Philville Records

12/08/2025

Thanks to everyone that came out to on Friday for the Jake Jendusa, and performance! Such a nice night of music and friendly folks. Big thanks to Dathan for everything he does to help support artists in Eau Claire.

12/02/2025

Open mic is back to the normal time again this week, Wednesday, December 3rd — thanks to everyone that came out early last week and hung out for the rocking Friendsgiving! Sign up is back at 6:30, open mic 7-10, BOGO draft beers for all performers — and dig this — come on down early for “Jolly Hour” (5-6 pm) all December for $2 off all drinks! See ya onstage 🤟🏻🔥🎸

11/26/2025

Yo! Open mic crew — we’re going EARLY today lol, 11/26 due to the big ole Friendsgiving that we’re part of — sign up is at 5:30 pm (full hour ahead), and open mic runs 6-8:30 — some really fun live music and good times happening after the open mic too — dig the full schedule of events on the poster, and see ya !

11/25/2025

Some more photos of the Kathryn Ryan record release party at the Lakely in Eau Claire on Saturday. I’ve had the pleasure of working on many albums over the years, so I want to say that this record is a special one — one of the best debut projects I’ve ever been a part of — seriously folks — please give this one a listen front to back — Kathryn Ryan is one hell of a songwriter!

Available to stream/purchase here: https://www.philvillerecords.com/kathrynryan

Secial thanks to Cheryl Frei for these lovely photos and clips too!

11/11/2025

Open mic is back this week at the The Lakely ! Your regular (and somehow also irregular) host is back -- 6:30 p.m. sign up, BOGO drafts for all performers, 7-10 p.m. See ya there!

11/10/2025

Excited to announce that the pre-sale for Kathryn Ryan's debut self title LP is now available! Check it out here (streaming clips of the record available) -- vinyl will ship on or before 11/21, and will include an autographed copy of the record, as well as a custom sticker & guitar pick designed by Kathryn -- this is a limited first pressing with beautiful design, custom marbled 140 gram vinyl, full lyrics and detailed liner notes -- snag a copy today or be sure to come out to her album release party at the The Lakely in Eau Claire on 11/22 -- going to be an amazing night of music with opening acts Affidavit, Emily V., and Wyatt Thomson (no cover, suggested donation or purchase a record 6-10 p.m.)

With a truly remarkable voice and an incredibly broad repertoire of original songwriting, Kathryn Ryan weaves through her debut LP with an ear and depth that will please fans of Fiona Apple, as well as fans of early alt country pioneers like Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.

11/09/2025

Congrats to Kenny Hotopp for this review in All Country News! Getting some love for the new EP --deservedly so.

"Kenny Hotopp has always had a knack for storytelling that lingers long after the song ends. With the release of his evocative new EP, Early Times, Hotopp invites listeners on a five-track journey that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant, a tapestry of Bluegrass, R&B, and Blues stitched together with warmth, honesty, and lyrical nuance."

Kenny Hotopp has always had a knack for storytelling that lingers long after the song ends. With the release of his evocative new EP, Early Times, Hotopp invites listeners on a five-track journey that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant, a tapestry of Bluegrass, R&B, and Blues stitch...

11/06/2025

Celebrating the release of Kenny Hotopp's latest EP (third release on Philville Records) --early times! It's available now on all streaming platforms as well as here: https://www.philvillerecords.com/kennyhotopp

Name your price for the download at Philville Records -- we know streaming services pay next to nothing -- so throw a few bucks his way and download the tunes from Philville!

Milwaukee, WI: November 6th 2025 --

Through every stylistic shift, there is a connective thread; a storyteller's voice rooted in lived experience, authenticity, and heart.

​Singer-songwriter Kenny Hotopp's third release with Philville Records, Early Times (EP), is a blend of Blues, Americana and R&B. The five-track collection explores themes of cherished memories, love, and resilience, reflecting Hotopp’s authentic storytelling and personal experiences.

​Produced by Matthew R. Sayles & Philville Records (Eau Claire, WI), Early Times draws on Americana and folk influences, appealing to fans of Jason Isbell, Ray LaMontagne, and Gregory Alan Isakov. Each track offers a distinct perspective and sound, from the uplifting Will Go On to the reflective Forever This Time, and the nostalgic and heavily bluegrass influenced title track Early Times. The EP concludes with Lost Track of Time, a beautifully romantic Stax/Motown records influenced R&B tribute to living in the moment.

​Tracks feature members of Kenny Hotopp's band (the Night Owls) as well as members of the Driftless Revelers (Ben Nelson & Jerod Kaszynski), with Kenny reinterpreting one of Ben Nelson's songs, Will Go On, with Kenny's own unique sound and a bridge section -- and featuring Ben on saxophone and telecaster. It's not a stretch to say this EP is both a synthesis of Kenny's earlier work and a benchmark of where he's heading musically.