CANCELLED: 4th Annual Derby Day Celebration! A Kentucky Derby Soiree!
2020-05-02 15:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Don’t miss out on the most exciting two minutes in sports!
Join us for the fourth installment of our Derby Day Celebration on The Lakely Courtyard Patio! It’s a soiree! Attendees are encouraged to dress to the nines, with prizes for best hat, cutest couple, and more. Kentucky-inspired food will be served, and there will be mint juleps galore! In true “run for the roses fashion,” red roses will decorate our patio, we’ll have live ragtime music, and of course, you can cheer on your favorite horse! Free to attend! Kiddos are welcome, too!

CANCELLED:Blue Ox Pre-Party at The Oxbow Hotel - Road to Blue Ox 2020 Tour
2020-05-16 16:00 - 23:00
The Blue Ox Festival Pre-Party is coming to Downtown Eau Claire!
Join Pert Near Sandstone and Them Coulee Boys on the Road to Blue Ox! Each spring leading up to the festival the host band of The Blue Ox Music Festival gathers their friends together to spread the spirit of the festival throughout the Midwest. This year they are bringing hometown favorites Them Coulee Boys along with to The Oxbow Hotel’s Blue Ox Pre-Party for a very special evening.
Come hang out at The Oxbow Hotel and The Lakely on Saturday, May 16th for an outdoor experience of music, food, drinks and of course, tons of fun!
This event is sponsored by Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
FEATURING:

Pert Near Sandstone
Them Coulee Boys
Jerrika Mighelle
Pit Wagon

DETAILS:

Saturday, May 16, 2020: Gates open at 4pm, music kicks off at 5pm and event concludes at 11pm
Tickets are $20 per person in advance, $30 at the gate, but only if they’re still available!
Event is held in The Oxbow Hotel’s courtyard, 516 Galloway Street, Downtown Eau Claire
Bring your appetite! Food and drinks will be available for purchase
18+ event with ID wristbands for those wishing to consume adult beverages
Rain or shine event – in the event of rain, no umbrellas are allowed, but please bring your poncho!
Parking available in nearby ramps
Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable
Make it an overnight experience and book a boutique hotel room for the weekend!

