The Everyone Orchestra and Fat Maw Rooney, Friday May 8th

I can't believe I've never heard of this before! The Everyone Orchestra and Fat Maw Rooney will be shaking the foundations of the Mabel Tainter Theater in Menomonie on Friday, May 8th at 8pm. Tickets are $17 advance/$20 at the door. So what is the Everyone Orchestra? This answer is from their website: "THE EVERYONE ORCHESTRA is a revolving cast of stellar musicians brought together by drummer/conductor Matt Butler for concerts, festival super jams and special benefit events. EO performances are designed to create space for each performers musical personality to shine, engage the audience as participants in the jam and to facilitate a massive celebratory coming together featuring a conductor directing both musicians and audience alike.
The list of Everyone Orchestra talent reads like a who’s who of jam band music and beyond including members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, Moe, String Cheese Incident, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Derek Trucks Band, Railroad Earth, Hot Buttered Rum, Tea Leaf Green and Jimmy Herring, Darol Anger, Adrian Belew, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, live painters, dancers, hula hoopers, firespinners, stiltwalkers, activists, a presidential candidate, storytellers and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers." WOW. Sounds kind of like Van's Warped Tour slams into the many incarnations of Pigface, but with greater talent. If you like good jam rock, DO NOT miss this event! For more information, visit www.mabeltainter.com or visits EO's website here.
Image by Robert Marx

Housecleaning, Part Troi

Once again, a great amount of stuff happening in a short amount of time:

-The Shadow Box, a Pulitzer prize winning play directed by Richard Nimke will be playing at the Kjer Theater, UWEC at 7:30pm today and Saturday and May 6-9; 1:30pm on Sunday. The Shadow Box is a poignant but at times humorous play about three people all suffering terminal illness and how their lives and the lives of those closest to them deal with cancer.

- Osseo singer-songwriter Brian Bethke, will perform Friday, May 8th at the Acoustic Cafe at 7pm and on Friday, May 22nd at The Stone's Throw to promote the release of his new album titled Auberdeen. You can find his music and the opportunity to purchase his CD at his website: www.myspace.com/brianbethkemusic.

- On Saturday, May 2nd, from 12:30-8pm, the Water Street Commons parking lot will be the epicenter of the Students in Free Enterprise Battle of the Bands, final round competition to see which of four bands will rise to the top and go on to play at Milwaukee's Summerfest. If you go, expect good loud music and lots of people!

- Can you live in Wisconsin and not like beer? That's just unheard of. For all you microbrew/homebrew aficionados out there, a slice of heaven called the Big Brew is happening on Saturday, May 2nd from 10am-10pm at Mt. Simon Park. Raise a glass and toast to the 12th annual National Homebrew Day as homebrewers from all over convene in the park. To register or for more information, please call 715.833.8511. 21 and over, obviously.

Eau Claire Downtown Farmer's Market

Being a locavore and seasonal eater, it is with relish (sorry, pun intended) that I announce this year's schedule for the single best farmer's market in Central Wisconsin. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmer's Market, located in the pavilion at beautiful Phoenix Park is a must-do for any healthy eco-minded, community-loving person who really wants to know where their food is coming from. Heck, bring the whole family! Talk with the farmers. Aside from a huge selection of local and organic veggies, you can find free-range meats, salsas, flowers, breads, cheeses, maple syrup, honey, dog treats, kettle corn and a variety of local art. Usually during the full swing of midsummer, there is live music from local musicians as well. I just can't say enough about this wonderful market. If you love food, check out this summer-long event. Here's the schedule:
Saturdays in May
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
7:30am - 1:00pm

June 1st - October 31st
Wednesdays, 7:30am - 1:00pm
Thursdays, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Saturdays, 7:30am - 1:00pm

If you somehow can't find time to get to this, you can also try two other great farmer's markets in town: The Oakwood Mall Farmer's Market, which takes place in the parking lot along Golf Road; and the Festival Foods Farmer's Market, which takes place in the Festival Foods parking lot off of Mall Drive.

