As I have attended Blue Ox Music Festival each of the past three years, I have found it’s about both the music and the people who love the music. A lot of folks come from isolated rural areas or spread-out small towns, so spending a weekend with so many like-minded, friendly, and positive music lovers is a refreshing and special feeling. There’s a strong sense of community — that’s what keeps bringing me back.
Blue Ox Music Festival 2019 will be held June 13-15 at Whispering Pines Campground in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Here are six reasons to go.
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1. The Mornings
A short stroll through the campground in the morning really shows the best in people. You’re sure to have more than a handful of strangers greet you cheerily or invite you into their campsite for coffee and conversation. Additionally, the festival offers yoga every morning — it’s a great place to wake your body up in the morning, limber up before the long day, and meet new folks.
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2. Friends of Friends
Blue Ox is a meeting point for music lovers from all around the Midwest. You’re bound to run into a friend, a friend of a friend, or maybe even a long-lost relative. The festival is a beautiful representation of how music brings people together.
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3. Diverse Sounds
The lineup draws from a very diverse variety of genres and styles. There’s truly something for everyone, from Deadheads and alt-country lovers to traditional bluegrassers and funky folks. If you were to walk around the grounds and asking passersby which act they’re most excited about you might hear dozens of different answers. It’s really special to see so many fans of so many different styles all in one place.
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4. Emerging Talent
Sure, there will be plenty of names on the bill that you already recognize, but one of the finest features of a music festival is discovery — discovery of new bands and sounds from near and far. Like Armchair Boogie, an eclectic group from Madison, Wisconsin. They offer a totally unique and original cocktail of sounds from rockabilly to funk to bluegrass and beyond. The guys recently began recording their sophomore album, What Does Time Care?, so be on the lookout for some new tunes soon.
The Lil Smokies played the Blue Ox side stage in 2018 and the crowd nearly doubled in size over the course of their set. They combine incredible technique and heaps of talent with extremely well-crafted songwriting. It’s really easy to get hooked on their music.
The Wooks are a string band made up of five absolute shredders who blur the lines between traditional bluegrass, honky-tonk, jam bands, and more. This is their first year at Blue Ox and you won’t want to miss them.
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5. The Backwoods Stage
Twelve hours of music every day can make it easy to forget about (or be too worn out for!) the Backwoods Stage. It’s the place where all the beautiful late-night weirdness happens. You might find Billy Strings jamming a few tunes with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, or Jeff Austin picking a few with The Travelin’ McCourys. There’s no telling what might go down, but it’s sure to be a highlight.
6. The Jams
Blue Ox jams — whether on the main stage, during late-night, around the parking lot or the campground — are unique in that you’ll hear everything from The Rolling Stones to John Hartford, and Andy Statman to Hank Williams over the course of an hour or so. Most Blue Ox folks are totally open-minded, which makes for some very cool and unique jams. It’s an event that really does have a little something for all roots music fans out there.
Don’t forget to follow along across BGS social media channels this week as well for special on-site coverage from Blue Ox. Even if you can’t make it to the festival, you can watch key sets from the weekend on BGS.com via JamgrassTV.
Photo credit: Scott Kunkel
