Moonlight MusicFest marked by two nights of mountainside music in Big Sky

On Friday and Saturday, August 16th and 17th, the 2nd Annual Moonlight MusicFest settles into Big Sky’s Madison Village. The festival will once again bring a wide array of stellar bands and music to the mountains of Montana, including national artists and local phenoms.
Friday night headliners Trampled by Turtles bring their brand of progressive bluegrass from Duluth, Minnesota. Fronted by Dave Simonett, the band of road warriors is rounded out by Erik Berry (mandolin), Dave Carroll (banjo), Tim Saxhaug (bass), and Ryan Young (fiddle). Over the last fifteen years, the group has carved out a fast, frenetic sound that owes as much to rock n’ roll as it does bluegrass. Trampled by Turtles come to Big Sky in support of their latest album, Life Is Good on the Open Road. Recent single “Wildflowers” is also available now.
     Southern country rockers Blackberry Smoke close the weekend of music on Saturday. Since emerging from Atlanta in the early aughts, the quintet has become known for a singular sound indebted to classic rock, blues, country and folk. The band returns to Montana this summer in support of their sixth release, Find a Light. Songs hew toward easygoing roots-rock (“Run Away From It All”) and Southern rock stomps (“The Crooked Kind”), as well as stripped-down acoustic numbers (“I’ve Got This Song”) and bruising alt-country (“Nobody Gives a Damn”). Rich instrumental flourishes – keening fiddle, solemn organ and bar-band piano boogie – add further depth and resonance.
Moonlight MusicFest will feature additional performances by The Record Company, returning act The Wood Brothers, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, The War & Treaty and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, as well as local acts Satsang and The Dusty Pockets.
The festival, which is situated on the northside of Lone Peak with spectacular 360-degree views of surrounding mountains, will feature a vendor row with food and beverage trucks as well as cool festival merchandise, a “Fun & Games” area for kids big and small, and more in an unsurpassable setting.
Festival tickets are available now at www.moonlightmusicfest.com, where you can also learn more about the featured acts and weekend festivities. Discounted hotel rates available. Be sure to follow the FEST on Facebook and Instagram for updated event information (@MoonlightMusicFest).