Support your local farmers and invest in your local economy! Peace!

Literacy Festival, April 28th 6-7:30pm Carson Park

Okay, I dropped the ball on this one, but if you can still make it, do! A neat little gem among all the valley happenings, the Literacy Festival is a short but extrordinary time of community and arts celebrating literacy. Events begin with a community potluck followed by an array of entertainments by storytellers, storybook characters, activities and games and ends with a hand out of books to attending children by the local FirstBook organization. If you love reading, have children who love reading, or love the time spent reading to your child, don't miss this wonderful event!

Historic Reenactment returning to Chippewa Falls

Have you ever had the desire to scrape the fat and sinew from a fresh hide? Have you ever wondered what brain-tanning was all about, or muzzle-loading? Have you ever wondered how the people of this fine valley lived hundreds of years ago in the days of the fur-trade and lumberjacks? If your answer to any of these is YES, you should check out Chippewa Falls' The Past Passed Here, an historic reenactment camp situated in Allen Park from May 6th to the 10th. This is a great way to tear your kids away from their gaming and texting and teach them some history that will stick. Experience is the best teacher and this special event is sure to leave an impression! Admission is just $3 (ages 5 and under are free).

Any Lord of the Rings fans out there?

I don't know about you, but when the topic of LOTR comes up, I get excited. Now those of you who follow such lines know that New Line Cinema is working on the production of The Hobbit, the prequel to LOTR. But did you know of the online wealth of fan films that are out there? These films are by fans for fans. I won't kid you, most are low-budget and show it. BUT, there is one, actually two films (made by the same group) who are coming out with something that rivals the Peter Jackson films.
The Hunt for Gollum (www.thehuntforgollum.com) is a 40-minute story about Aragorn and the Rangers' search for Gollum. Those familiar with the story will remember Aragorn and Gandalf talking about it during the Council of Elrond. Trailers are posted on the website and boy, do they look cool!
Also, made by the same group, another film titled Born of Hope, follows the times of Aragorn's parents, Arathorn and Gilthaen (sp.) in their struggle against the dark forces amassing.
Both films look extraordinary and can be found at that website. Check them out! Because these are fan films and cannot accept money, The Hunt for Gollum is being made available for FREE downloading beginning May 3rd. Check them out!
See? Told you I get excited.

Housecleaning, part deux

Once again, I find myself in a tight place with much to share and little time to wax the life philosophic about it. At any rate, there is a slew of notable events happening nearly at once that I feel compelled to push out to you, dear reader. Enjoy!
- Jeffery Jaworski will grace the ears of Infinitea patrons with his classical guitar on Friday, April, 2th from 8-10pm.
- If you care to have your eardrums explode and your brain thrashed about, go to Eau Claire's House of Rock, also on Friday at 9:30pm for recursive sounds of the 4-pack bands of Desolatevoid, Social Parasite, Upon Extinction, and Purge the Woods. My head hurts just thinking about it.
- Okay, I do not follow the comic book scene, the anime scene nor any convoluted amalgams of the two, but perhaps I should start. NoBrandCon is the name of what I hear is a large and popular convention dedicated to anime. I thought Star Wars and Star Trek cons were strange, but this tops them all. The Ramada Convention Center (in downtown Eau Claire) will be holding the event, complete with a costume contest, anime theaters running 24 hours a day, dance, and guests of honor Kyle Hebert, Tiffany Grant, and Robert Axelrod. You can call 598.9215 for information or visit the website at www.ramadaeauclaire.com.
- Women Rise Up is the name of an event occuring between 2-6pm on Saturday, April 25th at the Raw Deal in Menomonie. What's it about? It's an opportunity for women of all ages to hear good music by women, hear seven speakers discussing women's issues and enlightening the general public about the issues facing women in today's society. Musical acts include QuinnElizabeth, Sarah Pray and Erika Wilder. There is a $5 suggested donation which will go to the Bridge of Hope women's shelter in Menomonie and the Interfaith Food Pantry. This is all for a very good cause, so please give generously. And guys, don't think this is a women-only event. It is open to any and all who wish to be educated on current issues.

