Turning Up the Volume on the Mountain Music Scene

Montana’s Yellowstone Country has always boasted great music, but over the past several years, the volume has been turned up on this mountain music scene, and for residents and visitors alike, it’s a delight!

One of the highlights is the free summer concert series held across the region. These family-friendly events generally include food, libations and kids’ activities, and they bring people out en masse to enjoy the summer evenings with family and friends.

The first to get underway is the Summer Outdoor Concert Series at the Shane Center in Livingston. The shows take place at the Blake Pavilion, a covered pavilion right outside the center. (Spring showers? Not a problem!) They’ll have food trucks, plus beer and wine for purchase. Or grab dinner at one of the fabulous Livingston eateries after the show. Music takes place every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. in June and July.

Belgrade Summer Nights is the next to kick off, beginning Wed, June 24, with five shows spanning the summer. They call it a block party, and the vibe fits that description, with dancing in the street, great food and lots of laughs.



In Big Sky, the Arts Council of Big Sky brings Music in the Mountains. Set in Len Hill Park at Town Center, with Lone Mountain towering behind, these shows are incredibly popular, drawing people from all the surrounding towns. This year, the series takes place from June 25 to Sept. 3, every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A perfect finale to a day of exploring the mountains and rivers.

Music in the Park in West Yellowstone kicks off on the Fourth of July. West Yellowstone is a great place to spend the holiday, with a parade, pie on the porch, rodeo, the evening concert and fireworks! There are two shows in July, and two in August, all from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

And finally, Music on Main in Bozeman runs every Thursday for six weeks beginning July 2. Main Street closes to vehicles, food trucks emerge, and a whole section of kids’ activities keeps everyone entertained.



Of course, you’ll also want to keep an eye on the schedules for the Elm in Bozeman, Pine Creek Lodge and the Old Saloon in Paradise Valley, Live from the Divide, The Attic and Music Ranch Montana in Livingston, and Bridger Brewing in Three Forks — they all have an impressive lineup of shows.

Mumford and Sons is coming to Bobcat Stadium on June 4, featuring Sierra Ferrell, and the Big Sky Country State Fair is hosting Chase Rice, Morgan Wade and Stone Temple Pilots.

And finally, for the festival lovers, we’ve got a whole lineup: Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, Headwater’s Country Jam, Wildlands Festival, Rappin’ the Rivers, Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts, Summer SLAM Festival, Forget Me Not Festival, Alpenglow Festival and the Livingston Songwriter Festival. There’s a genre for everyone in that lineup!

Pack your boogie shoes, we’ve got some big names performing under the big sky.