Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on November 19, 2025
The 12th annual Blue Ox Music Festival takes place June 25, 26, 27, 2026 at The Pines Music Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
As the weather turns cooler, and the holiday season is approaching, we are already thinking about the warmth of next summer. Blue Ox Music Festival has put together yet another diverse and distinctive artist lineup as it prepares for its 12th year. Taking place on June 25, 26, 27, 2026 and presented on three comfortable and captivating stages—the festival welcomes back the annual pilgrimage of top bluegrass, Americana, roots, and folk artists, and their devoted music fans, who return to the tall shady trees and rolling hills of The Pines Music Park in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
Blue Ox Music Festival presents three days of spectacular music and camping with a lineup of heavy hitters including—Charley Crockett, Marcus King Band, The Dead South, Kurt Vile & The Violators, I’m With Her, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Sierra Hull, Valerie June, Shadowgrass, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Etran De L’aïr, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Them Coulee Boys, Folk Bitch Trio, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, The Steel Wheels, Silverada, The Lowest Pair, Hogslop String Band, Wild Horses, Chicken Wire Empire, Abby Webster, Johnny Mullenax, The Mighty Pines, Fabrizio, Maygen & The Birdwatcher, Roe Family Singers, Art Stevenson & High Water and Molly Brandt with more to come.
Pert Near Sandstone will host the Blue Ox Music Festival for the 12th year, in addition to performing for two nights.
Blue Ox Music Festival creates and fosters an inclusive sense of artistic community and has become a cornerstone of the cultural renaissance movement in the Eau Claire area. Blue Ox Music Festival at The Pines Music Park boasts 140 acres of pristine forest, walkable trails and green landscaped lawn with music presented across three distinct stages: Main Stage, Saloon Stage, Backwoods Stage.
Since its premiere in the summer of 2015, Blue Ox Music Festival has consistently brought together a lineup of top level regional and national acts that have set the stage and standard of artists for the true music festival fan’s experience. With the vision of an intimate music and camping experience focused on bluegrass, folk, and Americana roots genres, the 3-day festival creates a unique experience with an impressive lineup of notable artists, in a familial and beautiful outdoor venue setting.
As a family friendly environment, an array of cultural events take place throughout the festival grounds, including music workshops, original commissioned art installations, morning yoga and meditation, eclectic arts and craft vendors, kids activity stages, as well as a nine hole disc golf course. The variety of quality food and beverages offers something delicious for everyone to enjoy. All ages are welcome. Children 13 and under are free with a paid adult.
Blue Ox Music Festival welcomes back Americana singer-songwriter, Charley Crockett, to the main stage. Charley Crockett has never been someone who asked permission to take a shot at his dreams. Instead, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated Texas-born maverick has defied the odds at every turn, tapping into a rebellious strain of country, rising from an open guitar case on a Louisiana sidewalk to selling out some of the world’s most renowned venues. Crockett has paved a singular path out of Texas, taking his home state wherever he goes and bringing his signature “Gulf & Western” sound to the world. As Rolling Stone writes, “Street busker turned critically acclaimed singer-songwriter turned actual country star.”
I’m With Her, will make their debut on the Blue Ox stage in June with singer-songwriters Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins who have introduced an essential new force into the world of folk music—a close-knit alliance of highly esteemed musicians, each graced with a deep understanding of folk tradition and unbridled passion for expanding its possibilities. Since delivering their critically lauded debut See You Around and stand alone singles like “Call My Name” (winner of the 2020 GRAMMY® for Best American Roots Song), the trio have routinely taken time out from their individual careers to dream up songs together—eventually arriving at a new album exploring themes of ancestry, lineage, and the collective human experience. On their long-awaited sophomore LP Wild and Clear and Blue, I’m With Her now bring their luminous harmonies to a soul-searching body of work about reaching into the past, navigating a chaotic present, and bravely moving forward into the unknown.
Sierra Hull will grace the main stage at Blue Ox Music Festival for the third time in 2026. She is a virtuoso mandolinist, a two-time GRAMMY®-nominated artist, and a groundbreaking songwriter. Recognized for her acclaimed albums 25 Trips (2020) and Weighted Mind (2016), she is also a six-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year—the first woman to ever receive this honor. A pioneer in acoustic music, Hull has performed on iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. Her artistry has earned praise and collaboration with legends like Alison Krauss, Béla Fleck, Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, and Billy Strings. Hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, Hull’s innovative sound is deeply rooted in bluegrass yet continually pushes boundaries. With Tip Toe High Wire, Hull steps into a new chapter of independence. Fully embracing creative freedom, Hull takes complete control of the studio and focuses on songwriting. Tip Toe High Wire is a balancing act—one foot rooted in tradition and the other pushing creative boundaries. Sierra Hull is nominated for three GRAMMY® Awards for the ground breaking record, Tip Toe High Wire.