The Excellent Adventure, CD release April 24th

The Eau Claire sound that has so many people talking not only throughout the state but nationwide is something akin to introspective, maybe almost lonely, indie-rock - at least that's the stuff that's been making the big headlines lately. But were one to truly delve into the scene, they'd see a wealth of diversity. For however much Eau Claire recalls the quietude of a soggy winter day, it also heats up happily in rhythms that get you going. Case in point: Local jam rock band The Excellent Adventure. They are having a CD release jam party on April 24th at 10pm at The Mousetrap for their album When Whales Could Fly. If you think the Eau Claire sound is all about quiet north woods musings, think again. And let The Excellent Adventure prove it to you.

Let's Get Chopped, Friday April 17th

We all hear about the big stars and how they were originally dishwashers, or valet parking dudes, or school teachers before getting the acting bug and making it big. Now's YOUR chance to start on the path. I know I'm late in getting this out, but if you can make it, go for it! Eight Foot Squid Productions is holding auditions late this afternoon from 3:30pm-6:30pm at CTV in Building 2 of Banbury Place (800 Wisconsin St.) for the horror movie "Fenris Unchained". Close to 300 actors, extras, and assistants are needed and you don't need to bring anything but yourself (and 299 friends). Filming for the project will take place in May/June in Eau Claire. For more information, call 715.254.1855

Peanut Butter and Gypsy bellydancing Benefit, Friday April 17th

Get out your zils, polish off your tamborines and coin belts and find your motivational "Li! Li! Li!" for a good cause. Our local favorite bellydancing troupe Peanut Butter and Gypsy will be performing on Friday, April 17th from 7 to 9pm at the Grand Little Theatre (102 W. Grand Ave.) Their performance will raise funds for the Bolton Refuge House domestic violence shelter. This is a very good cause so please be generous!
Photo by Sahaja

Yam Cannon CD release party April 18th

So let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you just aren’t interested in glitzing up for something as posh and pretentious as the Viennese Ball. If you’re the type who kindly bites your thumb at formality, discourages any tune with three beats per measure, and couldn’t lift your girlfriend even if you did know how to swing dance, fear not! Something else much better-suited for you is in store just up the river. Yam Cannon, one of Eau Claire’s most original sounds, is having a CD release party on April 18th at 10pm at The Mousetrap (311 S. Barstow St.). The party is free, the CD is only $5, and hey, you can wear what you slept in (provided it’s not your birthday suit). Take that, haughty ballgoers!

Reggae Fest, May 16th at Trempealeau Hotel

What says summer like the smooth and infectious beats of Jamaican music? Warm sand, dreadlocks, and those Caribbean sounds that work their way into your body so much that you can’t help but dance! You don’t have to travel all the way to Jamaica for that experience – just head to Trempealeau! Who’d have thought this sleepy town beneath the bluffs of the mighty Mississippi holds one of the premier Reggae festivals in the Midwest? I’ve been going to it now for many years and it has always been brilliant– world class music, Jamaican beer and crafts (with New Glarus beer on tap), and of course Trempealeau Hotel’s famous Walnut Burgers!This year’s festival is on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 from 2pm to 11pm sharp. The lineup is as follows:
Uprising – 2pm-5pm (www.bayfrontreggae.com)
Natty Nation – 5pm-8pm (www.nattynation.com/
The Ark Band – 8pm- 11pm (www.thearkband.com)
A couple of helpful hints: if you plan to overnight it at nearby Perrot State Park, know that sites fill up fast for that weekend. Drive slow and pay close attention to the camping rules. The rangers and police there are very keen on fest-ers. Also, since Reggaefest occurs in that slice of time where you might find yourself too hot, too cold, or too wet, plan and prepare for all elements. The fest goes rain or shine, and has a proclivity for rain. Traditionally, Reggaefest has been on the first weekend in May. But they’ve told me it was moved back a couple weeks to avoid the vagaries of the spring weather. To that I say “Jah mahn!” For more information on Reggaefest at the historic Trempealeau Hotel and to reserve tickets in advance (which is recommended), visit their website here. Tickets are $15 in advance/ $20 at the gate.
Photo by Natty Nation

