Pert Near Sandstone & Maygen and the Birdwatcher - Road to Blue Ox PreParty

Pert Near Sandsone: Crossing Old-time instrumentation with contemporary sensibilities, Pert Near Sandstone emerged nearly twenty years ago from the Minnesota acoustic music scene. With infectious energy and collaborative spirit, they have established themselves as standard-bearers for the vitality of the Midwestern roots music scene and alongside Minnesota brethren Trampled By Turtles and Charlie Parr. They have toured extensively and performed onstage with the likes of Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, earning dates along the way with everyone from Yonder Mountain String Band to Steve Martin. NPR's Mountain Stage praised the band for putting a "Midwestern stamp on Appalachian [sounds]," while A Prairie Home Companion described Pert Near Sandstone as “a force on the Minnesota roots music scene and beyond,” and The Current praised their live performances as "a frenzied string shredding spree that takes audiences under its spell." As festival favorites in both the US and Europe, the band helped to launch the Blue Ox Music Festival in 2015, which they continue to host and curate each June in Eau Claire, WI. For the past decade, the now prestigious music festival has helped bring into the local community a great many nationally treasured artists such as Bela Fleck, Billy Strings, Tyler Childers, Jerry Douglas, Margo Price, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Charlie Crockett, The Infamous Stringdusters, Jason Isbell, Greensky Bluegrass, The Drive By Truckers, and so many more.

Maygen and the Birdwatcher: Maygen & The Birdwatcher are a Minnesota-based folk duo-turned-Americana band who adventurously blur the sounds of country, bluegrass, folk, and blues – keepin' it all fresh.

Since their 2021 debut full-length Moonshine, they have eagerly shared their music all over the midwest and beyond, earning Midwest Country Music awards for Americana Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, taking part in many notable regional and national festivals and also releasing Moonshine's companion EP, Bootleggin' At The Flower Shoppe.

$ 20 - Children Under 14 Admitted Free

Gate Opens at 5:30 - Music Starts at 6:00

General admission tickets are $20. 12 Tables available for reservation: $100 for table, and 4 tickets. Event is held rain or shine. Refunds only if event is cancelled.