GET TICKETS HERE
BIOS:
Pert Near Sandstone
It was roughly a decade ago that Pert Near Sandstone first gathered around a microphone in a Minneapolis basement to record their debut album, ‘Up And Down The River.’ So much has happened since then: highs and lows, personal struggles and artistic triumphs, new faces and new sounds. The winding road they’ve traveled over the years makes it all the more meaningful for the band to come full circle on their dazzling new release, ‘Discovery Of Honey,’ which finds them once again recording in a basement and reuniting with founding member Ryan Young, who’s spent the past seven years touring the world playing fiddle with bluegrass stars Trampled By Turtles.
“Besides playing with us, Ryan was also our first recording engineer back when we were just starting out,” says mandolin/fiddle player Nate Sipe. “Working with him again on the new album, we were able to recapture that feeling of lightning in a bottle from the early days.”
“We all learned how to do this together,” adds banjo player Kevin Kniebel. “We have more tools in our kit now and we’ve evolved as musicians and songwriters, but what hasn’t changed is the chemistry between us.”
That chemistry has been abundantly clear from the very first days of Pert Near Sandstone, when the band—whose current lineup features Sipe and Kniebel, founding guitarist J Lenz, bassist Justin Bruhn, and clog & fiddle player Matt Cartier—burst onto the American roots music scene in a flurry of fiddling, picking, and stomping. They followed their debut record with a string of four critically acclaimed albums that had No Depression hailing them as “stellar” and The Minneapolis Star Tribune praising their songs as “masterfully and jubilantly plucked.” NPR’s Mountain Stage celebrated the band’s “Midwestern stamp on Appalachian [sounds],” while The Current described their live performances as “a frenzied string shredding spree that takes audiences under its spell.”
The band earned performances everywhere from the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival to A Prairie Home Companion, and shared bills on the road with the likes of Trampled By Turtles, Del McCoury, and Yonder Mountain String Band. As their reputation grew, they cemented their status as linchpins of the Midwestern scene by founding their very own festival, Blue Ox, which has featured performances by Bela Fleck, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Shovels & Rope, Justin Townes Earle, Blitzen Trapper, and more.
“People get really wrapped up in genre and labeling,” explains Kniebel, “but Blue Ox allows us to showcase all these different aspects of roots and American music that are really important to us and to the fabric of folk music today.”
“Whether you have drums and an electric guitar or a jug and a fiddle, it’s all part of the same voice,” adds Sipe. “It’s a blessing to be able to present a festival that can incorporate all of those elements.”
That same voracious musical appetite and disregard for the strictures of genre and tradition fuel much the music on ‘Discovery Of Honey,’ which finds the band setting their sights higher than ever before and pushing the complexity of their songwriting and the sheer energy of their performances to remarkable new peaks. With Young back in the fold recording and co-producing, the band gathered just outside of Minneapolis at their old friend’s new home—which had originally been constructed by an end-times prepper to withstand a nuclear apocalypse—for the recording sessions.
“There’s a huge ham radio tower in the back and catacombs of rooms with storage for cans and everything,” explains Sipe. “The two-foot-thick concrete walls of the bomb shelter had a 1-inch iron plate in the middle, and when they were wiring up the house, the electrician couldn’t even get through it at first.”
It proved to be the perfect mix of seclusion and comfort, with the basement serving as both a familiar setting and an ideal place for Pert Near Sandstone to unleash their explosion of string band energy and excitement. Sitting in a circle and performing live together, they knocked out basic tracking for the album in just two-and-a-half days. Over the following weeks, they’d revisit the songs individually, cutting vocals and solos and experimenting with layering up additional sounds to flesh out the rich, acoustic orchestration.
The album kicks off with the stately “Bloom Again,” a Kniebel-penned track about the fragility and beauty of love. Propelled by clawhammer banjo and tremolo mandolin, the track features rich, triumphant harmonies and rides on a wave of ethereal organ swells, showing off the folkier side of the band’s personality. They follow it up with a trip to the opposite end of the spectrum on the rollicking, rag-time, jugband-inspired “Nothing I Can Do,” from which the album draws its title.
“‘Discovery Of Honey’ really encapsulated the overall theme of the record,” says Sipe. “A lot of the songs are about finding a new fertile ground, about approaching love for the first time again.”
Indeed, several of the tracks (including Kniebel’s “Uncover Me” and Sipe’s “Again And Again”) look at old love in new ways, but the album covers a broad spectrum, both musically and thematically. “Rattlesnake” is a breakneck fiddle-tune inspired by Sipe’s relocation to southern California and his forays into the desert, while the toe-tapping “Bay Road” came to him during a solo retreat to a family cabin in central Minnesota, and “Don’t Need You” is a fingerstyle blues written by Lenz in the tradition of Charlie Parr or Spider John Koerner. In addition, Bruhn contributed his first writing credits on the album with “Animal Instinct” and “Biting My Nails,” an unplanned recording that found the band pushing themselves to experiment with detuning their instruments and layering on unexpected sounds like pedal steel guitar.
That musical fearlessness is part of what makes the group so difficult to pin down and also such perfect stewards for string band music in the 21st century. The sweetest honey awaits those brave enough to risk being stung, and the band reaps the rewards of their musical courage here in spades. ‘Discovery Of Honey’ is Pert Near Sandstone’s finest work to date, and that’s buzz you can believe in.
———–
Them Coulee Boys
Allegedly founded at a bible camp, and born in the back valleys of Western Wisconsin, Them Coulee Boys craft a brand of Americana that blends punk, bluegrass, and rock & roll. Somewhere underneath the energy, the exuberance, the wit, and the passion of Them Coulee Boys lies a heart. It’s a heart filled with sincerity, honesty, and the will to make the world a better place. This heart is not only evident in every song, but also in Them Coulee Boys as a whole. These songs are meant for dancing, for excitement, but are also for thought, and for the quiet moments. Them Coulee Boys seek to balance the high with the low, the happy with the sad, and the love with pain. It’s how we live our lives, and they make music that reflects that.
Founded in late 2013, Them Coulee Boys have quickly become a force on the Midwest music scene. Soren Staff, Beau Janke, Jens Staff, Neil Krause, and Patrick Phalen IV work together as a well-oiled alt-folk machine to craft songs and live shows that have impressed audiences nationwide.
In the winter of 2018, Them Coulee Boys set to capture a new sound. They gathered at the famed Pachyderm Studios (Nirvana, Son Volt, PJ Harvey) in Cannon Falls, MN to record with their friend Dave Simonett (Trampled By Turtles). Their as of yet untitled record builds on their ever evolving sound, while capturing the live element Them Coulee Boys are known for. The album is framed as a journey of sorts, starting in a volatile place, and ending in acceptance. This is the sound of a band that has grown into the sound they’ve been working towards, while keeping the sincerity they built themselves on. Look for their new record in 2019.
Them Coulee Boys have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some incredible acts including: John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival), Trampled By Turtles, Sam Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band, Pert Near Sandstone, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Fruition, and many more.