Native American flute music April 16th and 19th

Born in northern Wisconsin and now living in Nashville, local favorite Bill Miller wanders much like the wandering birds he was named after. It is always a treat to see Bill when his spirit yearns to return to Wisconsin. We last saw him last year at the International Native American Flute Association (INAFA) conference at UWEC telling stories and playing great music for the crowd. He returns to our neck of the woods on April 16th at 8pm at UW-La Crosse. If you miss this show, he'll be returning up to Washburn, WI on July 2nd. Contact UWLC for more info.

Also, fluting his way back is Joseph Fire Crow. He'll be returning to Eau Claire on April 19th for a 1pm concert at the Unity Christ Center (1808 Folsom St.). Admission is $10, but very worth it! We last saw Joe also at the INAFA conference, playing among his fellows, R. Carlos Nakai, Coyote Oldman, and our own Peter Phippin (among other equally talented artists).
Photo by Bill Miller

Patchouli this weekend at Trempealeau Hotel

I don't know about you, but I am sick of the cold weather. Bring on the sunshine, truck in the trademark heat and sweltering humidity of an idyllic Wisconsin summer. After such a long and cold winter I know you can relate to the dire anticipation of shedding clothes, getting out the flip-flops and dusting off the coolers for the outdoor music season. Until then, a great way to spend this weekend at least is to get yourself down to Trempealeau's Historic Hotel along the Mississippi to hear Maiden Rock, WI natives, Patchouli play their warm, peace-loving music on April 11th at 8pm. Some of you may remember this friendly duo from their sets at OAFA. Less known is their alter-incarnation as the band Terra Guitarra. They often like to play from their Terra Guitarra material which can best be summed up as some seriously sizzling Spanish steel string guitar-picking. Throughout the summer, their gypsy-wandering takes them all over the Midwest and their music is always first class. Please check them out. For more info on their summer schedule and playtimes, see their site here. And hey, if you miss this chance, don't fret! They'll be playing at the Eau Claire Earth Day Celebration on April 25th!!
Photo by Patchouli

Eau Claire Earth Day Celebration

With all you hear in the news about climate change, drought and wild weather, one can begin to wish for Earth Day, Every Day. And of us all, it seems kids are the ones who understand this most. Case in point: Driving to an event last week, my wife and I were told by our three-year old that she has two mothers: Mommy and Mother Earth. Couldn't have said it better myself. If you have kids who love to dig in the dirt, learn about nature, alternative energy sources, and environmental protection, or if you yourself have a passion for the planet (and I hope you do, at least enough to not litter or throw your butts out the window of your car), take yourself and them to the Eau Claire Community Earth Day Celebration. This year it will be in Owen Park (1st and Water St., right along the river) on April 25th from 11am-6pm. See exhibits, activities, workshops and entertainment with an environmental message for us all. Taste locally-grown and organic foods from the exceptional Haymarket Grill, Alchemy Organica and the Goat Coffeehouse. An earthy way to spend the day. Don't forget to support the Beaver Creek Reserve, a jewel among natural areas in the region!

Okay, A Bit of Housecleaning...

One great thing about living in a cool town with so much stuff to do is that there's never a time when something isn't going on. Trying to keep track of it all in a timely manner can sometimes be daunting. When things get really squeezed, I'm forced to throw a lot at you in a small amount of space, dear reader. I know, I know, its rough. But at least you won't be bored. Gods forbid that ever happening. So without further ado...

