For over 20 years, the Concerts in the Clouds series has breathed acoustic chords into the complex rock formations and thick forests atop Rib Mountain State Park. The serene escape is a unique perspective the organizers, Friends of Rib Mountain State Park, offer not just of Wausau, but of how surrounding nature can transform live music into an experience.
“It’s the most beautiful venue around,” Concerts in the Clouds coordinator Kevin Keeffe said. “Where else can you see the clouds and the landscape off in the distance like that? ... As you’re watching the band, you see traffic on the roads, you see what’s going on in town because we’re 700 feet above the surrounding area. Over to the right, you might see kids climbing on rocks — in fact, you will. Over on the left, there’s a grassy area where a lot of people have their picnic spread out and are just very relaxed. The music carries up; it’s kind of a natural bowl, the amphitheater, and you can hear the music anywhere quite well. We keep it low-key, and it always has a nice, warm vibe.”
This concert experience offered by the Concerts in the Clouds series occurs only three times per summer, with each concert spaced three weeks apart: June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8. The concerts feature easy-going folk music and the upcoming June 27 gathering will highlight singer-songwriter Sam Ness.
“[Sam Ness] has been playing professionally since he was 16 years old,” WXPR radio host Tim Murphy said. “He lives in Sauk City, Wisconsin, just west of Madison. He was nominated for the Madison Male Songwriter Hall of Fame and won it five years in a row, to the point where they finally kept his name off the competition sheet just to give someone else a chance!”
To make these accomplishments and his one-man operation possible, Ness uses a soundboard at his feet to build up his rhythms. Once those rhythms are established, all that is left is connecting with the audience.
“He can hit the body of his guitar to create drum beats, run his vocals into a chorus and create loops,” Murphy said. “He shows a lot of emotion. He loves nature and he talks about it, but he also is very personal and emotional about relationships and a bit of despair, you know? He recorded an album called ‘The Cabin,’ and it’s really down to earth, and he really lets you inside of his mind and his heart.”
Just recently, Ness came in contact with the talent agency that represents Bruce Springsteen and Ariana Grande with hopes to have him as the opening act for Hozier on a nationwide tour. With such talent at Concerts in the Clouds, it’s not just locals that make their way up to the amphitheater.
“We do get a fair number of people who come here from surrounding areas,” Keeffe said. “They visit, maybe come down and have dinner, watch the concert. The concerts are not late, so they’re a good opportunity to combine with other activities in town — shopping, having dinner, maybe staying overnight ... We feel we offer a little bit of a different opportunity than the kind of music that might be offered elsewhere.”
The June evening will also include the Marathon County Farm Federation, which comes to the concert and offers free ice cream in celebration of June Dairy Month.
“People enjoy the free treats, and it just creates a camaraderie that kind of carries on through the concert series,” Keeffe said. “It’s a real friendly atmosphere, and that’s a big part of it.”
Sam Ness is set to take the Rib Mountain State Park amphitheater stage at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. On July 18, the gypsy jazz group Harmonious Wail will perform, and on Aug. 8, Junkyard Mule will perform traditional bluegrass, old-time covers and original songs. There is no admission cost for the concerts, but a daily or annual park admission pass is required. More information can be found at ribmountain.org/events.
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