Hello Wisconsin: 2017 Blue Ox Music Festival – Review & Photos

Words & Images by: Tim McGuire

Blue Ox Music Festival :: 06.08-10.17
Whispering Pines Campground :: Eau Claire, WI

The Whispering Pines Campground in Eau Claire, Wisconsin quickly filled up for the 2017 Blue Ox Music Festival. The weather was beautiful all weekend long – save for a spell Sunday morning when some campers arose to a windy storm. The Jeff Austin Band started off the main stage Thursday and got the crowd bouncing early. Them Coulee Boys and Fruition were tapped to provide side-stage grass for the first day. Back on the main stage, The Travelin’ McCourys performed a well-received set, offering their take on Passenger’s “Let Her Go.”

The Travelin McCourys stuck around and were joined by Austin for a Grateful Ball set featuring songs from the Grateful Dead’s repertoire, including a memorable rendition of “Loser.” Closing out the first day on the main stage was the Sam Bush Band who gave the crowd a blend of bluegrass with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll. The night continued with Charlie Parr & Feed the Dog back on the campground stage with a packed dance floor and a cheerful atmosphere.

Friday afternoon’s action saw Split Lip Rayfield get down and dirty, followed by Dave Simonett digging deep into tunes from his latest Dead Man Winter album Furnace. During the subsequent Horseshoes & Hand Grenades performance, an audience-led round of “Happy Birthday” was sung for the band’s guitarist Adam Greuel.

Main stage performances continued on Friday with The Infamous Stringdusters demonstrating their skillful musicianship and Pert Near Sandstone delivering the first of two performances over the weekend while accompanied by Ryan Young of Trampled By Turtles on fiddle. Greensky Bluegrass covered Prince’s “When Doves Cry” in a nod to the Minnesota crowd that came the short drive across the border. Wisconsin’s own Them Coulee Boys and Minneapolis’ up-and-comers Kind Country ended the festivities late Friday night on the campground stage with some fast-paced grass.

Saturday morning Billy Strings roused the audience from the shade of the campsites to watch his opening main stage set. Keller & The Keels played as the day heated up, offering up Keller Williams’ crowd favorite cover of “Pepper” by the Butthole Surfers.

Moderate winds kept the dancing crowds cool under the sun while Punch Brothers held down the main stage and Pert Near Sandstone made their second appearance of the weekend. Back-to-back main stage sets by Drive-By Truckers and Railroad Earth capped the final evening with support from the Henhouse Prowlers and Rumpke Mountain Boys on the side stage.

The final performance of the night brought together members of Railroad Earth, Pert Near Sandstone and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades for an epic jam on the campground stage. The super jam took turns through beloved classics such as “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” and “Love Please Come Home.”

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