• Thursday, April 9th, local bands Laarks and Meridene open for Minneapolis bigwigs Halloween, Alaska for HA's CD release party at 9pm at Eau Claire's mecca for metal, the House of Rock. $5 cover.
• Eau Claire's Infinitea Teahouse is hosting an International Photo Project. Those interested in being a part of this can submit up to 5 photos to Infinitea. They must be 8x10 pics with no frames and no titles AND they must have been taken outside of the US. They'll grace the walls of Infinitea all through May. At the end of the month, those who submitted in April can submit as many photos as they did the first time around but can be photos of anything they point their camera at. Infinitea has said this is a first come-first served deal so dust off your cameras, worldly travelers! For more info, go to their website here
  
• If you've never attended or battled in a true blue Poetry Slam, this might be your last chance in Eau Claire! The Running Water Poetry Slam, which has called the Acoustic Cafe its monthly home for a number of years now, is holding its last Slam on Thursday, April 16th from 7-9pm. Never heard of a poetry slam? It's a word battle between local poets who are given 3 minutes to shout, cry, slice and dice their best verbally intense poet-musings before a word-hungry audience. Judges in the crowd choose the best poet. If you go, prepare to have your mind cut to ribbons with the diamond-sharp words of these poet-bum bodhisattvas. A truly fun experience!
• April 17-18th is the legendary weekend of the famous Viennese Ball at the Davies Center at UWEC. I've heard it is the largest of its kind outside of Vienna, Austria. Not sure of the truth of that, but it certainly is a big to-do. Dust off your tux or party dress, whip out the expensive jewelry and Dapper Dan hair grease for this recreative soire of 19th Century Vienna. Tickets go very fast for this yearly ritual of class, elegance and style. For more information, contact the UW-Eau Claire at 715.836.3727

More to come...

This year's 48-hour Video Project begins April 17th

What could possibly bring out the creativity more in filmmakers than the stress of a deadline set for two days after they begin? How about the popular 48-Hour Video Project, a visual arts contest hosted by Eau Claire Community Television! This year's theme is "Anything but Monsters" so that leaves the doors of invention pretty wide open. I mean, really, monsters seem to have had better and more frequent jobs than most actors these days, and their union reps have stated that their monsters would prefer not to become cliche, so there ya go. No monsters. If you want to try your luck at some arduous filmmaking, find yourself at Banbury Place, Suite 405 on April 17th at 7pm. Registration is a simple $5. You then have 48 hours to film your video. It should be between 1-10 minutes in length. At the end of the 48 hours, turn in your film at the same place, same time. And if I am correct, there will be an awards ceremony at the Davies Center at the university after their review. Contact Rob Mattison at 715.839.5067 if you're interested in signing up for this creative 2 day spurt.
Photo by dyedude22

In the Heart of the Beast Theater 35th Annual Mayday Parade and Festival

Here's a tidbit that, yes, is outside the Chippewa Valley, but is so unique and inventive and close that I just had to mention it. On Lake St. in Minneapolis, there is a theater called In the Heart of the Beast, which ramps up its activities for an explosive pageant of wonderful creativity known as their May Day Parade. I didn't know about this wonderful gem until only a few years ago, but what a fantastic event! Using the simplest of ingredients to make their larger-than-life masks and puppetry, they explore the deeper regions and colorful explorations of the human spirit and condition. Riding on themes of transformation and renewal, HOBT releases the beauty of spring with their wonderful parade on Bloomington Avenue followed by an extraordinary festival in Powderhorn Park. This year's parade and festival will be on Sunday, May 3rd. If you do nothing else in the Cities this year, go to this event! For more information, please see their website here.
Helpful hint: Due to its popularity, parking can be excruciating. Plan ahead to find the best routes and parking spots.
Photo by Yvonne Lai

Daredevil Christopher Wright CD release in May

Of the many bands making a name for themselves in Eau Claire these days (and of them the stellar acts getting national media accolades), one that I've let horribly slip beneath my radar is the Daredevil Christopher Wright. I know, I know, I should be shot - especially since they've been playing for a long time now. At any rate, their new CD is titled In Deference to a Broken Back and set for release on May 19th. You can pre-order it directly from Amble Down Records here.

