Sun’s out, fun’s out with ‘Music in the Mountains’ in Big Sky Town Center
As summer presses on, the Arts Council of Big Sky continues to present another amazing season of Music in the Mountains. The Thursday night concerts and supplementary events take place at Center Stage in Town Center Park. All performances are FREE and open to the public.
Orgone
Los Angeles-based Orgone deliver their funky, soulful sounds to Big Sky on Thursday, July 18th. The 8-piece soul machine is driven by Dan Hastie and Sergio Rios, once two kids from the San Fernando Valley united by a hunger for raw soul recordings. Drawing on their love of Funkadelic, Santana, Muscle Shoals, and all things Stax, the duo sought to create the band that, if they were to hear for the first time, would be their instant favorite. For nearly twenty years the band has churned out gritty funk and soul recordings and toured relentlessly across the United States and Europe. Orgone’s live show captivates audiences and packs dance floors – whether on sold-out headlining tours; sharing the stage with The Roots, Al Green, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and Galactic; or appearances at fests like Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, High Sierra, Bear Creek, and Jam Cruise. Orgone’s new album, Reasons, released in January.
Enjoy the award-winning music of Austin-based singer/songwriter Hayes Carll on Thursday, July 25th. He visits Montana in support of his hailed new album, What It Is. The winter-released LP follows 2016’s deeply personal Lovers and Leavers and features 12 dynamic, timely tracks that find him in a wiser phase of life – rejuvenated on a new creative plateau. Carll’s vivid imagery and unique ability to put complex emotions into words makes his music instantly relatable. Spanning from catchy ballads to bold, Texas stomps, What It Is addresses topics ranging from the current socio-political climate to navigating the continuous change of relationships. The new collection of songs weaves intricate and often emotional lyrics with sly political commentary and well-executed, subtle sarcasm, making for some of his most nuanced work yet. Read the BoZone’s interview with Hayes Carll at BoZone.com.
Local singer/songwriter Kylie Spence will open for Grammy-nominated blues musician Marcia Ball on Thursday, August 1st.
“Fifty years have passed in a flash,” says Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball of her long and storied career. Ball, the 2018 Texas State Musician of the Year and a four-time Grammy nominee, has won worldwide fame and countless fans for her ability to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she takes the stage. Her rollicking Texas boogies, swampy New Orleans ballads and groove-laden Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music lovers all over the world. With each new release, her reputation as a profoundly soulful singer, a boundlessly talented pianist and a courageous, inventive songwriter continues to grow. Her love of the road has led to years of soul-satisfying performances at festivals, concert halls and clubs. Her latest release, Shine Bright, is available now.
Future weekly concerts this summer include: Town Mountain with special guests Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs on August 8th; Mt. Joy with special guests Upstate on August 15th; Honey Island Swamp Band on August 22nd; Ron Artis and the Truth on August 29th; and Pinky and the Floyd on September 5th. In addition, the ninth annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival, with special guests Angella Ahn, Jonathan Gunn and Dallas Brass, will take place August 9th–11th. A free performance of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will take place at the park on August 19th, and the fourth annual Mountainfilm in Big Sky event caps the summer September 13th–15th.
Town Center Park opens at 6pm for each Thursday concert, and there will be food and beverage vendors (including alcohol) and an arts activity tent for kids. Please be aware that NO dogs or glass containers are allowed in the park. Music typically starts at 7:15pm, but please visit www.bigskyarts.org for more information on these events. Further details about the summer lineup and other Arts Council happenings are also available through the website. •
