In true Wisconsin fashion, the 2025 Blue Ox Music Festival kicked off with a good ol’ mud bath. Held June 26–28 at The Pines Music Park in Eau Claire, it didn’t take long for the opening-day rain to turn the grassy grounds into a squishy, Chaco-sucking mess. But if you’ve ever been to Blue Ox, you know a little mud doesn’t scare anyone off—long-time attendees always pack for it. Once the sun appeared and temperatures climbed, the weather shifted from soggy to scorching, yet spirits stayed sky-high from start to finish.
This year’s lineup leaned heavily on festival favorites while still leaving room for fresh faces and rising stars. The hosts, Pert Near Sandstone, bookended the weekend with two high-energy sets that reminded everyone why they’ve been steering this ship for a decade. Their presence was calming—like a familiar handshake in the middle of a star-studded room.
Thursday night belonged to Sam Bush. The king of newgrass hit the main stage like a man with something to prove and then promptly proved it, grinning with fiddle in hand as he delivered a sweat-fueled masterclass in festival showmanship. Sam doesn’t just play a set; he leads a celebration, so night one closed on exactly the kind of high you hope for after a soggy start.
Greensky Bluegrass headlined Friday, and they did what Greensky always does at Blue Ox: show up completely in sync with the crowd and the moment. Midway through an already-fiery first set, they invited Grammy-winning flat-picker Molly Tuttle onstage for Sean Camp’s “My Love Will Not Change,” and the song erupted into a seven-minute duel of flat-picking, dobro slides, and soaring twin-guitar peaks that sent a roar rolling up the hillside. Their set balanced precision and playfulness, weaving jams that felt both technical and intentional. They’ve played this festival so many times they could probably do it in their sleep—but they would never get lazy on us.
The undercard was no less compelling. Hometown heroes Them Coulee Boys played with that unmistakable mix of grit and gratitude. This was the tenth set they’ve played at their home fest, and it felt like a love letter to the place they know so well.
The Cody Sisters, fresh off a buzzy spring tour, delivered tight harmonies and nimble picking. There’s a polish to them now, but they haven’t lost the raw energy that made people fall for them in the first place. Minnesota folk trio The Last Revel, set to release their new album Gone for Good on July 18, mirrored that record’s rich harmonies and raw storytelling while showcasing an evolving sound.
Mountain Grass Unit brought youthful intensity to the Saloon Stage, turning heads with their Kentucky-fried, high-speed breakdowns; they even coaxed Sam Bush onstage with them. Wheels North played a fantastic noon set at the Backwoods Stage that made instant fans of everyone there. Hurray for the Riff Raff supplied a welcome change of pace with a moody, magnetic set that rang out through the early-day haze. Their sound leans more indie folk than bluegrass, but the crowd was all-in—there’s room at Blue Ox for every kind of band.
Warren Haynes brought Southern-rock firepower to Saturday night, leading his band through a winding, soulful set packed with solos and bluesy melodies. His voice cut through the humid air with the conviction of a man who’s lived every lyric. As the sky shifted from orange to black, it felt like a performance destined for Blue Ox lore. He closed the main stage with an Allman Brothers favorite, and “Soulshine” lit up the night.
WHB wasn’t the final act, though. In a move that felt tailor-made, Armchair Boogie closed out the festival with a high-octane show that carried the party deep into Sunday morning. Their blend of jamgrass, funk, and good ol’ Wisconsin wonder had people dancing in the woods and living fully in the moment. It was loose, it was sweaty, and it was exactly the kind of chaotic joy Blue Ox specializes in.
As the weekend rolled on, dust replaced mud and sunscreen replaced rain ponchos. Kids chased bubbles, strangers shared stories—and bug spray—and the sound of banjos rumbled through the pines like distant thunder. What makes Blue Ox work, year after year, is balance: there’s a reverence for tradition, but no fear of plugging in a fuzz pedal or sneaking in a new cover. The festival feels curated but never forced—less like a lineup and more like a family reunion everyone plans to attend no matter what.
The Pert Near boys were everywhere that weekend. When you saw them onstage announcing the next act—or firing up their own set—you knew you were in a good place and could call it home. They’re hosts who genuinely love having us there and want everything to go perfectly.
Blue Ox didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it sure did pull a lot out of the mud. We all rolled along through rain and sweat with the momentum that comes only from years of doing it together. Blue Ox ’25 was my first since 2019, and I was thrilled to be back. I can’t wait to drive up to The Pines again next year.
