Eau Claire (Wisconsin)

Bowerbirds

Radiohead, The Black Keys, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg to headline Coachella

​After quite a bit of speculation (and many customary fake announcements), the lineup for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival was released yesterday, with the Black Keys, Radiohead, and Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg serving as the headliners. The massive music festival, held each spring on the Emp ... More >>

Bon Iver will play first Eau Claire shows since 2008 this December

Photo by Ben Clark​Though he still calls Eau Claire home, Justin Vernon has been reluctant to perform many shows in his much-written-about hometown since his band Bon Iver achieved worldwide recognition. It turns out he was just waiting for the right time: On December 12 and 13, as somewhat of a h ... More >>

Megafaun's evolution examined in this week's City Pages

​The three musicians of Megafaun hardly need an introduction around these parts. In addition to being familiar faces in the live formation of Gayngs, brothers Phil and Brad Cook and Joe Westerlund have a long history with fellow Eau Claire native Justin Vernon, having formed Megafaun immediately f ... More >>

The Daredevil Christopher Wright releases new EP in advance of First Ave. show Friday

Courtesy of the Daredevil Christopher Wright​There must be something in the water out there in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Justin Vernon has seen his popularity skyrocket recently coming off the release of his sophomore effort Bon Iver, Bon Iver, an album chock full of layered falsetto and choirboy ... More >>

Clearwater Beer Festival in Altoona, Wisconsin: An easy beer road trip

Clearwater Beer Festival offers an alternative to sold-out local fests​Didn't get tickets to tomorrow's Surlyfest? Missed out on Summit's silver anniversary tickets too? Maybe you're just looking to get out of town. Well, beer fans, don't despair. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has a beer festival opp ... More >>

Bon Iver isn't afraid to be beautiful

Justin Vernon is headed for the mainstream with his new LP

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 16

​It's been a couple weeks since my last entry and in that time, I've been less of a musician and more of a doting uncle, or a mediocre but proud best man, or a sleep walking kamikaze.  Hopefully that will all make sense if you read this.

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 14

​Chicago deep dish pizza!!!!!!  That's basically all my brain had been able to think about for about two weeks before I played in Chicago.  I got into town, and immediately found a place to get some.  I ate three pieces and then I almost exploded.

Shanghai Bistro coming to Stillwater

Henry Chan continues to expand his east metro sushi empire. ​On the heels of the Kitchen's closure, the Pioneer Press reports that restaurateur Harry Chan is planning to open another Shanghai Bistro in its place. The site is in Stillwater's Grand Garage building and is known for its spacious p ... More >>

S. Carey and the Daredevil Christopher Wright at the Varsity Theater, 01/14/11

Photos by Stacy Schwartz - click for slideshow​S. Carey w/the Daredevil Christopher WrightJanuary 14, 2011Varsity TheaterTwo bands from Eau Claire, Wisconsin played what felt more like a local show at the Varsity Theater on Friday night, as both S. Carey and the Daredevil Christopher Wright were m ... More >>

S. Carey

Photos by Stacy Schwartz - click for slideshow​S. Carey w/the Daredevil Christopher WrightJanuary 14, 2011Varsity TheaterTwo bands from Eau Claire, Wisconsin played what felt more like a local show at the Varsity Theater on Friday night, as both S. Carey and the Daredevil Christopher Wright were m ... More >>

Andrew Larson sentenced after toy gun bank robbery

jontintinjordanCaption​The second of two Wisconsin men who hatched the brilliant idea of robbing a Maplewood bank with a toy gun is going to prison for five years. Andrew J. Larson, 24, of Eau Claire, was sentenced on Monday in federal court.

Laarks

jontintinjordanCaption​The second of two Wisconsin men who hatched the brilliant idea of robbing a Maplewood bank with a toy gun is going to prison for five years. Andrew J. Larson, 24, of Eau Claire, was sentenced on Monday in federal court.

Blizzard snow totals in the Twin Cities

A blizzard's just another excuse to play in the snow.​Congratulations. You survived Snowmageddon. We've listed the Top 20 snowfall totals for the Twin Cities area below. Now you need to shovel out the car and pay attention to the Snow Emergency parking rules (we're on Day 2). Stay warm.

