by Roselyn Remington
If March is when Bozeman starts to come out of hibernation – longer light, drier roads, a little more appetite for a night out – then the bill at The Filler on March 20th lands right in that sweet spot. It’s a co-bill that makes sense for this town: a local artist with deep roots and a touring resume that keeps expanding, paired with a band built to turn any room into a moving, laughing, sing-along mess (in the best way).
On Friday, March 20th, Madeline Hawthorne shares the night with Pixie & the Partygrass Boys at The Filling Station. Music begins at 8pm with night-of tickets available for $15. Doors at 7pm.
For anyone new to town, or for tourists trying to understand why locals talk about certain rooms the way they talk about certain trails, The Filling Station is a beloved local venue. For decades it’s been the place where national touring acts roll through and get surprised by how locked-in the crowd is, and where local artists have the opportunity to showcase their talent and build a following. The reputation is simple and durable: if you’re going to catch one show while you’re here, this is one of the rooms you’re told not to miss. The nights have a way of feeling close to the music, close to the people you came with, and close to the kind of memory you’ll still be referencing months later.
That sense of “this matters” is part of why Hawthorne fits this stage so naturally. Her story has the kind of Bozeman practicality that tends to produce good live performers: she put down roots here during college, spent years doing the work – backing other artists, playing in bands, stacking gigs – and then stepped fully into her solo career in the pandemic era when a lot of artists were either rebuilding or disappearing. Her sound sits comfortably in the overlap of Americana, roots, folk and rock with a band-forward approach that understands dynamics, pacing, and the payoff of a chorus that actually earns itself.
Live is where the whole thing clicks. The set tends to move from quiet focus into full-voice choruses without feeling like a mood swing; it feels like a story gaining momentum. She’s also shared bills with heavy hitters like Jason Isbell and Nathaniel Rateliff – a signal that what she’s building translates beyond hometown love and into bigger rooms, bigger audiences, and higher expectations.
Then there’s the other half of the night: Pixie & the Partygrass Boys, a group that brings a very specific kind of lift. They started as “ski bums playing house parties” out near Salt Lake City, with early roots tied to the Cottonwood Canyons scene, and grew into a nationally touring band known for velocity, precision, and a stage presence that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Their brand of “partygrass” uses bluegrass instrumentation like a high-powered engine: fast, bright, and built to get a crowd moving. They lean into big hooks, sing-along moments, and an anything-can-happen feeling that turns a normal show into the kind of night where strangers become temporary friends.
Their arc tracks the modern touring reality: start local, build a reputation for being undeniable live, and keep leveling up. Since their 2018 EP, Utah Made, and their 2021 release Snake Creek, they’ve cultivated an audience that includes serious pickers and casual fans who just want to dance. And yes, the band has done support runs for artists like Billy Strings and Lake Street Dive, which makes sense once you see them: they’re tight enough for music nerds and fun enough for everyone else.
If you want a night that feels local without being small, and rowdy without being sloppy, March 20th is one to circle. •
