Venues
I used to maintain a word doc that I would email to artist that I couldn't book for my Bluff View House Concerts, and I never updated it since the pandemic. Recently Monica Austin, who knew about my love of attending live music events because I've recorded her a few times, asked if I could put together something again. My thought was to make it available in the blog so it was out there for everyone. Let's start off by using my Around Town playlist as reference, mainly because I'm curious about how many venues I've recorded music at... ha. Now many of these venues plan very far out, so this list is likely better for someone strategically planning 6-9 months in advance. If any artist wants me to add notes like, "Call them in Feb" let me know. Also I'm considering labeling venues below as LISTENING ROOM, COVERS Encouraged, EXPECT BAR noise, or HARD To get in SCHEDULE but worth it; but I don't want to offend any venue. You thoughts or other grading ideas would be appreciated.
La Crosse Area (all within 30 minutes of the Bluff View)
Trempealeau Hotel is special to us; a mere eight miles from our home so we make so many of the artist shows. They have fine tastes in music and vary where the musician plays from the bar, to the back room, to both inside and outside on the deck, and then there is the stage that has hosted many famous people that are pictured on the bar wall. Ask for Amy and tell her you've found the place through Dave; she knows I have great tastes in music too. Recently Amy has closed off the dining seating on the deck for a real listening room experience; but it's rare because the restaurant is incredible dining and needs the space too.
Now to get a feel of the experience and the ton of videos I've taken at the hotel, here's Cup of Joe on the deck Thursday before they played Larry Fest, Monica Austin smokin' on the deck at night, Luke Callen and friends on the outdoor stage, Kinda Fonda Wanda playing in the side room, and Kelly Hunt & Kelley Smith playing inside the bar.
A few years back the Sebranek family put in the efforts to restore an old dance hall behind the bar at Leo & Leona's, and now it's so special of a place. The door closes behind you from the bar, so the room is one raucous hall, or a listening area. Known as up on the ridge, LaCrosse people find the stop up quick, while we need a half hour to get there; and watch for deer and say hi to the folks. Like Terry who usually is at the door and books most of the shows. They book a lot, and vary in audience sizes. LaCrosse is awesome at showing up for people they know, so make friends. Like when Dan, Mary and my buddy Tim Kolek played a Brandi Carlisle and Jackson Browne tribute to a packed house.
A long time favorite of ours for music in the area, The Root Note is back and remodeled with more bookings again. While not real consistent, when they book it's a pretty innovative artist. It's in the center of downtown LaCrosse. Here are the Tennessee Stiffs playing the remodeled Root Note.
The Pump House Regional Arts Center has long been the premier listening room in LaCrosse. Great sound system, comfy chairs and again such a welcoming staff. Music schedule is set early and competes with many other innovative art, plays, and movie events. Of course I have to share the one live video from the Pump House that went sorta viral (31k views and 475 likes), The Wildwoods cover of Bob Dylan. Yes Noah tends to tell stories that I just love!
What a fun dance banquet hall, the Concordia Ballroom is setup to easily have more than a square dance or polka; but they don't actively maintain a schedule outside of dancing. They would love to book your concert like they did a few time for the Irish club in town. The board has even tried to push me to hold one of our house concerts there. Not yet; but they have planted the seed. We saw Maggie and Cassie there, and they were so much fun.
The Popcorn Tavern has a lot of history for being a great dive bar in LaCrosse, but recently they cleaned up the interior a bit. Still has a lot of charm, and not a better stage and seating arrangement. Known a little bit more for being more Indie Rock in their music selections; but a good folky like me finds reasons to go there. Here's a look at Fayme Rochelle playing the Popcorn and singing Loretta Lynn.
Right down the street from the Trempealeau Hotel is the Muddy Waters bar, and they've got a nice small outside stage; and I think they do music inside too. My friend Bill Poss and the leader of the Moccasin Creek Festival played there as he was passing through to South Dakota for a gig; and yes we hosted the weary travelers from IL too, have a watch.
Speaking of outside stages, Ecker's Apple Farm is the place to be every weekend starting late in August. They book great regional acoustic music and even some special days during the summer. Again, some more great people run the place, and their apple pie is legendary. Here's Luke Callen playing the orchard on the stage they added to really make it special.
Located downtown above the infamous "Pearl Street Ice Cream", the Grand Hotel Ballroom is a rentable space for album release shows. They don't usually book a series, but it's a great room. Historically the hotel is in space that was LaCrosse's brothel. Melissa McCarthy has done two album release shows there, here's a song from her Christmas EP.
Normally not a music venue but a great affordable movie place in LaCrosse, The Rivoli strutted it stuff as a possibility especially if you wanted a big screen behind you like Luke Callen did for his album release show. Frankly I'd love to see more shows there.
Onalaska's Moontunes equivalent happens at Dash Park on Tuesday, and it's called Great River Sound Again they tend to be regional artists, but they venture a little further out than Moontunes; plus it's smaller and more an acoustic setting. So many video to pick from but let's go with Mary and Dan's cover of Brandi Carlile's Hurricane.
Cappella Performing Arts Center is fairly new and taking shape in a remodeled church. It has two different rooms that concerts can be held, and the cafe sized one with a bar has also just established themselves as the Sweet Beats Jazz and Desert Lounge. I've attended a few events in that room that were rented out by organizations like the Great River Folk Fest. Here are the ladies of the LaCrosse Chamber Choir singing at the venue, yes there are angels in the house when they sing.
