Arts Council kicks off mountainside music series in Big Sky
The Arts Council of Big Sky is pleased to announce another incredible summer of Music in the Mountains at Center Stage in Len Hill Park. Beginning June 23rd and running through September 8th, there will be 15 free events, including 12 Thursday night concerts, the annual fourth of July Celebration, the 11th annual Bravo! Big Sky Classical Music Festival and a performance from Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. All of these performances are free and open to the public.
“We’re excited for another summer of Music in the Mountains,” says Brian Hurlbut, the Arts Council’s Executive Director. “We think we have a great lineup and are looking forward showcasing these artists to our audience.”
The popular series will again present a variety of genres to appeal to all tastes. From blues to classical, Americana to funk and soul, this summer will surely be another memorable one in Big Sky. The full schedule includes Satsang with opening band Cole & the Thornes on June 23rd; Fireside Collective with Ian Thomas & Band of Drifters on June 30th.
The series continues in July with a special performance by The Tiny Band on the Fourth; Jeffrey Foucault with Wes Urbaniak & Mountain Folk on July 7th; New Orleans Suspects with One Leaf on July 14th; Chancey Williams with Sam Platts & the Plainsmen on July 21st; Will Hoge with Peter King on July 28th; Southern Avenue with Dammit Lauren! on August 4th; Tommy Castro & the Painkillers with the Madeleine Hawthorne Band on August 11th; Caitlin Krisko & the Broadcast with Amanda Stewart on August 18th; The Nth Power with Jennifer Hartswick and the Vibe Quartet on August 25th; The Last Revel with Moonlight Moonlight September 1st; and Pinky & the Floyd to close out the season on September 8th.
In addition, the 11th annual Bravo! Big Sky Music Festival, with special guests Abigail Kent and the Rhythm Future Quartet, will take place August 5th and 6th. A free performance of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will take place in the Town Center Plaza on August 8th, and the sixth annual Mountainfilm in Big Sky event caps the summer September 9th–11th.
The family friendly events take place at Center Stage in Len Hill Park, one of the best outdoor venues in the state, right in the heart of Big Sky. The park opens at 6pm each week, and there will be food and beverage vendors (including alcohol) and a free arts activity tent for kids. Music typically starts at 6:30pm with an opening band but please check the Arts Council website for more details on these events. These free community concerts have been a staple in Big Sky for nearly 15 years, and this summer should add to a lengthy list of established artists that have thrilled Big Sky audiences every week.
New for this summer will be the Emerging Artist Series, presented by the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, which will showcase a local or regional band as an opening act for each concert. The series is designed to highlight the amazing talent from right here in Montana. In addition, the Arts Council is committed to making the concert series tobacco free. In partnership with Bozeman Health and the Big Sky Community Organization, this will be a focus of making this event safe and accessible for everyone by discouraging smoking.
For more information on the summer lineup and to check out what other events the Arts Council has going on, please visit www.bigskyarts.org. •