Late Night Jazz: Sean Carey Trio
2021-06-05 20:30 - 23:30
Saturday, June 5th, Late Night Jazz returns to The Lakely Stage for a kick off with local favorite Sean Carey, in a jazz trio, performing a mix of jazz standards!
The Lakely opens for dinner and drinks at 4pm on Saturday, with music from 8:30pm – 11:30pm. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Vinyl Nights: Pride Night on The Lakely Patio with Big Tall Jake
2021-06-10 19:00 - 22:00
Join us on The Lakely Patio on Thursday, June 10th from 7pm-10pm for a special evening of Vinyl Nights: Pride Night!
Big Tall Jake will captain the turntable and take some amazing vinyl for a spin in support of our LGBTQ+ family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and community. Wearing rainbow colors of support is encouraged!
The Lakely opens for dinner and drinks at 5pm, we hope to see you there!
FREE to attend!

Late Night Jazz: Sue Orfield Trio
2021-06-12 20:30 - 23:30, 2021-06-19 20:30 - 23:30
Jeremy Boettcher and Josh Gallagher back up Sue Orfield for a dynamic performance on The Lakely stage!
Sue Orfield has been playing the saxophone for close to 40 years, with the last 10 or so right here in the Chippewa Valley. Her playing is informed by blues, joy, bluegrass, sadness, jazz, crazy, rock, and everything else she’s ever heard.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Thursday 5pm to 10pm and 5pm to 10pm Friday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Josh Gallagher Trio
2021-06-26 20:30 - 23:30, 2021-07-17 20:30 - 23:30
From The Lakely stage, enjoy a set from The Josh Gallagher Trio, 8:30pm-11:30pm.

Josh Gallagher attended the Berklee College of Music on a full ride scholarship, as well as the Brubeck Institute. After living in New York city, he returned to Eau Claire. Catch this masterful and swinging pianst in action leading his group.

At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Thursday 5pm to 10pm and 4pm to 10pm Friday and Saturday. Our farmers and producers take the highest pride in the quality of their products, and our Chef brings out the best in every ingredient.

Campfire Stories: A Night of Fact, Fiction, & Fire
2021-06-30 20:00 - 21:30
Join us for “a night of fact, fiction, and fire” where we bring in local writers, storytellers, and songwriters for an intimate taste of our local literary and music community — all set around the backdrop of the gorgeous Lakely patio and fire pits.
FREE to attend. Get a craft drink and join us around the campfire, stories begin at 8pm! Rain or shine! (But we’ll move inside to The Gallery if it rains) Make it a date night and join us for dinner before the event starts!
If you would like to be a storyteller at an upcoming Campfire Stories, please email Cassandra@theoxbowhotel.com

Late Night Jazz: Dean Granros Quartet
2021-07-03 20:30 - 23:30
Dean Granros returns to the Lakely stage to grace us with his Avant-garde guitar playing. Balancing out the quartet will be Josh Gallagher on keyboard, Sean Carey on drums, and Jeremy Boettcher on bass.
FREE to attend.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Thursday 5pm to 10pm and 5pm to 10pm Friday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Jeremy Boettcher Trio
2021-07-10 20:30 - 23:30
Bassist Jeremy Boettcher has performed music throughout the world, touring extensively in S. Carey. Recently, Jeremy finished a residency for Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar. He will be joined by good friend and incredible talent, Josh Gallagher, on the piano.
FREE to attend.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Thursday 5pm to 10pm and 5pm to 10pm Friday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

Artist Reception in The Gallery: "Texture!" Selected Paintings by Jamie Bowers
2021-07-22 17:00 - 20:00
Join us in The Gallery of The Oxbow Hotel as we gather to observe and enjoy a new art exhibit by local artist, Jamie Bowers!
The collection of paintings, selected to fit the Oxbow Gallery space, was not painted as an exhibit series, yet there is a common theme: Texture! The selected works, all painted on wood panels, were created using a wide variety of textural materials, including fireplace ash, plaster, heavy acrylic, oil, oil crayon, and screen fabric. The colorful, layered paintings are simple in design, yet complicated in their creation process. The paintings beg to be touched. And hopefully, they will likewise touch the viewers who see them in the beautiful Oxbow Hotel Gallery.
ARTIST CHAT
At 6:00 p.m., Jamie will hold a short conversation about his work, and invite questions and comments from guests!
ARTIST BIO
Jamie Bowers is a contemporary abstract painter (and bass player). He has been actively painting since 2000, and has displayed and sold his paintings in a variety of shows and galleries in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota before recently moving to Eau Claire. In addition to the current Oxbow Gallery show, Jamie’s artwork can also be found at Kelley Galleries in Hudson, WI. and Woodbury, MN., and at his own gallery in Banbury Place.
Please visit Jamie’s website to explore more works!

