Big Head Todd, Stephanie Quayle front 2018 Sweet Pea Festival
Live music enthusiasts are in for a truly fantastic weekend of stage entertainment with the 2018 return of the Sweet Pea Festival to Lindley Park, Friday through Sunday, August 3rd–5th. The event will feature headlining sets by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, THE MAIN SQUEEZE, and Stephanie Quayle, among many others. Here’s a look at this year’s performance slate.
Having played together for nearly three decades, Big Head Todd and the Monsters are touring in support of their 11th studio album, New World Arisin’, what might be the brashest rock n’ roll of their career. But if there’s a dominant musical motif, it’s “straight-up rock-pop,” says lead guitarist/singer Todd Mohr. That contemporary approach might come as a slight surprise to hardcore fans that saw the Monsters take a seriously rootsy turn in the last 10 years. With this album the blues take a back seat to the unapologetically mainstream instincts that had Big Head Todd going platinum in the mid-’90s with Sister Sweetly, the album that spawned the rock radio hits “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Bittersweet,” and “Circle.”
THE MAIN SQUEEZE is a blend of soul and hip-hop, funk with rock. They know their sound is soulful, powerful, and unique. Rolling Stone agrees in its critique of a live show, “Lead singer Corey Frye’s powerfully soulful vocals form the foundation of an energetic set.” These underpinnings are important yet The Main Squeeze’s true focus will always be to “strive to reach people” through their beat loving heart in their music. Billboard wrote, “Funk runs deep in their DNA. Dare you not to two-step.” The beats on their latest album, Without a Sound, are plentiful and balanced with emotion, a mix of vocals, and instrumentation of the band. Their vibe is simultaneously timeless and futuristic as they are inspired by the greats, yet have found a way to infuse their own genius into the mix. The Main Squeeze appeals to your head, heart and body.
Growing up on a working bison ranch in Montana, Stephanie Quayle spent much of her time out in the barn mucking horse stalls while listening to the local AM radio. Quayle’s 2016 Billboard Indicator Top 50 hit “Drinking With Dolly” served as homage to Country’s greatest female artists – Dolly, Tammy, Loretta and Patsy. Her latest single, “Selfish,” was named one of Rolling Stone Country’s “10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week,” describing the tune as, “Channeling Nineties country à la Martina McBride in ‘Selfish,’ a soulful mid-tempo tune about wanting a lover all to herself.” Both singles can be found on Quayle’s debut album, Love the Way You See Me, available now.
Also appearing will be Portland-born Dirty Revival. The group’s soulful sounds and energetic beats deliver an atmosphere that enraptures any audience. Led by the soulful vocals of Sarah Clarke, Dirty Revival has made their mark on the Pacific Northwest. The unique ensemble delivers powerful original tracks and superbly arranged classics with a resounding presence, no matter how big or small the venue. The dynamic, seven-piece soul outfit shines on stage, and defines influences from funk and soul-infused icons of the past. Dirty Revival’s self-titled debut album and new single “So Cold” are available now.
Sharing some fresh tunes from their newly released debut EP, On Second Thought, enjoy the sounds of Hawthorne Roots. The sister-fronted local Americana rock band brings a soulful and energetic performance to the stage, every lyric sung with passion and authenticity. The band’s music draws inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, Heart, and Sheryl Crow. Defined by their tightly woven harmonies and relentlessly catchy melodies, their “Revved-Up Soul Music” is a distinct and exciting addition to Montana’s scene.
The Moondoggies will perform selections from their new album, A Love Sleeps Deep. The collection rattles bones with all the seismic changes of the last five years since the release of Adios I’m a Ghost. While the Washington band got lumped in early on with the woodsy folk-rock/Americana movement that sprung up in the Pacific Northwest in the 2000s, their core sound has always been rock in the more classical sense – more Pink Floyd than Woody Guthrie.
Bozeman post-rock band RANGES collaborates with Raison D’être Dance Project in The Bowl. The performance, “Ranges in Motion,” is set to the band’s newest album, The Ascensionist. With a phenomenal cast of local dancers from Raison D’etre, the choreography reflects the album concept of how endeavors in life at one point can seem like attainable goals, but as you ascend towards the peak of success, there are innumerable false summits and obstacles. There is a constant realization of the true magnitude of the climb. This music/dance collaboration is unlike anything you have likely witnessed, so don’t miss experiencing some of the most creative forces of our local arts community.
If you missed NUCLASSICA on season 11 of America’s Got Talent, they’ll be at Sweet Pea with their unique style that combines pop and electronica with a diverse group of fiery hot, classically-trained violinists and a DJ. Their performances are captivating, high-energy and fun for the whole family.
Influenced by the contradiction of its progressive home and the surrounding rural southern landscapes, Mipso has been hailed as “hewing surprisingly close to gospel and folk while still sounding modern and secular” (Acoustic Guitar) and was recently recognized by Rolling Stone as an “Artist You Need to Know.” The band brings a distinctly unique sound – full of wistful beauty, hopeful undercurrents, and panoramic soundscapes. Venturing ever-further from its bluegrassy string-band pedigree to discover a broader Americana where classic folk-rock and modern alt-country sounds mingle easily with Appalachian tradition, Mipso’s music is lush and forward moving, with lyrics that sear and salve in turn. Their new album, Edges Run, is available now.
Bozeman-based singer/songwriter Mathias has been playing music under the big sky for nearly two decades. With powerful vocals and a percussive guitar style, he’s known for his dynamic live performances full of acoustic folk, rock, and funk tunes. Mathias recorded his debut album, Walk Alone, with the help of Emmy Award-winning producer Jeremiah Slovarp.
For fans of Josh Ritter, The Tallest Man on Earth, and Ryan Bingham, a musical kinship can be found in the work of Dane Andrew Thompsen. He’s been writing music for more than a decade, learning to hone his introspective lyrics, hard-driving guitar lines and vocal chords that can reach the rafters in his home town of Pullman, Washington. Now residing in Bozeman, this lifelong student of lyrical expression has been active in local music circles for five years, entertaining crowds in coffee shops and dive bars.
Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs will also take the stage. The Bird Dogs’ live shows are highlighted by unbridled energy, punctuated by songs performed with fervor and swagger. Fusing old time folk songs with a rock n’ roll attitude, the group push the envelope of what a string band would generally be described as. Having shared stages with Corb Lund, Hayes Carll, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Mavericks, Wynonna Judd, Mark Chesnutt, and The Lil’ Smokies, they released their eponymous debut in the spring of 2016. Recorded live at Basecamp Studio, the album is one that reflects their live show and makes you want to stomp your feet and crack open a beer. Their latest album, The Vigilante Session, released in October.
Proudly independent since their formation, The Black Lillies are always pushing forward and evolving, letting the inspiration and music take focus. That drive has led them to become one of Americana’s biggest success stories: an internationally-renowned band of roots-rockers, armed with songs that blur the boundaries between folk, soul, red dirt country, blues and rock. Their sound, as Vanity Fair notes, “continues to cross generations and musical genres – country, folk, blues and a touch of the Dead, for good measure.” The Lillies new album, Stranger to Me, releases at the end of September.
There’s plenty more to discover! For further festival information and to purchase wristbands for the 2018 Sweet Pea Festival, visit www.sweetpeafestival.org. •
