10th Annual Rush River Folk Festival at Vino in the Valley
Music fans and others who love outdoor events in Wisconsin will assemble in Maiden Rock for the 10th Annual Rush River Folk Festival at Vino in the Valley. For 10 years, a collaboration between Vino and the Valley and Davey J has been enjoyed by music fans in Western Wisconsin, Eastern Minnesota, and beyond! Taking place on September 2nd, 2023, check out this lineup!
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
12pm (noon) Vino in the Valley opens to guests:
Lucas Fischer and Billy Angell: 1 – 2:30 pm
Garden Party: 3 – 4:30 pm
Paul Lawrence and Lucas Fisher: 5 – 6:30 pm
Davey J and Jen Hazen: 7 – 8:30 pm
We enjoy hosting this event each year. As in the past you can count on great food, local and regional wines and craft beer, and some awesome musical vibes! The Rush River Folk Festival is the perfect event to bring summer to a close and kick off the last holiday weekend of the summer season.
There is no cover charge for admission. Families, couples, groups, and new visitors are all welcome to attend the event. You’ll find our facility is easily accessible by car or motorcycle, with plenty of parking.
Now, let us share about the musical talent featured at this year’s event…
The headlining musical act is Davey J (David Jones), the founder of the Rush River Folk Festival. Davey J (David Jones) is a well-loved veteran performer in Western Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley, writing songs, leading bands, and performing live across our region for almost 25 years. Jen Hazen is Davey’s primary singing partner in the area, an energetic and experienced stage performer with Jenny and the Jets and Weapons of Brass Destruction, along with her great performances with Davey J. Songs will be featured from Davey’s most recent CD recording, 2020 Blue (2021), his hit CD Chippewa Love (2015), and other originals and well-known songs. Davey J and Jen Hazen give the crowd versatility and smooth, passionate delivery across the genres of folk, blues, rock, and reggae, driven by Davey J’s signature rhythmic style of acoustic-electric guitar.
Leading off the festival is Lucas Fischer and Billy Angell, both well-established musicians in Western Wisconsin. 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. Billy Angell is a keyboard player with a virtuoso style, heard in JT’s Party Band, Jenny and the Jets, and other stage performers in our region. He is always in demand for session playing because of his skill in the genres of rock, blues, and jazz!
At 3 pm, Garden Party will take the stage in their first appearance at Rush River. They are a trio who originally met as players in the Ukelele 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.
At 5 pm, blues and folk performer Paul Lawrence joins the Rush River lineup for the first time. Lucas Fischer will provide melodic support on acoustic and electric guitar. Paul is a Minnesota-based singer/songwriter from Minnesota. He plays original folk-country-blues with versatility and depth of feeling. He is recognized across the region for the quality of his performances, as mentioned in the media coverage below of his sound:
“Paul Lawrence has an earnestness and simplicity in his sound that is so refreshing! Moments come to life through his storytelling and you just want more.” – Jeni Holtan Grouws, 100.5 FM, KDEC, Decorah, IA
The 10th annual Rush River Folk Festival will provide an awesome day of music, food, and friends. Please join us on Saturday, September 2, 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!
Exciting News! All Inclusive Package Adventures!
We are thrilled to share a new partnership with our good friends from:
- Margo+Lola
- Prescott Luxury Transportation
- Port of Prescott Hotel
Get ready to embark on a one-of-kind adventure. Four of Western Wisconsin’s leading businesses have united to create an all-inclusive experience that will redefine the way you explore the great outdoors. From luxurious transportation and exceptional hotel accommodations to an exclusive flyfishing adventure and mouthwatering gourmet cuisine, this partnership has a unique focus on delivering an unforgettable outdoor experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Pack your bags for an incredible journey and get ready to discover a world of excitement and adventure! Call/text 715-600-2683 with questions, or visit their website HERE to see their list of packages and full details.
Celebrate Mother’s Day at Vino in the Valley
Moms…we love them (and really, we wouldn’t be here without them!). And, as we like to joke, we’re all the reason that they drink. So bring your mom down to Vino in the Valley to celebrate her day in a special way!
Join us this Sunday, May 8, from 11–5 pm (get your reservations in now for groups of 10 or more… they’re going fast!). For Mom, we’ve got free flowers and a free glass of house wine (or dessert if they don’t drink). Plus, a $10 gift card for a future trip to Vino!
Enjoy music by the Karina Kern Duo, and tractor-pulled wagon rides.
Sounds like the makings of a great time! Come on down, sip on a glass of wine, and enjoy some great fun and entertainment with Mom. She’ll love you for it!
Now Open for the 2022 Season!
