big deeks
Aug 7: Home Grown Tomatoes
Aug 12: All In
Colfax Music in the Park
Thursdays at 7pm • Tower Park • Colfax
For an eclectic mix of folk music stylings, look no further than the beautiful Colfax Music in the Park which this year features bluegrass, folk, country, barbershop, rock ’n’ roll, and more.
Jun 23: The Otterson’s Blue Grass Round Up
Jun 30: Rich Schroeder
Jul 7: Red Cedar Sounds Sweet Adelines + Dunn County Northern Lights Barbershoppers
Jul 13: Poppa Bear Norton
Jul 21: White Pine Ramblers
Jul 28: Ukulele Club of Eau Claire
Aug 4: The Utphall/Degollier Duo
Aug 11: Maple Ridge Band
Aug 18: Jim Herrick and Friends
Durand Music in the Park
Every fourth Wednesday at 6:30pm • Memorial Park • Durand
Don’t miss your three chances to see some awesome live music in the bandshell at Memorial Park in Durand.
Jun 22: Homegrown Tomatoes
Jul 27: TBA
AUG 24: Whitesidewalls
Eau Claire Municipal Band
Wednesdays at 7:30pm • Owen Park • Eau Claire
Experience the Eau Claire Municipal Band and its Sousa marches, gorgeous melodies, and contemporary compositions every Wednesday in June and July. Learn more on their website.
Ludington Guard Band
Tuesdays June 7 to Aug. 9 at 7:30pm • Wilson Park • Menomonie
A community concert band that was officially organized in 1888 with roots going back to 1877. They play a variety of classical band music, marches, overtures, show tunes and novelty pieces. Learn more on Facebook.