Summer is the time to follow your bliss. Sunshine, fresh air and additional downtime harmonize, creating a season that is bursting with activity. Concerts are a perfect outlet, pairing summertime energy with the allure of music.
Each of these four venues is uniquely charming. They offer an array of backdrops, from nature to downtown, and boast headliners from numerous genres. Billings has a show for everyone this July and August.
2019 Alive After 5 Summer Concert Series
Location: Various venues in Downtown Billings.
Features:
—Presented by The Downtown Billings Alliance (DBA) & Valley Credit Union
—Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. June 6-Aug. 1
Each concert provides free admission to the public and will have various outdoor vendors to purchase food. Patrons 21 and older who will be consuming alcohol need to purchase a $2 wristband.
Why you should go:
“The community seems to look forward to this concert series each year,” says Lindsay Richardson, events director for the Downtown Billings Alliance. “They love that the concerts take place at a different downtown location each week, and because each concert is hosted by a different downtown business, it allows each concert to have a different flavor and variety. Alive After 5 also offers the community an opportunity to socialize and connect after work while the sun is still out.”
Upcoming Events
July 11: El Wencho live on N. Broadway in front of The Montana Brewing Company
July 18: Arterial Drive live on N. 24th in front of Tiny's Tavern
July 25: John Roberts y Pan Blanco live in the Walker's Grill parking lot
Aug. 1: Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band live on N. 25th at the McCormick Cafe parking lot
Aug. 29: End of Summer Block Party at The Northern
Tippet Rise Art Center
Location: 96 S. Grove Creek Road Fishtail, Mont.
Features:
Friday and Saturday evening concerts at Tippet Rise are performed in the 150-seat Olivier Music Barn, an intimate space that combines the size and proportions of some of Europe’s most historic halls with the beautiful simplicity of rural Montana’s vernacular architecture. Late morning and afternoon concerts take place at the open-air Domo, a 98-foot-long, 16-foot-tall, acoustically rich structure designed by the innovative Ensemble Studio. Van tours of the sculptures are available, as are hiking and biking spots.
Why you should go:
“Tippet Rise is a unique union of music, art, architecture, and the Montanan landscape,” says Managing Director of Programs Lindsey Hinmon. “At Tippet Rise, each of these elements fuels the other, and we believe, makes the whole more powerful. Concerts at Tippet Rise are an intimate experience.” Summer 2019 will also feature the inauguration of a major addition to Tippet Rise: a new 2,100-square-foot pavilion, Xylem, designed by the world-renowned architect Francis Kéré.
Upcoming Events
July 12: Gryphon Trio
July 13: Members of the Gryphon Trio will be joined by flutist Brandon Patrick George.
July 13: Stephen Hough, internationally acclaimed pianist.
July 19: St. Lawrence String Quartet
July 20: Pianist and composer Julien Brocal
Aug. 2: Pianist Aristo Sham
Aug. 3: Aristo Sham with cellist Gabriel Cabezas and violinist Katie Hyun.
Aug. 3: All-John Luther Adams program featuring the JACK Quartet
Aug. 9-10: Roman Rabinovich, violinist Paul Huang, and the Escher String Quartet
Aug. 16: Pianist Behzod Abduraimov
Aug. 17: Rolston String Quartet. Evening Performance by pianist Jenny Chen
Aug. 23-25: Festival Weekend featuring the art center’s Artistic Advisor and pianist Pedja Muzijevic, joined by seven musicians in residence
Sept. 6-7: Members of Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education; Piano duo Anderson & Roe.
St. John’s Summer Concert Series
Location: 3940 Rimrock Road, Billings, Mont., at the Fred & Marie Miller Pavilion on the campus of St. John's Lutheran Ministries.
Features:
—Free concert series at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, with openers at 6 p.m.
—Presented by St. John’s United for the benefit of the community.
Why you should go:
“The Summer Concert Series has come a long way from its beginnings in 1997 with a modest attendance of fewer than 100 fans,” describes Margie Prokop, director of community events at St. John’s United. “With 21 seasons under our belt, it is not unusual to have over 2,500 fans gathered to enjoy one of our concerts during the season, with season attendance around 12,000.”
Upcoming Events
July 11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, opener Jessica Lechner
July 18: Midlife Chryslers, opener Cory Leone Johnson
July 25: Southern Drawl Band, opener John Adams
Aug. 1: Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, opener John Roberts & Tony Roberts
Aug. 8: Young Dubliners, opener Daniel Kosel
The Pub Station Taproom & Concert Hall
Location: 2502 First Ave. N., Billings, Mont.
Features:
The Pub Station is conveniently located downtown and serves as a multi-use entertainment venue. The taproom capacity is 400 persons, the concert hall capacity is 795 persons and combined, the venue can host 1000 persons. Patrons may choose between selections of wine, canned beverages and 32 beers and ciders on tap from local and regional brewers. While there is some booth seating, most shows are standing room general admission.
Why you should go:
“We cater to a large variety of genres and artists,” says Sean Lynch, co-owner of 1111 Presents and The Pub Station. “The response from people is that they enjoy seeing bands in an intimate setting. Also, having 32 beers on tap doesn’t hurt.”
Upcoming Events
July 5: Granger Smith
July 12: Shooter Jennings
July 16: Matisyahu
Aug. 1: Randy Rogers
Aug. 4: Steve Earl
Aug. 9: Hinder
Aug. 16: Uncle Kräcker
Aug. 22: Jerrod Nieman
Aug. 30: Mountain Goats