Late Night Jazz: Tyler Lustek Quartet
2021-07-24 20:30 - 23:30
Tyler Lustek is a jazz pianist, teacher, and composer from Eau Claire, WI. Tyler just recently completed his first year of graduate studies in jazz piano at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL after completing his undergraduate degree in music education at UW-Madison. Tyler’s playing and writing is informed by his favorite musicians and groups, such as Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Oscar Peterson, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Gustav Mahler, and whatever else he just listened to yesterday.
Tyler will be joined by Sue Orfield, Jeremy Boettcher, and North Skager.
FREE to attend.
Dinner is served at The Lakely from 5pm-10pm, reservations are recommended.

Campfire Stories: A Night of Fact, Fiction + Fire
2021-07-28 20:00 - 21:30, 2021-08-25 20:00 - 21:30

Late Night Jazz: Paul Hecht Trio
2021-07-31 20:30 - 23:30
Paul Hecht brings a wide musical curiosity and a commitment to jazz traditions in the piano/keyboard trio format. Hecht trained with musicians from Detroit and Chicago and now divides his time between Chicago and Eau Claire.
Dinner is served at The Lakely from 5pm-10pm, reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Tyler Lustek Group
2021-08-06 20:30 - 23:30
Tyler Lustek is a jazz pianist, teacher, and composer from Eau Claire, WI. Tyler just recently completed his first year of graduate studies in jazz piano at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL after completing his undergraduate degree in music education at UW-Madison. Tyler’s playing and writing is informed by his favorite musicians and groups, such as Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Oscar Peterson, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Gustav Mahler, and whatever else he just listened to yesterday.
FREE to attend.
Dinner is served at The Lakely from 5pm-10pm, reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Pianist Josh Gallagher
2021-08-07 20:30 - 23:30
From The Lakely stage, enjoy a set from pianist Josh Gallagher, 8:30pm-11:30pm.

Josh Gallagher attended the Berklee College of Music on a full ride scholarship, as well as the Brubeck Institute. After living in New York city, he returned to Eau Claire. Catch this masterful and swinging pianist in action leading his group.

At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Our farmers and producers take the highest pride in the quality of their products, and our Chef brings out the best in every ingredient.

Vinyl Nights: "Women in Music" on The Lakely Patio with Ashley Wiswell
2021-08-12 19:00 - 22:00
Grab your favorite craft cocktail and make plans to join us around the fire pits for Vinyl Nights: “Women in Music” on The Lakely Patio with Ashley Wiswell!
Ashley will highlight and emphasize music from musicians who identify as women or non-binary, and who have made great impacts in the music industry. Some artist highlights include Brittany Howard, St. Vincent, Kate Bush, Bjork, Polica, Haley Heyndricks (who played at Oxbow in 2019!), and local artist Jerrika Mighelle, along with many more!
Tunes run from 7pm-10pm on The Lakely Patio – rain or shine, but we’ll move inside The Lakely if it rains!
DJ BIO:
Ashley graduated from UWEC in 2019 with a degree in Organizational Communication and German. She now is a barista at ECDC and behind the bar at the Lakely. When she’s not working, she enjoys live music, traveling, discovering new record stores, or hanging with her kitten, Vinny!
The Lakely opens for drinks and dinner at 5pm, so come early for farm-to-fork fare and craft cocktails before the event kicks off! Reservations are appreciated, but not required.

Late Night Jazz: Sean Carey Trio
2021-08-14 20:30 - 23:30
Local favorite Sean Carey returns to the Lakely to perform in a jazz trio, performing a mix of jazz standards.
The Lakely opens for dinner and drinks at 5pm on Saturday, with music from 8:30pm – 11:30pm.
Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Late Night Jazz: Hans Fuerst Group
2021-08-20 20:30 - 23:30
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Hannah Harder Quartet
2021-08-21 20:30 - 23:30
Up and coming saxophonist Hannah Harder brings her quartet to The Lakely for soulful renditions of jazz classics. Featuring Josh Gallagher on keyboard, North Skager on drums, and Jeremy Boettcher on bass.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are recommended.

