Polyrhythmics, Shovels & Rope live from Big Sky’s Town Center Park
Another amazing summer of Music in the Mountains is well underway at Center Stage in Town Center Park. Running through August, numerous events will be featured, including the popular Thursday night concerts, eighth annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival and a performance from Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. And best of all, all of these events are FREE.
Polyrhythmics will entertain on Thursday, July 19th. Rich with bold brass and hypnotic percussion, the group’s latest album, Caldera, showcases the instrumental eight-piece’s impossibly tight grooves and virtuosic musicianship as they tear through a singular blend of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat. Calling to mind everything from Antibalas and the Dap-Kings to The Meters and Fela Kuti, it’s without a doubt their strongest work to date, merging the infectious power of their live show with a sleek and nuanced studio sophistication.
Charleston two-piece Shovels & Rope follow on Thursday, July 26th. The duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst doesn’t exactly fit into a standard genre mold. A mix of folk, rock and country, the focus of Shovels & Rope isn’t to adhere to one sound; rather, the duo’s intent is to create a quality sound regardless of genre. The two are able to create this blend of sound using just two worn guitars, a kick drum, a snare, some tambourines, harmonicas and the occasional keyboard. They’ve won two Americana Music Awards for Song of the Year (“Birmingham”) and Emerging Artist of the Year. Their latest single, “Great, America,” is available now.
Nashville group Cordovas kick off the last month of summer-proper on Thursday, August 2nd. Already cult favorites in Tennesse, the band has built honorary home bases across the globe, thanks to recurring shows in Todos Santos, Mexico – where ringleader Joe Firstman runs the yearly Tropic of Cancer Concert Series – and a touring schedule that recently included headlining gigs in Sweden and a stateside run alongside the Turnpike Troubadours. The band’s sound, though, is decidedly American. Caught halfway between Duane Allman’s Telecaster twang, the Dead’s hazy harmonies and the stoned swoon of California’s folk-rock heyday, Cordovas wring new life from older influences, hoisting their freak flag high on their upcoming album, That Santa Fe Channel. They were named one of “10 New Country Artists That You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone in 2017.
Additional weekly concerts are set to include The Elders on August 9th, Jeff Austin Band with special guests Two Bit Franks on August 16th, Dustbowl Revival on August 23rd, and Pinky & the Floyd on August 30th. In addition, the eighth annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival with special guests Angella Ahn, Bella Hristova and Time for Three, will take place August 10th–12th. A free performance of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will be at the park on July 31st, and the third annual Mountainfilm in Big Sky event caps the summer September 14th–16th.
Town Center park opens at 6pm for each concert, with the music starting at 7:15pm. There will be a variety of food and beverage vendors, as well as an arts activity tent for kids. Please be aware that NO dogs are allowed into the concert area. Please check the Arts Council of Big Sky website for additional details.
For more information about this summer’s events, contact the Arts Council at (406) 995-2742 or visit www.bigskyarts.org for further details. •
