Dos Mayos

February 26th, 2012

Dos Mayos, a musical duo, delights their audiences with music from a variety of genres including Country, Folk, Jazz, Blues, Latin and Americana. Their unique style with tight instrumental and vocal blends makes Dos Mayos a “stand out” among professional musicians and entertainers throughout the Rocky Mountain West. Tana, a gifted vocalist, flutist and percussionist, sends her passion for music from the stage to the audience. Rich, an exceptional guitarist, vocalist and talented harmonica player, is also a consummate entertainer.

Tickets are $40, including dinner. This performance will take place at the Buck's T-4 Ballroom on Highway 191. Cocktail hour at 5:30, Dinner at 6:45, Concert at 8 p.m. Don't miss one of Bozeman's most exciting ensembles!

Pavel Egorov

March 24th, 2012

Russian pianist Pavel Egorov returns to Big Sky for another memorable piano recital in the Talus Room. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to hear one of the world's most decorated pianists here in Big Sky!

Mr. Egorov graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky in 1975, where he studied under the guidance of professor Tatyana Nikolaeva and professor Vera Gornostaeva. In 1974 he was awarded First Prize and Golden Medal at the Schumann International Competition in Zwickau, Germany. Since 1976 Mr. Egorov has resided in St. Petersburg, where he completed post-graduate studies at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov in 1980.

Pavel Egorov combines his artistic and pedagogique work with scientific research. He is the author of the first Russian edition of the Complete Works for Piano of Robert Schumann in seven volumes. In 1989 he was awarded the International Schumann Prize and elected as Honorary Member of the Schumann Society in Dusseldorf. Mr. Egorov is a renowned music researcher and scientific editor, Honorary Member of the Philharmonic Society in St. Petersburg, has been awarded the Order of Polish Republic Merit in Culture in 2003, elected an active member of the St. Petersburg Department of Education and Scientific Development of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences in 2007.

This performance will take place at the Talus Room at the Summit at Big Sky (Mountain Village). Cocktail hour at 5:30, Dinner at 6:45, Concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40, including dinner.

Music in the Mountains: Freddy Pink

July 4th, 2012

Join us for the area's best Fourth of July event, featuring an encore performance from Freddy Pink, all the way from Seattle! The park opens at 6 p.m. with kids activities, food and beverage vendors, and music starting at 7 p.m. An incredible fireworks show ends the evening, which is entirely free and suitable for all ages!

Freddy Pink is a nine-piece rhythm and blues/funk band that performs standards and originals in an energetic, professional live show. This year marks the third year in a row the band has performed in Big Sky, as audiences as demanded the Arts Council bring them back. It's an amazing live show that will have you dancing and singing along!

Food and beverage (including alcohol) vendors will be present at the park. You are invited to bring your coolers into the venue, but please leave glass containers at home. Also, no pets are allowed into the park for the concert. Please be considerate and leave your pets at home!

Admission to this event is free! For mor information please call (406) 995-2742.

Music in the Mountains: The Black Lillies

July 19th, 2012

The Arts Council of Big Sky is pleased to welcome back the Black Lillies to Town Center Park! In the only rainy Thursday night concert of 2011, the Black Lillies still captivated the audience with their blistering Nashville sound. We decided they should come back--without the rain this time!

With their debut album,"Whiskey Angel," the Black Lillies established themselves, and it didn't take long for them to make their mark on the national scene. They kicked off their first national tour at the Ryman Auditorium, the hallowed mother church of country music, and have since labored through four cross-country treks. They've performed on National Public Radio's Mountain Stage and on two episodes of PBS's Jammin' at Hippie Jack's, and they've conquered numerous festivals - Pickathon, the Americana Music Association Festival, Four Corners Folk Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, even Bonnaroo. And in June 2011, the show that made country music famous - The Grand Ole Opry - invited the band to make their debut on the historic circle of wood where so many other legends have performed. The band's second album, "100 Miles of Wreckage," has spent more than five months on the Americana radio Top 40 charts.

Park opens at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages from local vendors will be available. Please no glass containers or pets allowed in the park during concerts. Admission is free and suitable for all ages! Plenty of parking!

Music in the Mountains: Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers

July 26th, 2012

Upon hearing the unique and refreshing sound of Nicki Bluhm , it becomes immediately clear why she is in the midst of a breakout year. Nicki has filled a void in music with her brand of vintage-tinged rocking country soul -- music that's like an enchanting friend you've known for a short while but feels like you've known forever.

