Blues and Brews: Last call for River’s Edge Trail benefit
The River’s Edge Trail, a 30-mile trail system that wends along the Missouri River, benefits from the 15th and final Blues and Brews, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Mansfield Convention Center.
Support the trail while enjoying a selection of delicious foods by area restaurants, a variety of thirst-quenching microbrews and other beverages, and top-notch entertainment.
This year’s headliner is Joe Louis Walker, the winner of multiple Grammy and WC Handy blues awards. His latest recording, Between a Rock and the Blues, was received the Blues Music Award for Album of the Year, and Walker was hailed as Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar) in the current Living Blues magazine’s Critics’ Poll.
Blues Revue magazine called Walker “one of contemporary blues’ most dynamic and innovative musicians, releasing consistently exciting music.” He’ll perform in Great Falls with his five-piece band.
Li’l Elmo and the Mambo Kings and The 49th Street Blues Project round out the musical menu.
Tickets are $25-$30; call 455-8514… Read more
Paradise Valley Music Festival: “Great music in a spectacular place”
The David Grisman Quintet, James McMurtry and The Infamous Stringdusters headline the inaugural Paradise Valley Music Festival, Aug. 29 at Luccock Park Camp near Livingston. Mike Long of Blackbird Productions teamed up with Sean Devine to create a festival that’s “all about bringing great music to a spectacular place.” Read more
Festival Amadeus: Classical music abounds in Flathead
The Glacier Symphony and Chorale offers the third annual Festival Amadeus, Aug. 2-8 in Kalispell and Whitefish. The six-concert festival features acclaimed guest artists performing some of the finest classical music of Mozart, J.S. Bach, Schumann, Beethoven, and many others. Read more
Country and rock stars headline Montana State Fair
Fair fanatics rejoice! Fair days are back with a week packed full of family fun, July 30-Aug. 7 Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls. A stellar night-show line-up includes concerts by Darius Rucker, Styx, Lifehouse, Luke Bryan, LeAnn Rimes with the Great Falls Symphony, Keith Anderson and Clay Walker. Read more
Bucket ‘o bluegrass: Festivals abound in Big Sky Country
Bluegrass abounds this summer, from the Kootenai River Bluegrass Festival in Troy, to the “grandfather of bluegrass festivals in the Northern Rockies” at Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyo., and the inaugural Paradise Valley Music Festival in Livingston. Here’s a snapshot: Read more
“Angelic voices”: Celtic Woman comes to Bozeman and Missoula
Celtic Woman offers two Montana concerts this summer, performing Aug. 22 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman (a show originally slated for MetraPark in Billings, which was destroyed by a tornado in June) and Aug. 23 at the Adams Center in Missoula. The multi-platinum group's repertoire ranges from spirited Celtic fiddle and bodhrán pieces to lush arrangements of Irish classics, contemporary covers and original compositions. Read more
Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp hit Billings and Missoula ballparks
Bob Dylan, Rock ’n Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp, along with a third act to-be-announced, take the stage Aug. 11 at Dehler Baseball Park in Billings and Aug. 31 at Ogren Field in Missoula’s Allegiance Park. The Boston Globe ranked the tour amongst “the most relaxed, enjoyable shows of the year. “You Can’t Beat Fun At The Old Ballpark” read a headline from the Chicago Sun Times. Read more