The stage is set. Cowboy hats and turquoise beads are everywhere. A whoop rises up from the crowd as folksy-blues-country singer Sierra Ferrell prances up to her place in the spotlight. She’s prancing, of course, because she’s arriving on horseback, as any good country artist would. A song rises up to the breathable, uncluttered Montana skies, which serve as the ideal amphitheater for an event of this magnitude.
The acclaimed music festival, Under the Big Sky—though it may as well be called Inside the Big Sky, with its 180° vantage of mountains, forests, and the blue—draws 90,000 musicophiles in a weekend. This intersection of ruggedness and luxury is so uniquely Montana, that it consistently makes the top three for “best summer event” of the Flathead Valley, the county in which the festival takes place. With skyrocketing tourism, and an almost extra 100K people roaming around, you might think “how is there room for all these people?” But Under the Big Sky has been strategically placed, just enough out of town to prevent traffic build-up, while still allowing local businesses—markets, boutiques, coffee shops, banks, lodging—to be easily accessed and supported.
Under the Big Sky debuted in 2019 at Big Mountain Ranch, a working cattle ranch with incomparable views of Whitefish Ski Resort’s mountains and the surrounding landscape. The festival is just a small part of the larger scope of work that takes place on the ranch each year in its crucial role as part of Montana’s agriculture industry. With many festival attendees coming from out of state, this crossover between entertainment and the local economy helps to raise awareness of just how important this trade is in Montana and the mountain west.
Beyond the main attraction of the musical acts, the festival features a live rodeo, activities, and local food and drink vendors throughout the weekend. And the fun doesn’t stop when the stages go dark. After the sun sets, official Under the Big Sky after parties take over the nearby town of Whitefish at local hot spots like The Remington, Great Northern Bar, and this year, Majestic Valley Arena, giving fans a chance to see national acts in smaller rooms. Zach Top was a featured after party artist in 2005; now he’s headlining Saturday night.
Whether you’re a Montana resident or flying in from out of state to get a breath of fresh mountain air, Under the Big Sky is certain to draw you in and make you fall in love. Quickly becoming one of the premier Americana festivals in the country, this experience is uniquely shaped by its surroundings, blending live music with the natural beauty and culture of Montana.
Learn more about Under the Big Sky Music Festival at UnderTheBigSkyFest.com.
"Under the Big Sky is certain to draw you in and make you fall in love."