The Montana Project is proud to announce the return of Climate Aid: Black Ram Guitar Festival following its Missoula debut. The event will take place Friday, October 2nd, at the historic Willson Auditorium in Downtown Bozeman. Music begins at 7pm.
Building on the incredible momentum of the inaugural festival in Portland, Maine, with Maggie Rogers and Terry Tempest Williams, this high-profile evening bridges the world of the country’s finest singer/songwriters with urgent environmental action. Proceeds from the evening will support ongoing regional conservation initiatives and efforts to designate the “Black Ram” region of northwest Montana’s Yaak Valley as the nation’s first Climate Refuge.
The centerpiece of the evening is the Breedlove Black Ram Guitar – a singular guitar meticulously hand-crafted from a fallen 315-year-old Engelmann spruce salvaged from the Yaak Valley. The guitar carries the literal voice of one of Montana’s oldest forests and will be played live throughout the night by a roster of celebrated artists.
The 2026 line-up brings a world-class gathering of talent to the Bozeman stage, featuring:
– Ruth Moody: Acclaimed singer-songwriter and stunning soprano of the multi-Platinum, Juno Award-winning roots trio The Wailin’ Jennys
– Bill McKibben: Globally celebrated author, environmental advocate, and founder of ThirdAct and 350.org
– Rick Bass: Iconic Montana author, activist
– Featured Performers: Folk, blues, and traditional Montana musicians including Pico Alt, Jack Barksdale, Rob Quist, Jack Gladstone, Caroline Keys, Nate Biehl, Gibson Hartwell, Siri Saeteren and Steve Farmer
– Speakers: Leslie Caye, Corwin Clairmont, J.J. Amaworo Wilson
– Award-winning composer Eric Funk, classical guitarist Nora Spielman and French horn player Liz Schmidt
“This is not like any other concert or event you’ve experienced,” notes author Rick Bass. “We’re harnessing Montana’s artistic leadership in the fight against climate change. Bringing this movement to Bozeman is a natural next step to safeguard our state’s most ancient, climate-resilient landscapes.”
Doors open at 6pm, with the performance beginning promptly at 7pm. Tickets can be found at www.montanaproject.org and www.blackramguitarfest.org. •
