The Hunky Dory, Eau Claire

06/08/2026

Thank you, everyone, for contributing to the potluck last night. Can anyone help us avoid this tantrum? Thanks!

05/30/2026

One week from tonight we welcome KATE VARGAS to the Hunky Dory stage!

* 5 SEATS AVAILABLE - Show is sold out, but 5 buyers can no longer attend and would love if somebody could take their places. Send Venmo or PayPal ($30 each) to reserve. Message us if you have questions.

* BONUS: The August 29 artist will be announced at the show and attendee pre-pre-sale will begin.

Doors open and potluck begins at 6:00. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE CHAIRS OR BLANKETS BEFORE 6:00. We'll provide Italian beef sandwiches, along with some hors d'oeuvres beer and wine. Feel free to bring summer picnic-style salads and sides - or whatever you want! Reminder that if you bring your own chairs, make sure they're modestly-sized so we can fit people comfortably on the hill. Thanks!

Here is the custom show poster for our Hunky Dory Wall of Fame. If you'd like your own copy of this 11x17 poster (all proceeds going to the musicians), please Venmo or PayPal $5 (by Tuesday at 5:00) through the normal Hunky Dory channels. We'll have the posters for you at the show, where I'm sure the band will be happy to sign them for you.

*Who: KATE VARGAS (trio, featuring Eric McFadden)
*When: Saturday, June 6
*Doors: 6:00 pm
*Potluck: 6:00 pm
*Music: 7-9ish pm; Two 45-minute sets with a 30-minute intermission

*Inclement Weather Policy - If there's light rain we'll play on. Please bring rain-appropriate attire and modest umbrellas if it looks like rain. If the weather gets dangerous, we will have to move the show inside the house. We should have let you know when you reserved which group you were. If the weather's iffy and you're not sure, just message us.
--Group 1: The first 50 of you to have reserved seats are in Group 1. That means that you will be able to see the show even in the event dangerous weather forces the show indoors.
--Group 2: After the first 50, reservations are made in Group 2, which means that if dangerous weather forces the show indoors we'll have to refund your reservation because we can't fit everyone inside the house.
*Food & Drink - The typically awesome Hunky Dory potluck starts at 6! We'll provide Italian beef sandwiches, some hors d'oeuvres, and some wine and beer. If your tastes are more refined, feel free to BYO.
*Viewing - The backyard has two viewing areas – one right in front of the band at ground/patio level, and one in the grass lawn and mulch above the boulder wall. Seats are first-come-first-served. This sold-out show will be full, so get there early if you want to get your favorite spot.
*Seating - We’ll provide some stools and chairs on the lower level, but consider bringing modest-sized camp chairs to sit in, or blankets for sitting on the mulch.
*There’s a lot of foliage (annuals, perennials, etc.) near the patio. Please be respectful and careful around the greenery.
*We encourage you to bring some cash for tees, CDs, LPs, etc! As always, we'll provide an optional tip jar if you want to help more but don't need one more band t-shirt!
*There are very few street parking spots in front of our house. There are many on Princeton Ave, though, at the bottom of our little cul de sac.
*If you still (or again) need the address - or have any other questions - please message us!

05/06/2026

You did it again! Both of our first two shows are now sold out!

BUT WAIT! We do have 3 seats available for Kate Vargas on June 6 from people who can no longer make it. Send Venmo/Paypal for 1-3 of those (or 4, if you need) and we'll transfer the reservations to you.

04/30/2026

ONLY 7 SEATS LEFT for Nathan Graham on July 25!

According to AI, if we sell out this show (which, unfortunately, coincides with the wonderful Eaux Claires festival) we get to take one of Bon Iver's Grammy awards as our own. I want the one Justin didn't bite. (I still need to confirm this with the Recording Academy.)