Nicki's story began at a New Year's Eve party when she sang an impromptu blues song that caught the attention of musician/producer Tim Bluhm (The Mother Hips). With Tim's encouragement Nicki began to write songs and perform in public, and soon was earning fans of her own. They went on to record Nicki's debut album, Toby's Song (2008), which appeared on Jambase's top ten albums of the year. Nicki and Tim were married shortly after and formed her band with childhood friend and guitar player, Deren Ney. The band continued to grow with the addition of Steve Adams on bass (ALO), Dave Mulligan on rhythm guitar and drummer Mike Curry. Nicki has since shared the stage with Chris Robinson, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Steve Kimock, Jackie Greene, Pegi Young, Josh Ritter, and many others.

Her sophomore album, "Driftwood" (2011), shows an impressive expansion of Nicki's natural talent and is well into its second pressing. The sounds range from the AM magic of Linda Ronstadt to the charming duets of Johnny and June Cash to smokey Memphis soul. Since Driftwood's release, Nicki has become the "It Girl" of the San Francisco music scene -- performing with her band, "The Gramblers"; as a duo with her husband Tim; and as a guest artist with an array of revered peformers. Her warm, strong voice and striking presence have undeniable appeal, confirmed by her sensational performances and rousing reception from music lovers at every show.

Park opens at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages from local vendors will be available. Please no glass containers or pets allowed in the park during concerts. Admission is free and suitable for all ages! Plenty of parking!

Music in the Mountains: The Elders

August 9th, 2012

Take a group of Kansas City musicians with a passion for Celtic music, an Irishman with a love of all things American, and you get a cross-pollination of elements that is high octane and progressive, yet rooted in tradition. Since forming in 1998, the Elders have brought their musical mix of amped-up roots rock, powerful vocals, blazing instrumentals and top-notch songwriting to festivals, pubs and theaters across the United States and Ireland. Through it all their four studio albums, two live albums and DVD have become sales staples at festivals and gift shops across the US.

The Elders are fronted by charismatic Irishman, Ian Byrne from County Wicklow, and backed by a group of wicked-fine Kansas City musicians. Band members include guitarist Steve Phillips (The Rainmakers), bassist Norm Dahlor (Tommy Shaw Band), violinist Brent Hoad, drummer Tommy Sutherland, and keyboardist Joe Miquelon (Asleep at the Wheel). These six gentlemen create original music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music and they deliver it with passion and fire. The songs are mystical, comical, political and cultural, while covering a wide variety of topics such as poverty, civil war, family bonds, spirituality, love and friendship. They tell us stories of people, places and events - some distant, some recent, some real and some imagined.

Park opens at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages from local vendors will be available. Please no glass containers or pets allowed in the park during concerts. Admission is free and suitable for all ages! Plenty of parking!

Classical Music Festival: Boston Brass

August 10th, 2012

For nearly 25 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience. From exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards, and the best of the original brass quintet repertoire, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique brand of entertainment, which captivates all ages. The ensemble's lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Please no dogs or glass containers in the park. Rain site is the Big Sky Chapel (only if weather is terribly inclement!)Chairs, blankets, coolers permitted. Food/beverage (inlcuding alcohol) will be available at venue. Please turn cell phones off and be respectful of artists and patrons.

Relax. Listen. Enjoy!!

Please stay tuned for performance times. Remember, admission is free!

Classical Music Festival: Enso String Quartet

August 11th, 2012

With a 2010 Grammy nomination for "Best Chamber Music Performance," the NYC-based Enso String Quartet has quickly become one of the country's most exciting young ensembles. Shortly after the group's inception at Yale University in 1999, Enso had success at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and won the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and has consistently received high praise for performances ever since. The quartet's debut recording was described by Strad Magazine as "an auspicious start to their recording career," and was followed by the recent Grammy-nominated release of the quartets of Ginastera. n addition to the success of their recordings, Enso String Quartet's concerts have been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. The Houston Chronicle praised the group for their "edge-of-the-seat vitality few groups maintain throughout a performance." The group is equally at home in many styles, and is committed to the classics of the string quartet repertoire as well as being strong advocates for new music.

Please no dogs or glass containers in the park. Rain site is the Big Sky Chapel (only if weather is terribly inclement!) Chairs, blankets, coolers permitted. Food/beverage (inlcuding alcohol) will be available at venue. Please turn cell phones off and be respectful of artists and patrons.

Relax. Listen. Enjoy!!

Please stay tuned for performance times. Remember, admission is free!

Classical Music Festival: Imani Winds

August 12th, 2012

More than North America's premier wind quintet, Imani Winds has established itself as one of the most successful chamber music ensembles in the United States. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated quintet has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.

Imani Winds' extensive touring schedule has brought them to most of this country's major concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Disney Hall and Kimmel Center. The group is frequently engaged by the premier chamber music series in Boston, San Francisco, Portland, Philadelphia and New York, and have also played virtually every major university performing arts series including those in Amherst, Ann Arbor, Austin, Seattle, Stanford, Urbana and countless others. Festivals include Chamber Music Northwest, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, La Jolla Music Society, Virginia Arts Festival, Bravo! Colorado and Ravinia Festival. The current season features several international tours for Imani Winds, with debut appearances in France, China, and Brazil.