Gayngs and Glasser perform for City of Music

Photos by Kevin O'Meara​As we told you about yesterday, MPLS.TV had a special opportunity to hang with Gayngs as they prepared for their tour this week, and we're excited to present a bonus edition of our City of Music series today. The band departs from Eau Claire today for their first show in Mi ... More >>

Southern Minnesota is floating away [UPDATE]

Photo: Ruin RaiderIt's wet in Minneapolis. But it's wetter down south.​Update: Gov. Tim Pawlenty has activated the National Guard. Details after the jump. Update: An island in Wisconsin is now floating away. Video after the jump. We here in the Twin Cities are grousing about another day of r ... More >>

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 2

​It's hard to know what sort of person I need to be to survive socially when in a new place. Is it important to be super duper extroverted? Maybe...but sometimes I can appear to be a little nuttso buttso when I'm like that. But if I don't take initiative to talk to folks and make friends, I'm just ... More >>

We Are the Willows tour diary, Vol. 1

​Greetings and Salutations,My name is Peter Michael Miller.  I write music under the name We Are The Willows.  I released an album on an Eau Claire, WI record label called Amble Down Records last November.  Since then I'd been doing small tours and had been working full time for Twi ... More >>

Song Xiong admits to shackling special-needs son

In the clear light of day, it turns out chaining your special needs son to a pole isn't a good idea after all​Song Xiong has got to be feeling the burn of karma: Last year, the Wisconsin man got caught trying to punish his special-needs son by locking him up in the basement of their Eau Claire ... More >>

Daredevil Christopher Wright, 'Stewardess'

The Daredevil Christopher Wright - "Stewardess" - official video - Sophie's cut from franck annese on Vimeo.Off of the Eau Claire band's 2009 debut, In Deference To A Broken Back. Read our interview with the band here.

Beer News!

​ ~Per their Facebook page, Town Hall Brewery has signed a lease for a second location at 48th and Chicago and are working on a fall opening. Located right by Cafe Levain, Ba-Gu, The Parkway Theater, Pepito's, Town Hall will add an extra eclectic element to the already hopping area. Plus, their ... More >>

Country Festivals: Decorate your RV! Win a John Deere!

Your guide to the hottest, the sweatiest, the smelliest country music festivals this summer. Somebody grab the cooler.

Ben Ivascu on crushing the drums: Nine bands, no waiting

Photo by Erik Hess​"Ben is kind of The Dude....he's a maniac and he holds it down so hard." High praise from Stef Leron "POS" Alexander, but drummer Ben Ivascu lives up to the hype every single time he plays. And chances are that he's playing right now. In a set of cities blessed with some o ... More >>

Q&A: Megafaun's Brad Cook

Eau Claire transplant discusses band's Minneapolis "homecoming"

FAA releases Northwest Flight 188 audio and transcripts

"We got distracted," is how the cockpit crew described blowing 150 miles past their scheduled destination.

Wis. parents tied up disabled son, dad beat him, police say

Authorities say a 21-year-old developmentally disabled Eau Claire man had been chained in his mother's basement and beaten on multiple occasions with boxing gloves and wooden sticks.

Banks: Wis. thieves, leave your disguise at home

"Point Break"-style robberies will never have the edge again.

Eau Claire quartet Laarks walk fine line between regal and ragged

An Exaltation of Laarks strikes a tough balance

In Defence

An Exaltation of Laarks strikes a tough balance

Bowerbirds, Megafaun

An Exaltation of Laarks strikes a tough balance

Only in Wisconsin: Blind man sees, gets busted for exposing his junk

After God gave him his sight back, did he also give him the gift of penis flashing?

Freeloader Friday: June 26-28

Nothing in life is free. Except this weekend event list.

The Daredevil Christopher Wright make Christian rock listenable again

The Eau Claire natives get spiritual on their indie pop debut

Jealousy: Wisconsin man bites off part of rival's ear and lip

We've got Mike Tyson-style human chomping, men soliciting underage girls online, fish and weed smugglers, and a whole lot of sex addictions. It's all right across the border in the cheese state.

River ice joy ride ends in citations for UW students

The students said they had a plan in case one of them fell in. Smart right?

Mom goes to mental facility after impersonating her cheerleader teen

Poking fun at Wisconsin makes our muscles feel bigger and our pants tighter. It's all about self-confidence folks.

Child-porn-loving man had Wetterling obsession, Amber Alert for old people

Happy New Year! Wisconsin is still full of creepy weird people. We miss Y2K.

December 2008 14th-snowiest on record

Someone stole baby Jesus, safe rides donor busted for drunk driving

Wild week in Wisconsin. We've got baby Jesus snatchers, guys filming their naked girlfriends and Amish farmers being charged for ... More >>

What's Wrong with Wisconsin?

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving week without some amazing Wisconsin news.

What's Wrong with Wisconsin?

There are so many things wrong with Wisconsin that we get to write about it again this week.

Cataldo

There are so many things wrong with Wisconsin that we get to write about it again this week.

Bent, Dent and Cheap

There are so many things wrong with Wisconsin that we get to write about it again this week.

M.O.D.

There are so many things wrong with Wisconsin that we get to write about it again this week.

Local vets advocate wheels across America

There are so many things wrong with Wisconsin that we get to write about it again this week.

Culinary Alchemy

A Minneapolis Woman Transforms Humble Vinegar Into Liquid Gold

The Intentional Tourist

Teaching our children to notice and honor our natural surroundings

Infield Fly Rule

A scrappy little league pitches its last run

Punk, Road Trip, Landing Gear and Web Radio

A scrappy little league pitches its last run