Red Ants Pants Music Festival Announces Winner of Emerging Artist Competition
With attendance topping 16,000, the 6th Red Ants Pants Music Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, was the largest to date. Proceeds from the festival benefit the non-profit Red Ants Pants Foundation, which has given more than $65,000 in grants to people and projects supporting our rural communities, working family farms and ranches and increasing women’s leadership. More than 200 volunteers helped put on the festival.
The Red Ants Pants Music Festival also announced the winner of their 2016 Emerging Artist Competition: Pollo Loco, of Great Falls, Montana! The band includes Lonnie Johnson on the lead guitar, Chuck Fulcher playing upright acoustic bass, mandolin, harmonica, vocals and Jeff Christiansen on rhythm Guitar and vocals. The runner up was Feeding Leroy from Duluth, Minnesota.
The Emerging Artist Competition gives festival attendees the opportunity to vote for their favorite band playing the Side Stage – the winner earns the opportunity to play on next year’s Red Ants Pants Music Festival’s Main Stage.
“Music is a powerful tool for bringing people together and we are inspired by this banner year,” said Sarah Calhoun, Red Ants Pants Music Festival founder and producer. “We’re hugely appreciative of the support of the White Sulphur Springs community and the connection that happens when we all come together to celebrate.”
With a record attendance for the festival & campground, the 6th Red Ants Pants Music Festival is proud to also announce there were zero safety incidents and zero DUIs reported. SAVE THE DATE for the 7th Red Ants Pants Music Festival July 27th – 30th, 2017 on the Jackson Ranch in White Sulphur Springs!
ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
2017 Montana Beard & Moustache State Championship, hosted by John Cordes of Roberts, Montana:
Moustache
1st Pat Horvat - Lethbridge, Alberta
2nd Sean Kochell - Missoula, MT
3rd Micheal Keator - West Yellowstone, MT
Partial Beard
1st George Mcwilliams - Bozeman, MT
2nd Bryan Holtz - Watford City, ND
3rd Don Judge - Helena, MT
Full Beard
1st Taron Kifer - Helena, MT
2nd Vinny Contreras - Martin City, MT
3rd Gus Gustuson - Missoula, MT
Freestyle Beard
1st Derik Austin - Helena, MT
2nd Christopher Kirkwood - Bozeman, MT
3rd Micheal McGuire - Richcrest, CA
Craft Beard
1st Jessie Vaillancourt - Alberton, MT
2nd Ellie and Cam - Billings, MT
3rd Addison Oliver - Ennis, MT
Grand Champion - Jessie Vaillancourt - Alberton, MT
2017 Red Ants Pants Music Festival Crosscut Champions:
The winners of the crosscut competition for all events are a combination of two husband/wife teams from Red Lodge:
Men's division: Hans Howell and Ivan Kazorok with a time of 40.23 seconds.
Women's division: Jessica Howell and Anne Kazorok with a time of 47.8 seconds.
Co-Ed division: Hans and Jessica Howell with a time of 55.6 seconds.
