Charlie Daniels Band headlines music fests in Billings and Three Forks

Published: March 8, 2010

One of country music's all-time legends, The Charlie Daniels Band (“Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Uneasy Rider,” “Simple Man”), headlines Saturday night's line-up at the Headwaters Country Jam, June 24-26 near Three Forks and kicks off the Alberta Bair Theatre's second annual Wild West Soiree, June 25 in Billings.   

Headwaters Country Jam

The iconic figure will be joined on stage by Doug Stone (“A Juke Box with a Country Song,” “Why Didn’t I Think of That”) and Ricochet (“Daddy’s Money,” “Love is Stronger than Pride”).

The Thursday-through-Saturday event features today’s hot country as well as the classics with more than 20 bands on two stages.Craig Morgan (“Bonfire,” “Red Neck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester”) headlines Thursday’ and John Anderson (“Swingin’,” “Straight Tequila Night,” “Seminole Wind”) and Eric Church (“How ‘Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”) will perform Friday night. Stay tuned for more announcements.

The past two years, thousands of fans have joined under the Big Sky to celebrate their country roots with such high-caliber stars as Tracy Lawrence, Pat Green, Colin Raye, Luke Bryan, Emerson Drive, Sammy Kershaw, Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, Deana Carter, Little Texas and many more.

In 2009 a horse-shoe tournament, a greased pig run and a dance contest were added to the daytime agenda. The 2010 festival promises more of the same, as well as a few added activities to keep the crowd moving. Helicopter rides of the Jefferson canyon will return to offer a unique bird’s eye view of the concert venue.

Tickets are on special until April 1. A weekend package, including two three-day tickets and one camp spot, sells for $245; and a single three-day ticket is $105.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.headwaterscountryjam.com, or by calling the Butte Civic Center at 800-555-8989.

When you hear a classic Charlie Daniels Band performance like “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “In America,” “Uneasy Rider,” or any of the band’s many other hits, you hear music that knows no clear genre.

Is it a folk tale? A southern boogie? A country fiddle tune? An electric rock anthem? The answer is “yes” to all of that and more for this iconic artist, whose career spans 50 years.

“What an incredible way to kick off what has already become a very successful event” said William Wood, executive director of the Alberta Bair Theater. “It just doesn’t get any better than this!”

The Wild West Soirèe continues on Saturday, June 26, with a Western Street Fair, featuring free activities for the entire family, including crafts, games, cowboy poetry, storytelling and professional gunfights by The Gunfighters from Forth Worth Texas.

A Cowboy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater highlights the entertainment; then, kick up your heels with the Saddle Tramps Band at the Western Street Dance.

The gunfights and activities at the Western Street Fair are free, as is entry to the Western Street Dance. Tickets to the Cowboy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater are $100 (call 256-8915).

Tickets for Charlie Daniels are $45-$55 and can be purchased at the ABT Box Office at 406-256-6052; go to www.albertabairtheater.org for more information.