Whitefish native performs at Under the Big Sky

Whitefish native Izaak Opatz is returning to the valley this weekend to play a set for Under the Big Sky, a music festival that brings Montanans and tourists to Whitefish for a weekend of packed music.

Opatz first began playing the guitar in high school, particularly with John Dunnigan’s son. The two often played with Dunnigan, learning from an already established musician. When he got to the University of Montana in Missoula, Opatz began singing and writing his own music. He graduated in 2012 with a degree in creative writing, English and forestry.

Opatz had a solid group to play with in Missoula, ultimately forming a band. After graduating he moved to Nashville for a year since none of the band members were available to tour.

“I was curious to move somewhere where music could be a priority,” he said.

After one year in Nashville, Opatz packed up again and moved to Los Angeles after a friend of his moved there, which is where he met the majority of the band he still plays with today. It was great, Opatz said, because it was a place where he had some friendships and met people who were passionate about the same things he was.

He spent around five years in Los Angeles, making great connections, playing lots of shows and getting a feel for the music industry.

“I couldn't see myself just going full on and being in L.A. like fulltime for music,” Opatz said. “I just did a calculation when I thought that I got enough out of it. I was suffering a little bit from the stress and missing Montana.''

Opatz, now based out of Missoula, still plays with the band he met in California, often traveling there to practice or head out on a tour. While it is a bit of a sacrifice to have to do the extra travel and not rehearse with them often, Opatz is happy with the decision — as is the band. The four piece band has been playing together for the last two years, but some of the members have been playing together for nearly eight years.

After three albums and a multitude of shows, Opatz is now standing at the precipice of one of the cooler opportunities he has come face to face with: playing a real music festival. And of all the music festivals there are, this one is in his hometown.

“It’s kind of bizarre because it's our first real festival gig,” he said. “This is like a real festival, slightly big time, and it’s just so weird that it’s happening in Whitefish.”

Opatz describes his musical style as somewhere between country, punk, pop and jazz. It’s a version of alternative country that isn’t too twangy and isn’t acoustic. He writes his songs from a country perspective but the instrumentation of them ranges.

They are currently on a tour along the West Coast, playing Under the Big Sky, as well as shows in Coram and Polebridge, with the last show being in Missoula. In the meantime, he is looking forward to returning home and getting to play music where he grew up.

“I am just looking forward to seeing the festival,” Opatz said. “I am excited to be able to do it.”

Under the Big Sky is July 14-16 at Big Mountain Ranch in Whitefish. Headliners this year include Hank Williams Jr., Zach Bryan and Caamp.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.