Town Center sees more Thursday night concerts, return of Classical Music Fest
The Arts Council of Big Sky continues to present another amazing season of Music in the Mountains for locals and those visiting Montana this summer. 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.
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.
Enjoy the bluegrass stylings of Asheville, North Carolina-based Town Mountain on Thursday, August 8th. Local folk rockers Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs will open the show. Raw, soulful, and with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain has earned raves for their hard-driving sound, in-house songwriting and honky-tonk edge that permeates their exhilarating live performances. The hearty base of the band’s music is the first and second generation of bluegrass spiced with country, old school rock n’ roll, and boogie-woogie. It’s what else goes into the mix that brings it all to life, both on stage and on record, and reflects the group’s wide-ranging influences – from the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia and the ethereal lyrics of Robert Hunter, to the honest, vintage country of Willie, Waylon, and Merle. Their latest album, New Freedom Blues, is available now.
Indie folk band Mt. Joy follows with support from genre-bending act Upstate on Thursday, August 15th. Named as an ode to a mountain in Valley Forge National Park, Mt. Joy made their initial mark with single “Astrovan.” Without initial promotion or fanfare, the song took off on Spotify, racking up 5 million streams to date. Their follow-up singles fared even better, with “Silver Lining” going to the top of the Billboard Adult Alternative charts. The band’s eponymous debut album released last year and they’ve since played some of the biggest music festivals including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Treefort and Made in America.
Also beneath Lone Mountain, the ninth annual Big Sky Classical Music Festival featuring special guests Angella Ahn, Jonathan Gunn and Dallas Brass will take place Friday to Sunday, August 9th–11th. This annual event showcases the best in classical music from around the world during two free outdoor performances in Town Center Park, one ticketed indoor concert at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, a youth music camp, and master classes for student musicians. As one of the only classical music festivals in the region, it is essential to raising cultural awareness and promoting classical music in Montana and beyond. The three-day festival is for people of all ages. See the Arts Council’s website for detailed schedule of events.
Future weekly concerts this summer include: 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, a free performance of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will take place at the park on August 19th. 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. •