04/28/2026

Show #36 Announcement
Nathan Graham (trio-ish show)
Saturday, July 25 || 7:00 p.m. || $30
The Hunky Dory - outdoor show

*** THERE ARE FEWER THAN 15 SEATS REMAINING ***

Hey, friends! We're really excited to share that our second 2026 artist will be Chicago singer-songwriter, Nathan Graham, who will bring his bluesy Americana, fiery guitar skills, and soulful voice delivering heartfelt lyrics to our backyard on Saturday, July 25! We were able to catch Nathan at the American Music Festival in Chicago and Mile of Music in Appleton, and he's been a crowd favorite both times with a great live show! We haven't nailed down the exact combo yet, but this will probably be a 3-4 piece band show. Cannot wait!

Please get your reservations in and then check out this excellent video for the title track off his 2023 album, Somebody Else.
https://youtu.be/VCJ1ctup2F8?si=cwth3Rof9uJooGcD

RESERVATIONS: $30/person, in advance
* Venmo (0295) or
* PayPal to [email protected]

WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 2026; Doors/Cocktail Hour at 6:00; Live music approx. 7:00 - 9:00.

WHERE: The Hunky Dory, Eau Claire WI (We’re in Princeton Valley - address will be sent upon paid reservation.)

INFO:
* This will be an outdoor show. Only in the case of dangerous weather will we move it inside. The first 50 reservations (Group 1) will be able to attend if we're inside. Reservations after the first 50 (Group 2) will be refunded if we're forced inside.
* As always, we'll have an epic potluck. We'll provide some heavy hors d’oeuvres and some beer & wine. As usual, you’re welcome to bring your own refreshments if you prefer.
* We're sure Nathan will have stellar music, t-shirts, etc. for sale at the show, and artist donations are very much appreciated.

776 likes, 10 comments. "Nathan Graham - "Somebody Else""

04/23/2026

HUNKY DORY COMMUNITY APPRECIATION POST!
Folks - I don't know if you knew this, but you are awesome. Out of the last 555 seats available (covering our last 9 shows - or 2+ years) all but FIVE of those seats have been reserved!

As our primary goal has always been to bring attention (and modest riches) to artists we love, we couldn't be happier with this community's willingness to show up and support those artists with their attendance, attention, and merch-buying. And y'all bring food to boot!

Thank you for continuing to keep this silly hobby afloat! See you in June for the sold out Kate Vargas show (waitlist spots available)!

04/22/2026

Dearest Hunky Dorians - Please watch your email this Sunday for the July 25 artist announcement and the kickoff of the email list pre-sale! Get your reservations right away, before it sells out.

Meanwhile, Kate Vargas on June 6 has room at the top of the wait list. We almost always have reservation-holders who have to cancel and are looking for someone to take their places, so the top of the wait list almost always gets in.

04/09/2026

Hey folks - The June 6 Kate Vargas show is officially sold out! We will continue to take names for a waitlist - which we often have room for. Let me know if you want on the list and for how many.

I love this community's insatiable appetite for good music and a good time! As a reward here are Kate and Eric McFadden on a Tom Waits cover. SEE YOU IN JUNE!

Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas cover Tom Waits' "Chocolate Jesus" at Okey Doke Studios in San Rafael, CA.www.ericmcfadden.comwww.katevargas.com

01/17/2026

JANUARY 17, 2020
Our friends CHICKEN WIRE EMPIRE made their second Hunky Dory appearance (The Empire Strikes Back) on a super-snowy Friday night six years ago, and they damn near melted all the snow. I think this ended up being a 2-hour show

This is also the night I learned that when a dreadlocked musician hands you two chocolate chip cookies, you should not eat BOTH of them because the special ingredient will knock you out at 2 in the morning, while the band is still jamming in your living room. CWE taught me life lessons.

01/02/2026

Black Rocks Amphitheatre is almost ready for our first show on June 6. 😄 Meanwhile, if you haven't already taken our brief survey please help us out and do so now - survey link in first comment. Happy New Year!