A Festival for ALL!
2025 Line up
Dylan Harris & Good Company
12:30-1:30
Toe tappers and tear jerkers…classics, originals, hidden gems and local favorites…a folkish songwriter’s rock and roll Americana dream. Dylan Harris & Good Company are based right here in the live music melting pot we call home . You can find them sharing songs, playing shows and organizing jam sessions all throughout the Driftless. “If music be the food of love, then jam on…”
Ladies Must Swing
2:00-3:30pm
And SWING THEY MUST! Award-winning, South-Central Wisconsin based Ladies Must Swing Big Band draws from classic swing with the occasional American standard or polka. Jump, jive an' wail!! Made up entirely of female musicians, the nineteen piece band includes five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, drums, congas, guitar and a vocalist. Ladies Must Swing brings nostalgia to the stage with their 40s costumes and their classic Big Band era sound. For over 25 years now, the Ladies enliven wartime classics, celebrating the contributions of female composers and arrangers, and belt out a smokin’ foxtrot. Come to listen or come to cut a rug – this will be an afternoon of fun for all!
The Trouble Notes
4:00-530pm
Sitting somewhere between traditional folk, gritty progressive rock and explosive dance music, The Trouble Notes are a progressive world folk trio. Known for their explosive energy and worldly melodies, the band was formed in 2013 by violinist Bennet Cerven and has since become renown in the international world folk scene. The band’s core hails from three different continents: American violinist Bennet Cerven, German guitarist Florian Eisenschmidt and Australian drummer Julian Lardis. Their shows are packed full of surprises, they have performed on Television in the USA, Europe, Japan and Brazil. They have played on many of Europe’s large festival stages and with major international acts like Jethro Tull, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and America.
Their second studio album, Liberty Awaits, was described by Earmilk Magazine as “a transcendent exploration and fusion of various folk styles, showcasing the rich tapestry of our diverse world.” BBC Radio’s Faye Hatcher said the band is “like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Their musical influences take you on a journey around the world. You can’t help clap very loudly, tap your feet or spontaneously jig along to their music! An absolute must-see!!”
STEEZ
6:00-730pm
Categorization be damned, the Madison-based five piece, STEEZ, consisting of Matt Williams (keyboards/synthesizers/talk box), Steve Neary (guitar and vocals), Alex Roberts (drums), Chris Sell (bass), and Andrzej Benkowski (saxophone, keyboards, vocals) is—in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions —a funk band, a jamband, a fusion band, a disco-fanged multi-beast, and a basket case.
Churning out their self-described Creepfunk, a high energy, danceable variety of funk uniquely laced with electronic and improvisational sensibilities, STEEZ has garnered a loyal following throughout the Midwest, repeatedly receiving acclaim for their live performances, which typically include a seamless weaving of thoughtfully composed originals and crowd pleasing covers spanning from Madonna to clever obscurities like Genialistid (Estonia). Let’s get FUNKY!
We Are The Willows
8:00-930pm
We Are the Willows, from Minneapolis MN, brings a distinctive blend of orchestral pop, experimental indie, and nineties hymns, crafting a unique and exciting mix of genres. Yet, despite this diversity, they manage to maintain a consistent, signature style with a touch of melancholic vibe that permeates their sound. Featuring songwriter Peter Miller’s unique countertenor voice, supported by Jeremiah Satterthwaite (guitar), Travis Collins (bass/ voice), Hilary James (cello/ voice), and Josh McKay (drums). The band crafts dynamic songs with a contemplative air. Their songs cover a lot of conceptual ground: from family history to modern social life and personal identity.
We Are The Willows has been releasing music since 2007. Their most notable release garnered high praise from NPR, the BBC, NOISEY, PASTE magazine, Buzzfeed, The Brooklyn Vegan, and USA Today. Between 2009 and 2017 the band toured a great deal, including showcasing at SXSW, Treefort Music Fest, Summerfest, and supporting slots with Blitzen Trapper, S. Carey, PHOX, and Matt Pond PA.
Although we will all be happily dancing under the oak trees at Eckhart Park, We are the Willows bring music like no other, a sonic warmth that will resonate long after the last note fades. www.wearethewillows.com