Please no dogs or glass containers in the park. Rain site is the Big Sky Chapel (only if weather is terribly inclement!)Chairs, blankets, coolers permitted. Food/beverage (inlcuding alcohol) will be available at venue. Please turn cell phones off and be respectful of artists and patrons.

Relax. Listen. Enjoy!!

Please stay tuned for performance times. Remember, admission is free!

Music in the Mountains: John Reischman and the Jaybirds

August 16th, 2012

Years of European and North American tours, five critically acclaimed albums, two Juno nominations and two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations...little wonder, the buzz around John Reischman and The Jaybirds continues to grow. Like the mandolinist at its helm, the group fashions a stylish, elegant take on bluegrass that is at once innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned, yet unselfconsciously new. To see their live show is to believe it. A genial blend of story-telling and side-show humor provides the backdrop to their studied performance of original songs, instrumentals, and newly arranged traditional material.

Hailing from the variegated ranks of the contemporary West Coast acoustic music scene, each of these 'birds has certainly earned his wings: the list of projects they have contributed to over the years is nothing less than a short list of acoustic power houses. Together, their seamless ensemble work makes for one of the freshest, most tasteful band-sounds on the folk and bluegrass circuit today.

Whether setting the tone for a mournful ballad, laying in fills for one of the group's unique original compositions, or providing essential rhythmic foundation to breakneck speed bluegrass, John Reischman's mandolin acts as the sonic heart and soul of the band and its conceptual touchstone. He is a mandolin master of the highest caliber, having garnered praise from every corner of the music world for his tasteful, classic, and versatile technique bar-none. After cutting his teeth with West Coast groups of now-legendary status (the Tony Rice Unit, the Good Ol' Persons) Reischman has once again reached new heights with the Jaybirds; this time, it is with a singular sound built around his musical tastes and fortified by the intrepid spirit of his musical partners.

Park opens at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages from local vendors will be available. Please no glass containers or pets allowed in the park during concerts. Admission is free and suitable for all ages! Plenty of parking!

Music in the Mountains: Mike Beck and the Bohemian Saints

August 23rd, 2012

Mike Beck and The Bohemian Saints is an irresistible old fashioned guitar band, comprised of respected guitarist and songwriter, Mike Beck, and San Francisco Bay Area guitarist, Tom Ayres, backed up on bass by Marty Lydon, and on drums by Paul Montgomery. The band has played together since 2002, and no matter where the band performs, their large loyal fan base follows. Mike has also performed in numerous solo acoustic shows over the years, and he always provides an outstanding show. Two of his songs were listed in the "13 Best Cowboy Songs of All Time" in the April, 2009 issue of Western Horseman ("In Old California" and "Don't Tell Me.")

The band's music is frequently aired on all five of the popular California KPIG Radio stations (www.kpig.com) throughout California (including Monterey/Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Chico and the San Francisco Bay Area) and via the station's popular Internet site. The music of Mike Beck and The Bohemian Saints has also been heard throughout the United States and internationally, including NPR Radio, CBC, Sirius and the BBC, among others. Their enjoyable original material, primarily composed by Mike Beck, reflects the band's love of the Byrds, Burrito Brothers and the Rolling Stones. Their popular onstage live shows reflect the energy of the Grateful Dead. The band's top professional musicians provide outstanding shows in bars, coffeehouses, folk clubs, schools, festivals, and at corporate events.

Born and raised in Monterey County, California, Mike Beck went to the Monterey Pop Festival at age 13 and liked what he heard. He picked up a guitar and never looked back. Since that time, he has been composing and performing a wide array of folk, rock and Americana music. Mike's songs reflect his life as a professional musician and a working cowboy in Montana and Carmel Valley near Big Sur.

Park opens at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. Food and beverages from local vendors will be available. Please no glass containers or pets allowed in the park during concerts. Admission is free and suitable for all ages! Plenty of parking!

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

September 7th, 2012

Montana State University's acclaimed Shakespeare in the Parks theater troupe returns to Big Sky for a free performance of the bard's Hamlet in the Town Center Park. The performance will start at 5:30 p.m.

One of the summer's most anticipated attractions, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks brings professional productions at no cost to the public to communities throughout Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho and western North Dakota. Remarkably self-sufficient, the company features 10 professional actors who tour without technical assistance to bring theatre to communities primarily in rural areas that may not otherwise have access to it.

Audiences are encouraged to show up prior to the appointed curtain time with chairs, blankets, a picnic supper, and plenty of friends and family to enjoy the evening. Admission is free! Please no glass containers or pets allowed into the park!