Even with many other small-scale music festivals around the country drying up, Western Wisconsin's Blue Ox Music Festival keeps plowing along and just announced one of its best lineups yet for 2025.
The rootsy, woodsy musical campout 90 minutes east of the Twin Cities in Eau Claire, Wis., will welcome one of the hottest string bands around, Greensky Bluegrass, along with acclaimed alt-twangers Orville Peck, Margo Price and Hurray for the Riff Raff and jam-band vets the Warren Haynes Band over its three-day run, June 26-28.
Regular players the Sam Bush Band, Amigo the Devil, Charlie Parr and Peter Rowan also will return for the 11th annual installment. Rowan will perform with the Sam Grisman Project, led by the son of his and Jerry Garcia's bandmate David Grisman.
Newer names on the schedule include Atlanta duo Rising Appalachia, Texas trio Chaparelle, all-female Colorado quartet Big Richard and New York's experimental string ensemble Tall Tall Trees. Among the local players rounding out the schedule are Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, the Last Revel, Them Coulee Boys, Molly Brandt and Clare Doyle. And as always, homegrown favorites Pert Near Sandstone will perform and serve as hosts.
Three-day passes for Blue Ox 2025 are on sale now via blueoxmusicfestival.com at $254 for general admission. Accommodations are also on sale ranging in price from $55 for car camping to $1,975 for posh camper cabins.
Last year's Blue Ox sold out in advance with a lineup that included Sierra Ferrell and Band of Horses. One of the reasons people love the festival: Capacity is limited to around 5,000 attendees at the Pines Music Park where it's held.