Lez Zeppelin, Tonight At Stone's Throw - 9:30pm

Ever wonder what would happen if you found yourself in a universe where Led Zeppelin was a chick-band? Well, welcome to that universe! The power chords of the tribute band Lez Zeppelin (yes, that's Lez Zeppelin)will be tearing up the Stone's Throw tonight at 9:30pm. There's a $15 cover at the door. A band of hot chicks belting out classic Zeppelin tunes? Dunno about you, but I think I'm interested. Grrr baby.

Eau Claire Open Air Festival of the Arts (OAFA)

Ah, warm sunshine, sparkling water, green grass, wonderful local music, arts and true community. What more could a person ask for? How about an environmentally-friendly, people-powered, waste-free arts festival? I speak of the OAFA (rhymes with 'sofa') which takes place this year on Saturday, June 13th once again at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. Yes, I know I'm very early in mentioning it, and probably more than crazy even thinking about it during this spring cold snap, but there is an important date coming up. April 30th, 2009 - that's when exhibitors and vendors for the festival must have their Artist Applications in.

For details on applying as an exhibitor or for coming to this extraordinary festival, please visit OAFA's website here.

An intro...

Hey, thanks for checking out my blog. I truly appreciate it. My name's Brad and I'd like to start by admitting that I am not a blogger, not professionally nor even much as an amateur, but I'd like to think this blog, however tattered and disjointed it is, will help in whatever degree in getting the word out on the arts scene in Eau Claire, WI and the surrounding communities of the Chippewa Valley because it is really something! Those of you who even five or ten years ago moved away from this town, in agony over the lack of culture would be wise to check in on us again. I moved to EC in 2000 and also felt the agony -like being in a timewarp of old radio stations playing songs from decades ago as though they were today's hits, feeling cut off from the culture of the Twin Cities. But let me tell you (and through this blog, show you) how different things are today. What was the turning point - going from cultural wasteland to arts mecca? I think a big catalyst was the advent of the culture 'zine Volume One. Finally was born a one-stop shopping source for all the happenings in the valley, and who knew prior to this what was going on around town or in neighboring communities? Apparently, not a whole lot. In the time since I've been here, I've seen a radical change for the better. New and vibrant festivals, a revitalized downtown, a superb reclamation of old polluted land at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers into the very beautiful Phoenix Park - home of one of the very best Farmer's Markets in the country, an extensive and expanding bike trail system connecting not only the various areas of Eau Claire, but also to neighboring communities, and a wonderful grassroots upswelling of those interested in green living and environmental consciousness - an idea that city planners are taking serious interest in. Madison's own culture 'zine Isthmus has given strong praise for the incredible musical talent coming from Eau Claire, notably Justin Vernon's Bon Iver, and the host of bands under Amble Down Records.
I won't kid you though. I am not a professional critic of music, art, politics or whathaveyou, nor do I hold an arts degree. Though I'm a follower of this scene, and a contributor, I don't follow these areas as closely as I want to. I am a busy and devoted father of a young child, so I do not make it to every show or even half the shows. However, I do make it to enough of them to give you, common reader, a taste of what the fine community of Eau Claire and the fine family of communities in the Chippewa Valley does, and does right. I feel an excitement about this town the likes of which I've never felt before, and you can feel it everywhere, in every district, on every street, coming out of establishments like the Joynt Bar on Water St., Acoustic Cafe or The Stone's Throw on Barstow St. or mingling with the view at Phoenix Park. And it is exciting to be a part of it, even as a common man. So what will you see here in the Golden Moon? You'll see announcements of upcoming shows and matters of interest. You'll see reviews of shows that have been. And you'll see ideas as they come out of the community of fine artists and musicians that make this small midwestern town a truly beautiful place to live. Thanks for coming.