It’s been a cold winter and a crummy spring – I know we’re all itchy to get back outside and enjoy some great food, wine, and good times. Just in time for the start of our season, the weather looks to be finally turning around!
This weekend, we kick off our 16th season! Can you believe that?! 16 years!
Thursdays: 5-10pm (sorry, no Steak Night at this point due to an insane increase in prices)
Fridays: 5-10pm
Saturdays: 3-10pm (patio bar opens at 1pm)
Sundays: 11am-5pm (buffet and brick oven specialties)
And what’s new this year…Bloody Marys will be available each and every Sunday this season! Featuring Trumies award-winning Vodka (Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co.) and Nan’s Naughty And Nice Bloody Mary Mix (Hudson, WI) served with our own Vino Antipasto Skewer!
We hope to see you soon!
Now Hiring! A Note from Larry
Hi Folks,
We’re getting ready for our 2022 season and looking forward to welcoming you back to Vino in the Valley beginning May 5 (that’s Mother’s Day Weekend–get that date on your calendar!).
Part of our prep for a great season is recruiting an awesome team who will guarantee you the best time when you visit! People tell me that might be tough this year because of a tight labor market. I hear them but I also know that a job at Vino in the Valley isn’t like any other job out there. I wanted to share what makes working with us unique in case you or someone you know would be interested in joining our team this year.
We think of Vino in the Valley as a place where you can work and grow. We love to mentor young people in their first jobs, give college students time in the summer for work and for fun, offer moms and dads a change of pace and opportunity to earn extra family income, and give retired folks a way to get out and socialize and supplement their retirement.
The #1 qualification we look for in a candidate is a positive attitude. Next is work ethic. We can train on the rest, and to us, there’s nothing better than to see eager team members grow in their roles here. The more you learn and advance, the more you’ll earn, too.
Those working in the restaurant or foodservice industry, we value your experience. If you’re looking for an exciting new change, give us the opportunity to meet you and make an offer that could possibly match or beat your current job!
If you love being social, meeting new people, and hearing their stories, being a server, host, bartender, or table runner will be like a vacation for you! Our guests visit from all over the region (and sometimes from further away). They are the greatest and come to have fun. You’ll meet some interesting characters and make new friends!
If you’re more of a behind-the-scenes person, that’s perfect for our cook, kitchen, and pizza maker positions. You get to work with a great team, make delicious food, and learn how to work our pizza ovens!
With today’s schedules, flexibility is important. You pick your own hours every week and every month. We will work around your vacations, family functions, school, and even other jobs. Work as much as you would like or as little as a few days a month.
Did I mention our staff gets employee discounts on food, beverages, and in the gift shop? How’s that for a bonus?!
And all this in the most amazing work environment that includes fresh air, sunny days, and million-dollar views!
Of course, you’ll find all the details on our website, along with a short pre-application form if you’re interested in getting the application process rolling. And please forward this along to your friends, family, and neighbors so we can meet them, too!
Thank you for being such a supporter of Vino in the Valley. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Larry
The 7th Annual Rush River Folk Festival returns to Vino in the Valley
The 7th Annual Rush River Folk Festival will take place at Vino in the Valley, Maiden Rock, WI, on Saturday, September 5. Three regional musical acts will provide two-hour outdoor concerts during the event, with tasty Italian food, wine, and other beverages available for enjoyment.
Vino in the Valley hosts 10th Annual “Taste of Tuscany” Event
Once again we’re thrilled to be hosting the Ellsworth Community School District Foundation’s annual fundraising event, “Taste of Tuscany”. The event, which will be held at Vino in the Valley on Friday, May 31, 2019, supports the Foundation in their mission to enhance educational opportunities within our community using private revenues. In a time of ever-tightening budgets, supporting this great cause has become more important than ever.
Social Hour begins at 4:30pm with the event officially kicking off at 5:00pm. Attendees will enjoy the music, an art exhibit, wine tasting, silent auction, and of course, great wine and a delicious dinner buffet. Tickets are $35 and available at Vino in the Valley, Ellsworth School District Office, Nilssen’s Foods, and from Foundation board members.
We not only wish to encourage you to purchase your tickets and attend this worthwhile event, but also want to be sure all our guests are aware that due to this event, general seating will not begin until 8:00pm on Friday, May 31. Our outdoor bar, Bella Sera, will be open beginning at 5:00 pm if guests would like to come down to enjoy some wine, music, wagon rides, and the grounds until seating begins; although you’re always welcome to purchase a ticket to the event on the spot and join us! Your help in spreading the word to your friends and neighbors is always appreciated. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.