Eau Claire (about 90 minutes from the Bluff View)
Let's start off by saying when we were up there for Humbird's concert, we spoke to someone who said that they have put together a community calendar because there are so many venues having music. I'm scratching the surface in this town with the few I've attended; if I lived there the list would likely be as long or longer than the LaCrosse area. Great music passion in Eau Claire.
The Lakely is the cocktail lounge & grill inside the The Oxbox Hotel. We've stayed there one time, and we're going back in March. What a great hotel that I believe Bon Iver was the major investor. A turntable in everyroom, and a music library in the lobby for checking out if you didn't go buy your own vinyl at either Revival Records or Abraxas Wax. While their music lineup tends to be more regional, musicians should always give them a try they are artist friendly and might suggest other places to play; what a wonderful stage and mostly a listening crowd. We had a chance to see Songa play there.
The Pablo Center at the Confluence has three rooms for music, the RUC Theatre, the JMF Theatre, and a smaller "Manz Green Room" that holds just over 100 people for their 715 series. The first two times we visited the center it was for the 715 series. It's a great room and we saw Humbird do her Backyard Storytime there, and will be there in March of 2026 to see Amanda Pascali for the first time.
Alma WI (One hour north of Bluff View)
If you are looking for the next best thing to a house concert, Big River Theatre's new owners shook up the old theater with some couches and chairs near the front and shifted this into a great listening room, and now one of our favorite stops. Josh and Katie are just the most wonderful hosts, and that also comes from the artists that I have talked to who have played the venue. In looking back at the wonderful concerts we've seen there, I loved finally seeing both Kelly Hunt and Rough and Tumble for the first time ever there, and they were special nights.
Elkader IA (Just over 2 hours south of Bluff View
Ok, we've only made it one time to Turkey River Cabin Concerts, but we instantly knew it was a magical place. We had been told about it by the Weary Ramblers and Kelly Hunt, and I found where the series was hosting a songwriters retreat with so many musicians that I loved. I have a series of videos from the day, so let's link it to the only one of the six musicians that I didn't know before the show, Simon Cropp. It's so magical of a place that someone cooks up french fries to share, and on the way out a volunteer told us she's here all the time, and she drives an hour just to volunteer.
Winona, MN (just 35 minutes north of Bluff View)
Hurry Back Productions runs two series Highway 61 Concerts and Artist Next Door, both are wonderful; but the Artist one is more accessible for a medium size crowd (about 200); and my favorite of the two for the acts they book in a great listening room comparable in size to the Pump House. Recently we saw the Cactus Blossoms there.
Ok, even if you are just burning time in the area, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a must stop. You would never expect the elite painting that have in the building. They also have run a summer series that is a great outdoor experience relaxing down by the Mississippi. Of course with the number of places we've seen Humbird, this was one of them. Of course I got a video and I gave you a look at the audience and river too.
Viroqua (One hour south of Bluff View)
The Temple Theatre in Viroqua was renovated in the 90's and reopened in 2002. It a beautiful building and they get bigger names there. We actually have been to David Sedaris shows there so nothing shows up in my Around Town playlist.
Green Lake WI (2 1/2 Hours east of the Bluff View)
The Thrasher Opera House is really a cool venue (ok I say that a lot) in an old tourist town. Rumors have it the mob vacationed their from Chicago in the old days. We went to see Beth Bombara during the off season and had a great time and a cheap night at a ritzy hotel in town. We will be back.
Madison (2 1/2 Hours East of the Bluff View)
I really don't know much about the Lakeside St. Coffee House except I noted some good acoustic songwriters have played their venue and the pictures from the place really make you want to visit it.
Now I only have made this fun venue once to see Kelly Hunt and Sara Morgan, but I loved it and it wasn't the first time Kelly had played there. The Hamony Bar & Grill is setup so the music is on the other side of the bar, so it really got close to a listening room; and the establishment owners are musicians who have a great appreciation for the audience and the artist; plus great hamburgers too.
Mineral Point (2 1/2 hours south of Bluff View)
The Mineral Point Opera House again is a wonderfully restored gem in frankly the middle of nowhere. Ok some might point out it's only an hour from Madison; still when we thought about hotels in the area we really couldn't find one. Now I still love the place, and would drive it back and forth for an event I really want to see because they don't get closer. We saw a great Prine/Kristofferson/Goodman tribute called Chicago 1971 down there in Oct. 2024.
Manitowoc WI (4 hours east of the Bluff View)
My hometown has a really great micro-brewery to visit, PetSkull Brewing Co. and they have a great indoor and outdoor stage. We made a trip back home to visit and to surprise one of our all time favorite Wisconsin band, The Whiskeybelles.
Cedarburg (3 1/2 hours east of the Bluff View)
Speaking of the Whiskeybelles, we surprised them by showing up to their concert in Cedarburg too. The Cedarburg Cultural Center was doing their Dolly Parton birthday bash, and the Belles added a couple of Dolly's song to their set for the night. We were going over for a baby's one year birthday and had a super time hitting a vinyl record store and my niece's bar, The Foxhole Craft Beer Shop & Kitchen in Shorewood.
Sadly I've had to already weed out a few venues that have gone out of business, including The Main.
I'll keep updating venues I've visited in this page; but feel free to ask about any venue that shows up in my Around Town YouTube Videos.
