Cap summer outdoors with area music & arts-filled events
Though it just stopped raining, the arrival of August signals back-to-school season and shortened days. Montanans are all too familiar with the abbreviated summer season, but we’re not going to let that keep us down! There are still numerous family friendly, outdoor opportunities to enjoy live music and local arts in the sunshine. Here’s a look at some upcoming events.
Music on Main brings music-filled festivities to historic Downtown Bozeman on Thursday evenings from 6:30–8:30pm. Americana band Dead Winter Carpenters is next up on Aug. 1st, followed by the punk rock n’ roll soul of The Rad Trads on Aug. 8th. Outer Vibe will close out the series with their 90s pop, swagger rock and hip-hop on Aug. 15th. These concerts are FREE and also feature a “Kids’ Zone.”
Music in the Mountains has taken over Center Stage in Big Sky’s Town Center Park this summer. Also on Thursday nights, the park opens at 6pm with music starting at 7:15pm. Enjoy Grammy-nominated blues musician Marcia Ball on Aug. 1st before the North Carolina bluegrass of Town Mountain on Aug. 8th. Indie folk band Mt. Joy will perform on Aug. 15th. Food and beverage vendors are available at each of these FREE events.
The Sweet Pea Festival returns to Lindley Park Aug. 2nd–4th. The cultural gathering features performances by local theatre and dance troupes, workshops, family friendly entertainment, flower show, beer and wine garden featuring Montana microbrews, and countless craft vendors. Sweet Pea ‘19 will also see headlining sets by Colorado jam band Leftover Salmon, soul collective Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, and experimental folk/rock project Blitzen Trapper, among many others. All performances are included with wristband purchase.
Also Aug. 3rd–4th, the Summer SLAM Festival sets up in Bogert Park. In an effort to Support Local Artists and Musicians, the weekend of events brings a slew of featured artists, performers, culinary artisans, and statewide distillers. Festivalgoers will delight in the acoustic jazz of the Michelle Manzo Quartet, honky-tonk of Sam Platts & the Great Plainsmen, bluegrass stomp of Wes Urbaniak & the Mountain Folk, and Mountain-reggae, gypsy-infused soul of Cole & the Thornes, as well as a ‘Singer/Songwriter Power Hour’ and so much more.
Lunch on the Lawn continues on Wednesdays at the Emerson Center from 11:30am–1:30pm. This community event features live music, local food trucks, children’s activities, and area nonprofits. Upcoming performers include “vaguely folkish alterna-rock” trio Beat Deaf on Aug. 7th and Sparkle Bear and The Tingle Hoarders finishing off the series on Aug. 14th. Admission to these events is FREE.
Rockin’ the Rivers returns to The Bridge near Three Forks Aug. 8th–10th with legendary rock band Cheap Trick, mind-bending guitar shredder Zakk Sabbath, and Lou Gramm performing the hits of Foreigner. Also appearing are Florida-based rockers Nova Rex, Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute Whiskey River, and local favorites Pinky & the Floyd, and plenty more! Weekend and day passes are available for purchase on the event website.
The ninth annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival featuring special guests Angella Ahn, Jonathan Gunn and Dallas Brass will take place Aug. 9th–11th. Apart from a ticketed Warren Miller event on Friday, performances will take place at Town Center Park on Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 5pm. These outdoor shows are FREE and open to all. Food and beverage vendors will be available. See the Big Sky Arts Council’s website for detailed schedule of events.
The Moonlight MUSICFEST returns to Big Sky for its second annual event Aug. 16th–17th. The two-night mountain music extravaganza will feature the progressive bluegrass of Trampled by Turtles and Southern country rockers Blackberry Smoke, among others. Weekend and day passes are available for purchase on the event website.
The Music on the Green concert series showcases regional talent on select Sunday evenings on Bozeman Public Library’s Front Plaza from 5–7pm. Local stompgrass heroes Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs are next up on Aug. 18th. Pack a few blankets and a picnic! These family-friendly concerts are FREE for all to attend.
Further details about these awesome outdoor events can be found throughout this issue of The BoZone. •
