Music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will gather in Maiden Rock for the 11th Annual Rush River Folk Festival at Vino in the Valley. This beloved event, a collaboration between Vino in the Valley and Davey J, attracts fans from Western Wisconsin, Eastern Minnesota, and beyond.
Taking place on August 31, 2024, check out this lineup!
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
Lucas Fischer: 1 – 2:30 pm
Garden Party: 3 – 4:30 pm
Davey J’s One-Man Acoustical Band: 5 – 6:30 pm
Eggplant Heroes: 7 – 8:30 pm
Join us for a day filled with great food, local and regional wines, craft beer, and fantastic musical vibes. The Rush River Folk Festival is the perfect way to close out summer and kick off the last holiday weekend of the season. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome! Our facility is easily accessible by car or motorcycle, with plenty of parking available.
Now, let us share about the musical talent featured at this year’s event…
Leading off the festival is Lucas Fischer is a well-established musician from the Chippewa Valley. Lucas’s guitar and vocals are heard in several band projects he has led, including Rhythm Posse and Lucas and the Cool Hand Saints. He combines original songwriting with classic rock, blues, and Americana selections. In addition to his versatility as a guitarist, Lucas has produced a long-running annual show called Stage Fright, where regional musicians team up in new combos and play the full soundtrack from The Last Waltz, a film tribute to The Band, a timeless ensemble that once supported Bob Dylan. Lucas Fischer brings virtuoso skills and a feeling of community to every performance.
At 3 pm, Garden Party will take the stage. Garden Party is a folk-rock trio who originally met as players in the Ukulele Club of Eau Claire, finding that their musical ties went deep. The members include Tom Lockhart on bass, Teresa Jolivette on ukulele, and Marjorie Cramer on guitar, with sweet harmonies blending with their tasteful acoustic sound. Folk, pop, and Americana are some of the genres you will hear in performances by this warm and polished acoustic combo. As a relatively new musical combo around the Eau Claire area, Garden Party is now well established as one of the most tuneful acts you will hear in the Chippewa Valley music scene.
Davey J’s One-Man Acoustical Band will hit the stage at 5pm. Davey J (David Jones), is the founder of the Rush River Folk Festival. He is a well-loved performer, playing on stages large and small for more than 30 years in the Upper Midwest. Davey J is the originator/producer of the Rush River Folk Festival, which started 11 years ago as a collaboration between Larry Brenner (owner of Vino in the Valley) and Davey J. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Davey J has been writing songs, leading bands, producing short films, and performing live in the Chippewa Valley for almost 25 years. Davey J’s repertoire is vast and spans decades and genres. Songs will be featured from his six original music CDs: including 2020 Blue (2021) Chippewa Love (2015), Visions (2013), Hippie Child (2011), What is the Meaning of Parsley (2002), and Jones Tones Featuring Davey J (1998). Davey J’s performance style offers smooth, passionate delivery across the genres of folk, blues, rock, and reggae, driven by his one-of-a-kind, rhythmically fluid style of acoustic-electric guitar.
Closing out the night is Eggplant Heroes. This collaboration includes Duffy Duyfhuizen, Joel Pace, Olaf Lind, Max Garland, Lucas K. Fischer, and Dan Zerr. Blending multi-part harmonies with guitar, trumpet, violin, and bass, Eggplant Heroes present an eclectic mix of originals, literary adaptations, mountain gospel, and folk—Americana music in the full sense of the word. The bandleader, Duffy Duyfhuizen was born and raised in New York City and came to the Chippewa Valley in 1984 by way of Tulsa, Oklahoma. His musical influences include urban folk (Paul Simon), Jersey rock (Bruce Springsteen), and country folk (John Prine and Townes van Zandt).
Grab your friends and come enjoy an unforgettable day of music and community at the Rush River Folk Festival!
We’ll see you on Saturday, August 31st, from noon to dusk, for a free festival experience to be remembered.
Find more details on our website, follow the event on Facebook, and share with your friends!
