It's summer in the Chippewa Valley, which can only mean one thing - Music Festivals.  There will be no Eaux Claires this summer, but that won't mean there's any shortage of music.  Two are coming up in the next few weeks, and they're some of my personal favorites.

The Blue Ox Music Festival runs June 13-15, bringing you some of the best in  Bluegrass and related genres. This year's lineup includes Pert Near Sandstone, Trampled by Turtles, The Del McCoury Band, and a whole lot more.

Wis.Community recently held a screening of the film Dark Money in Downsville. This film will be shown Monday, Oct. 1 on PBS stations nationwide (the first showing will be at 9 PM Monday night). The film will also become available for streaming after the national premiere. 

As you all know by now, Aretha Franklin  has left us. Many knew her as an angel of a performer, and sometimes a difficult and unpredictable person when off-stage. All that may be, but we are left with an amazing trove of performances, both as a singer and an under-rated piano player, whose subtle keyboard work was often the core of spectacular arrangements. She was a continual voice during my life, both as a singer and as a defender of everyone's rights.

The Pablo Center at the Confluence has announce the initial schedule for their opening season. The schedule includes a mix of local peformance groups, films, and performers brought in from far and wide. Highlights for me are likely to include Ailey II, Kate Lindsey and  Baptiste Trotignon, Cassel/Block, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. The complete Pablo schedule brochure is linked below.