Blue Ox is thrilled to have Marcus King Band on its main stage this summer. Following a successful run of critically acclaimed albums with the Marcus King Band, South Carolina native Marcus King made his solo debut with the GRAMMY®-nominated El Dorado in 2020, followed by Young Blood (2022) and Mood Swings (2024). King is now reuniting with his longtime live band for the first time since 2018’s Carolina Confessions on the new record, Darling Blue. The album features Noah Cyrus, Billy Strings, and Kaitlin Butts. Many of the songs across the album pay homage to King’s South Carolina roots and deep appreciation for his home state. Darling Blue, released on September 26 via American Records / Republic Records, marks a full-circle moment in King’s career. Touring internationally throughout the year, King is hitting the road with Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, and Eric Church in the United States.
A Blue Ox Music Festival favorite, Daniel Donato has drawn on a lot of musical influences and sources during his career and that inspire his latest album, Horizon. Donato has carved out a unique spot for himself, one that speaks to the deep American music heritage that inspires him—and that he’s pushing towards the future with intentional vigor. He calls it Cosmic Country, a moniker that’s both self-descriptive and a statement of purpose. It’s an organic rock band aesthetic with plenty of roadhouse twang; a showcase for Donato’s instrumental virtuosity and facility for melodically infectious songcraft. The whole package of player, singer, writer and band leader was in place. Three albums in, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, featuring Nathan “Sugarlegg” Aronowitz (keyboards, guitars, vocals), Will “Mustang” McGee (bass, vocals) and Will “Bronco” Clark (drums, percussion, vocals) are selling out venues throughout the country and bringing their brand of Cosmic Country to an ever growing, passionate fanbase.
Known for her distinctive voice and singing style, music fans can look forward to multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Valerie June’s first performance at Blue Ox. As a GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter and three-time Americana Music Honors and Awards nominee, June weaves fresh medicinal downloads of love, sweetness, goodness, and joy with songs that have flowed through her for years. Blending musical genres Appalachian, bluegrass, country soul, symphonic pop, and blues, The New Yorker writes, “Valerie June’s every quiver bespeaks emotional honesty.” She has recorded three best-selling solo albums and written songs for the legendary artists Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Valerie June has appeared on The Tonight Show, CBS Saturday Morning, PBS, Austin City Limits, and BBC.
Fans can stay tuned for updates about the 2026 Blue Ox Music Festival and The Pines Music Park, by subscribing to the newsletters at www.blueoxmusicfestival.com and www.pinesmusicpark.com.
As artists and ambassadors for the festival—members of Pert Near Sandstone, Nate Sipe and Blue Ox MC, Justin Bruhn, produce and host the popular, Road to Blue Ox Podcast. In each episode leading up to the festival, Bruhn and Sipe interview performing artists on the Blue Ox lineup, as well as highlighting key information and updates about the festival. Tune in for new Road to Blue Ox Podcast episodes on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher and Pocket Casts. Follow along on Spotify and be notified as soon as a new episode is released.
In 2024, Blue Ox Music Festival celebrated its decade anniversary with loyal fans, talented artists and the dedicated Blue Ox team. Volume One Magazine produced a mini-documentary capturing the essence of the festival from its meager and muddy beginnings, to being one of the top music festivals in the country.
Watch the short film that tells the story of Blue Ox Music Festival’s journey and its commitment to the music, artists and environmental experience – https://volumeone.org/videos/2025/01/23/356918-blue-ox-music-festival-ten-years-in-the-pines
Blue Ox Music Festival General Admission Tickets are on sale now – which gives guests access to all entertainment and Unreserved Tent Camping. Car Camping Passes are available for guests who prefer their car at the camp site next to their tent. Blue Ox Music Festival Reserved RV / Tent sites are available for purchase, but are in limited supply. Camping accommodations include spaces for RVs, Family and Quiet Camping, as well as special Pre-set Campsites, Camping Cabins, and Ultimate VIP.
Great restaurants, hotels, and the amenities of Eau Claire are just a few short miles away from The Pines Music Park.
2026 BLUE OX MUSIC FESTIVAL
JUNE 25, 26, 27, 2026
THE PINES MUSIC PARK
5024 CRESCENT AVENUE | EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN 54703
WWW.BLUEOXMUSICFESTIVAL.COM
715.602.4440
