Summer in the northern Rockies also means music festival time in southwest Montana and beyond, and this year, folks won’t have any trouble finding great bands and good times under the Big Sky.

All it takes is a bit of road tripping for a Bozemanite to put a festival or three under their belt this summer. The Montana Folk Festival in Butte, on July 10-12, is a good choice to start the ball rolling. After Butte played host to the National Folk Festival for three consecutive years, the event morphed into the Montana Folk Festival in 2010. This free three-day festival has become a Montana favorite, featuring more than 200 musicians and other performers from all corners of the globe on six stages, set against the backdrop of Butte’s historic uptown district.

Things heat up the following weekend, with the Moods of the Madison music festival in Ennis, Summerfest in Livingston, and Targhee Fest in Alta, Wyoming. Both Moods of the Madison and Summerfest are two-day events (July 17 and 18) featuring both local and national acts. The 16th annual Summerfest kicks off on Friday with local talent like the reunited Ten Foot Tall and 80 Proof, Someday Miss Pray, and the Max, and national entertainers Holly Williams, Will Kimbrough and Jim Lauderdale hit the stage on Saturday. Summerfest takes place on the banks of the Yellowstone River at Miles Park in Livingston.



Leftover Salmon, Collective Soul, and Los Lonely Boys are among the national acts performing at the 2nd annual Moods of the Madison music festival in the lovely Madison Valley in Ennis. This festival features a broad array of musical styles onstage, and festival-goers can camp right on the venue, including this year’s glamour camping, or “glamping” offers (unfurnished or furnished tipi lodging, or a furnished safari tent). Hopes are high that this festival continues to be an annual affair.

Targhee Fest is a three-day festival with an always incredible lineup, held at the base of the Grand Targhee ski area on the Wyoming-Idaho line. Targhee Fest has been dubbed the ultimate all-around mountain lifestyle and music festival in the Rockies. The festival takes place in a majestic high-alpine setting (7,800 feet) right next to the Grand Targhee Resort village. Camping is also available at this venue. Artists featured at the 11th annual Targhee Fest include Patty Griffin, Mavis Staples, Brandi Carlile, James McMurtry, Bruce Hornsby, Jackie Green, and many more.

July 23-26 brings the 5th annual Red Ants Pants Music Festival in White Sulphur Springs. In just a few years, this festival has become one of the highlights of the festival season in Montana. It even earned an upper-tier slot in “A Montana bucket list: 100 things every Montanan should do,” published by the Great Falls Tribune (no. 22: Dance at the Red Ants Pants Music Festival in White Sulphur Springs). The Red Ants Pants bash starts on Thursday night with a free street dance in White Sulphur Springs, and the action moves to the Jackson Ranch venue just outside of town on Friday, and wraps up on Sunday afternoon. Featured artists this year include the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Keb’ Mo’, Lee Ann Womack, the Turnpike Troubadours, and many more--and a side stage offers even more entertainment between main stage acts.

The action continues in Billings as July transitions into August with Magic City Blues, “Montana’s Urban Music Festival.” This popular four-day festival has attracted thousands and thousands of fans from all across the country to Billings (the state’s largest city) every summer for 13 years now. Entertainers for this year’s event include John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos and more. Magic City Blues occurs at three different locations over the four-day period, with plenty of shuttle service provided for attendees.

Aug. 7-9 brings lots of festival action to the Bozeman area with the Sweet Pea Festival, the SLAM Festival, and Rockin’ the Rivers. The Sweet Pea Festival is celebrating its 38th year, and things kick off Friday afternoon in Lindley Park with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. Saturday continues the action with a children’s run and parade, and the fun continues until Sunday evening. Featured musicians include Shakey Graves, Eilen Jewell, the Turnpike Troubadours, the Kitchen Dwellers, Hillstomp, and more. The 5th annual SLAM (support Local Artists & Musicians) Festival in Bogert Park emphasizes local talent, as its name implies. This event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and features art and cuisine as well as music all for free. Rockin’ the Rivers, near Sappington Junction west of Three Forks, gets an early start on Thursday night with a free show at the venue, and continues through Sunday. Featured artists this year include WAR, Quiet Riot, Skid Row, Hell’s Belles, and the Little River Band.  

For those in Bozeman who just want to get out of town for a festival that weekend, the Braun Brothers Reunion in Challis, Idaho, is a good bet for a great time. This festival showcases Americana music, and featured artists this year of course include the extended Braun family, including Micky and the Motorcars and Reckless Kelly, as well as Cody Canada and the Departed, Corb Lund, Jason Eady, Wade Bowen and more. The Targhee Bluegrass Festival also offers the road-tripping festival enthusiast a chance to get out of town that weekend and see artists like Keller Williams, Donna the Buffalo, and the Infamous Stringdusters play bluegrass in the Tetons.



Thursday, Aug. 13, marks the date of the 2nd annual Livingston Hoot. A big success with its inaugural event last year, the Livingston Hoot is truly a good time. Local favorites The Fossils reunite to open this free show this year, followed by The Tin Men, and then Roy Rogers and the Delta Rythym Kings hit the stage, joined by Philip Aaberg on the piano.

The Flathead Lake Blues Festival takes place on August 14th and 15th at Salish Point on Polson Bay. This 5th annual event features Lionel Young and his band, the Kenny James Band, Levee Town and more. Camping is available near this venue for a reasonable price, and the Flathead Lake Festival of Art also takes place in the same area that weekend.

Also on Aug 14-16, Groovin’ on the Gallatin takes place at the Cinnamon Lodge in Gallatin Canyon. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, this festival will feature local artists Scott Pemberton Trio, Kitchen Dwellers, Satsang, Hawthorne Roots, ONE LEAF CLOVER, David Dalla G, Mathias, and Three-Eared Dog!

On August 22, for the first time in 38 years, the legendary Aber Day kegger and concert will take place in Philipsburg. The Aber Day Reunion Concert will feature Mission Mountain Wood Band, Wylie and The Wild West, and Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground. And on Aug. 28 and 29, the River City Roots Festival in Missoula will celebrate its 10th anniversary by featuring the best bands from previous Roots Festival Music on Main shows, a total of 11 bands including the Dead Winter Carpenters, Two Bit Franks, the Whizpops, the Lil’ Smokies, and Hot Buttered Rum.

For a perfect way to end a summer of music festivals, Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7) features the annual Street Dance at Chico Hot Springs, a free event with music provided by perennial Street Dance favorites the Red Elvises. Of course many more festivals and outdoor music events will occur this summer under the Big Sky, and all offer more than music: food, dance, art and more will be available to accompany the tunes. See you out on the festival trail!