Aaron Schye is a multi-instrumental, folk-rock musician from Eau Claire, WI known for his eclectic sets, high-energy performances, and charismatic stage presence. From soothing acoustic sweetness to screaming metal solos he is unafraid to challenge the status quo with his “be yourself” attitude towards musicianship. Aaron began his pursuit writing unique acoustic arrangements of classic songs from across the musical spectrum. In time he began composing his own music drawing inspiration from bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Tenacious D, and Iron Maiden. Strongly influenced by his time spent in the mountains of Montana, his music features elements of storytelling, adventure, comedy, tragedy, hope, and horror bridging the genres of folk, progressive rock, and symphonic metal.

Tyler Lustek is a pianist, composer, arranger and educator from Eau Claire, WI. Tyler is involved with a variety of musical projects around the Chippewa Valley including his own quintet the Tyler Lustek Confluence, avant-garde jazz duet Lustek / Granros, piano/cello duet Duo Vivace, and the Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra. Tyler is also co-director of the jazz combo program at UW-Eau Claire, and teaches weekly improvisation workshops at Chippewa Falls High School.

Janny Trumpet returns to The Lakely stage after 2 months of Touring with the National Broadway Tour of Elf The Musical!

Jan is a musician based out of Eau Claire, WI. He started playing trumpet the summer before 5th grade, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to study music and business. He currently serves part time in the 132nd Army Band.

Jan is co-founder of “Uncommon Denominator,” a band named Best Cover Band in the Chippewa Valley 3 years in a row.

Jan continues to pursue musical projects of all kinds, including recording, producing, and writing.

“Also Going Nowhere” A new album by Luke Callen and Produced by Erik Koskinen.

In an age of quick fixes, flashing screens, and pop ‘songs’ that are more formula than art, an album that takes its sweet time is a radical act. “Also Going Nowhere”, Luke Callen’s third full-length effort is just that – a collection of songs that spread out through time and space, dripping with honest Midwest charm and a mischievous glint. It’s music that you can relax into, paired with lyrics you’ll want to chew on and savor, that ask something of their listener. These songs are proof and reminder: you don’t actually have to go anywhere at all to, you know, get somewhere. 

That’s not to say the subject matters within this work are by any means easy or expected. Clementine follows a gun-totting mother up near the Taconite mines of Northern Minnesota. Deals go horribly wrong on the street corner in Lake Street Hustle. The cosmic, primordial soup mixes with wildflower seeds in Some Reason. These epic tales swirl alongside summertime swimming holes, interstate drives, fishing trips with Dad, and unlikely marriage proposals. All of it, grounded and cohesive in the hands of a locked-in rhythm section (Chris Grey on drums and Lauren Anderson on bass) playful lead guitar (producer Erik Koskinen) the warm hum of an organ (Frankie Moscow), and of course, Luke Callen’s confident finger-picking and weathered vocal delivery. 

This no-frills arrangement style is like a drink of water for those of us who crave something real and honest to listen to. The sonic palette pays homage to a whole plethora of elements endemic to the American music tradition without feeling derivative or landing too hard on any one side of the genre question. Sure, fans of John Prine, The Band, or Randy Newman will undoubtedly hear traces of Callen’s biggest influences, but there’s a modern assessment within the music that is the distinct voice of an artist coming into his own and sharing stages with fellow pickers and balladeers like Charlie Parr and Margo Cilker. 

This album is Callen’s strongest recorded work yet – but even so, his work isn’t the type to get puffed up or ahead of itself. “The highway begins where it always ends/on the same goddamned street” he sings, a throwback to the title of the thing, which seems to be said with a wink and wiley understanding of the world in which we live today. Ultimately, Callen never strays from this central theme: our ordinary lives are noteworthy, and that miraculous, strange, beautiful things are happening around us all the time. We just need to take a seat, stay a while, and insist on using our attention for good. The album lands in the streams on February 2nd, 2024.