Kick off summer with outdoor concerts
Kick off the first day of summer with a comfortable lawn chair, a cold beverage and a concert at Saddlehorn in Bigfork June 21.
Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation’s third annual Summer Guitar Celebration features some of the top artists in Northwest Montana in a variety of musical genres.
The evening’s lineup includes the Adam Stroud Trio, an exciting new jazz guitar group from Missoula. They will be joined by slide guitarist Dan Dubuque, a rising young star from Polson whose music covers such rock legends as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles to Rage Against The Machine.
Flathead Valley musicians include Barnyard Riot, a rocking bluegrass and country swing band from Whitefish; and Montana’s original blues artist, Andre Floyd and Mood Iguana of Kalispell, who will keep the party going with an original brand of powerful blues and a passion for having fun.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. at the Saddlehorn Trapper Cabins, located in a forested natural bowl above Flathead Lake, south of Bigfork at 150 Ranch Road. To get there, take Montana 209 about one mile east from Montana 35 and follow the signs to Saddlehorn.
The entry fee is a suggested donation of $10. Food, wine and beer will be available to purchase. Bring a lawn chair and a warm jacket, because after all this is Montana — even if it is officially summer! If it rains, the show will go on, moving to Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork.
The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation is holding the event as a warmup for its upcoming Guitar Workshop and Festival, which takes place Aug. 25 through Sept. 1 at Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork. Raffle and door prize drawings will stimulate donations for the nonprofit foundation that organizes the weeklong workshop.
This year’s lineup of artists in residence who will teach and perform include the Pat Metheny Trio, Lee Ritenour and his elite rhythm section, Robben Ford, Darryl Stuermer, Livingston Taylor and Mac McAnally plus Scott Tennant and the L.A. Guitar Quartet.
Festival tickets will be available at the June 21 concert. They are also available at cocguitarfoundation.tix.com.
For more details about the festival or the concert, visit www.cocguitarfoundation.org or call (855) 855-5900.