We are weeks away from the 2021 Blue Ox Music Festival and we cannot hold back our excitement! Three days of great music, camping, quality brews, beautiful people and did we mention great music? This year we are hitting the road with our friends over at the Beats, Brews & Points of View Podcast to soak in every moment. Leading into 2021, the energy already feels different (in a good way). There is no doubt that 2020 was tough on everybody but especially on the music industry. As much as we enjoyed those social live streams, nothing will ever compare to the real thing and if there is a proper venue to ease us all into the new normal it is the The Pines Music Park.

The 2021 Blue Ox Music Festival is taking place in Eau Claire, WI August 19-21 and is co-hosted by Pert Near Sandstone (who are performing sets on both Friday and Saturday night) and the Bischel family who own and operate the Pines Music Park. If you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon there are a handful of passes and campsites still available. If you have needed an excuse to break out of the house or off load some of those PTO days – now is the time. As we pack for Blue Ox, we want to unpack a few things that we are excited about this year!

The Music Lineup

Blue Ox consistently puts a bill together that has something for everyone, whether you are looking for barn burning Bluegrass, Americana ballads or a splash of Rock n Roll, each day is filled to the brim with incredible artists from around the country. This year Blue Ox welcomes Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit to the Northwoods, who as of this writing will be headlining Friday’s show. Whether you were blasting his music during his time with the Drive-By-Truckers or introduced to his critically acclaimed solo projects, there is no doubt he will be a crowd favorite. If past sets tell us anything – he gives the people what they want. We expect a great blend of new & old material that will ring through the pines in what we expect to be an experience no one will forget.

This year’s festival brings new faces to the stage spanning many genres including bluegrass, country and soul. We will be packing our cowboy boots in preparation for Charley Crockett, a modern day balladeer whose blend of honky-tonk and soul will have us two steppin’ through the pines. There will also be an appearance from Shakey Graves whose atmospheric rock guitars and bellowing vocals will play well in the Pines Music Park. The wide open spaces and acoustics of the towering trees will bring his music to life. This is another set we expect to be blown away by (no pressure).

The success of Blue Ox over the years can be attributed to a solid foundation of acts that call the Midwest home. Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Them Coulee Boys all return as fan favorites for the weekend. Each year the sets get better and better and are a staple for Blue Ox Fans. This year we expect a new level of energy as 2020 brought live music to a halt. With the boys from Pert Near at the helm of the festival, there is no doubt that we will be front and center as they hit the stage Friday & Saturday to fill the venue with their proverbial high energy shows fueled by Summit beer and a year’s worth of planning.

The Twin-Cities will be well represented with the inclusion of The Foxgloves who won this years Virtual Band Competition, securing a spot on the backwoods stage Friday night. They are in good company this year as Blue Ox brings to the stage a number of incredible female led acts. Lillie Mae, Sunny War, Nora Brown, Good Morning Bedlam, Katey Bellville and Mae Simpson to name a few. From bluegrass to rock and roll, each act brings something new to the stage and are bound to be crowd favorites over the 3-day span.

Lastly, beyond just their music, we are really looking forward to connecting again with our friends from The Henhouse Prowlers whose latest release The Departure has been in rotation in our office since its release back in May. While we have sung their praises in the past, it never hurts to go back to a subject and review. The new album rips, their sets are always crisp and we fully expect to share a beer or 3 while catching up in the shadows of the pines.

With over 40 acts gracing the stages over the three day weekend, there is plenty to look forward to musically and many artists will walk away with new fans and friends.

The Beer Lineup

What’s a weekend of music without a few cold ones? Headlining the beer lineup this year is Founder’s Brewing (Michigan) and enjoying All Day’s all day is definitely on our to-do list. With so much representation from the Twin-Cities music scene on stages over the weekend, the addition of Summit Brewing (Minnesota) this year will make many feel at home as well. We can already taste the ice cold Cabin Crusher Kolsh in our hands as Charlie Parr takes the stage.

Wisconsin will also be well represented with this year’s inclusion of Earth Rider Brewery (Superior, WI) and Third Space (Milwaukee, WI). While we at Midwestern Gentleman are no strangers to craft beer, we look forward to a guided tour of these with our friends from Beats, Brews & Points of View who will be enjoying the weekend alongside us.

The Activity Lineup

What makes Blue Ox so incredible for fans each year is while as much as the weekend is packed with music, there is never any downtime with all the available activities for fans. There is no better way to shake off that late night stage bender than with a relaxing morning yoga session, which is offered to everyone on site. This year the offering is expanded with the addition of The Soul Sanctuary, a wellness tent that will include yoga, sonic ceremony, sound healing, meditation, breathwork, reiki and more. We fully expect to take part in each.

The music at Blue Ox is not left to only being available the three stages. This year is also the return of the Potluck Pickin’ Place, a slice of heaven for any music fan or musician. Fans are encouraged to bring their own instruments to meetup with fellow musicians and jam. To help anyone ease into it, there are jam sessions hosted by The Potluck String Band. We have packed up our guitar and we look forward to participating. Who knows, we may end up leaving Eau Claire as part of a newly formed string band! (anyways… here’s Wagon Wheel).

What You Need to Know

There is no doubt that with all the adversity of the past year mostly behind us, the 2021 Blue Ox Music Festival is set up to be a memorable one. It is such a unique experience for all, whether you are there for the first time or a seasoned music festival patron. It is an inviting, family friendly atmosphere backed by incredible music, local and regional vendors and activities for every walk of life. There are still campsites and passes available, it is a weekend you won’t want to miss.

For more information visit www.blueoxmusicfestival.com – we will see you there!

You can also check out the story behind Blue Ox Music Festival and their incredible team in our article “The Story of Blue Ox Music Festival”

Cheers…