Vinyl Nights: "Eaux Claires + Oxbeaux Night" on The Lakely Patio with Ashley Wiswell
2021-08-26 19:00 - 22:00
Join us on The Lakely Patio on Thursday, August 26th from 7pm-10pm for a special evening of Vinyl Nights: “Eaux Claires + Oxbeaux Night”!
Ashley Wiswell will captain the turntable and take you on a journey of remembrance and celebration for two of Eau Claire’s most-loved music events, the Eaux Claires Festival and Oxbeaux Street Concert! Both events have become a staple for the EC music scene, and have been greatly missed over the 2020-2021 summers. Join us as we celebrate and pay homage to the artists who have played at EXC and Oxbeaux in this edition of Vinyl Nights!
Rain or shine – the event will move into The Lakely in the event of poor weather.
The Lakely opens for dinner and drinks at 5pm, we hope to see you there!
FREE to attend!
DJ Bio:
Ashley graduated from UWEC in 2019 with a degree in Organizational Communication and German. She now is a barista at ECDC and behind the bar at the Lakely. When she’s not working, she enjoys live music, traveling, discovering new record stores, or hanging with her kitten, Vinny!

Late Night Jazz: Sue Orfield Trio
2021-08-28 20:30 - 23:30
Jeremy Boettcher and Josh Gallagher back up Sue Orfield for a dynamic performance on The Lakely stage!
Sue Orfield has been playing the saxophone for close to 40 years, with the last 10 or so right here in the Chippewa Valley. Her playing is informed by blues, joy, bluegrass, sadness, jazz, crazy, rock, and everything else she’s ever heard.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Sean Carey Trio
2021-09-03 20:30 - 23:30
Local favorite Sean Carey returns to the Lakely to perform in a jazz trio, performing a mix of jazz standards.
The Lakely opens for dinner and drinks at 5pm with music from 8:30pm – 11:30pm.
Reservations are recommended for dinner.

CLOSED for a Private Event
2021-09-04 08:00 - 23:30
The Oxbow Hotel and The Lakely are hosting a wedding today, and therefore will be closed. We thank you for your support and understanding, and look forward to seeing you in the near future!
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to us by phone or email:
(715) 839-0601 or hello@theoxbowhotel.com
If you are interested in hosting your own wedding or event at The Oxbow, please email events@theoxbowhotel.com

Vinyl Nights: "Hits That Won't Quit" on The Lakely Patio with Mabis
2021-09-09 19:00 - 22:00
Vinyl Nights DJ, Mabis, makes a return to the turntable with a curated selection of “Hits That Won’t Quit” – prepare for a set riddled with popular classics from every era and genre. Mabis will spin tunes from 7pm-10pm on The Lakely Patio – rain or shine, but we’ll move inside The Lakely if it rains!
Mabis spins to please, so expect to hear a tune or two that you adore. His vinyl obsession and wide-ranging collection wouldn’t be possible without Revival Records. Cheers, Billy!
The Lakely opens for drinks and dinner at 5pm, so come early for farm-to-fork fare and craft cocktails before the event kicks off! Reservations are appreciated, but not required.

Late Night Jazz: Josh Gallagher Trio
2021-09-11 20:30 - 23:30
From The Lakely stage, enjoy a set from The Josh Gallagher Trio, 8:30pm-11:30pm.

Josh Gallagher attended the Berklee College of Music on a full ride scholarship, as well as the Brubeck Institute. After living in New York city, he returned to Eau Claire. Catch this masterful and swinging pianst in action leading his group.

At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Our farmers and producers take the highest pride in the quality of their products, and our Chef brings out the best in every ingredient.

Late Night Jazz: Jeremy Boettcher Trio
2021-09-17 20:30 - 23:30
Bassist Jeremy Boettcher has performed music throughout the world, touring extensively in S. Carey. Recently, Jeremy finished a residency for Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar. He will be joined by good friend and incredible talent, Josh Gallagher, on the piano.
FREE to attend.
At The Lakely, you can expect an evolving seasonal menu of Midwest modern comfort food. Featuring the familiar flavors of the woods and fields of Wisconsin, dinner is served Monday through Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are recommended.

Late Night Jazz: Dean Granros & Josh Gallagher
2021-09-18 20:30 - 23:30
Dean Granros takes to The Lakely stage to grace us with his Avant-garde guitar playing. Granros will be joined by Josh Gallagher on keyboard.
FREE to attend.
Reservations are recommended for dinner.
