Loads of free music July 10-12 in Butte
“This may be our most varied group of traditional performers yet,” says George Everett, manager of the Montana Folk Festival. “Expect to be amazed!”
The festival, July 10-12 in Uptown Butte, offers performances and demonstrations by more than 250 of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers and craftspeople against the backdrop of the country’s largest National Historic Landmark District. The dramatic Original Mine Yard looks over the city; other venues include a dance pavilion, family stage, and a Montana folklife stage. Vendors sell a tantalizing array of food and beverages; and artists, demonstrators, instructors and performers share their talents at Arts Markets, and in the Family Area and Montana Folklife Area.
A sampling of the 25 performing artists and groups appearing this year: The Campbell Brothers, sacred steel; Dale Ann Bradley, bluegrass; Grupu Rebolú, Afro-Colombian rhythms; Preston Shannon Band, blues; the Savoy Family Cajun Band; Cambalache, son jaracho music from Veracruz, Mexico; Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Irish fiddle and guitar; Experience Unlimited, go-go (a blend of funk, R&B and hip-hop); the Banana Slug String Band; Kahulanui, Hawaiian swing; the Western Flyers, western swing; Whitetop Mountaineers, old time; and the Khmer Arts Academy, Cambodian ballet.
The festival showcases Montanans too, including the award-winning Kenny James Miller Band, the New Big Sky Singers, and Native American flute player Troy De Roche.
No admission is charged for any performance, but attendees are encouraged to “pony up” with a contribution in the colored buckets of $10 for an individual and $25 for a family.
“These performers will all be in Butte throughout the festival weekend and admission to all shows will be the same – free, thanks to the generosity of our many sponsors who ‘pony up’ so that this festival lives on,” says Everett.
“If you’ re curious about how this year’s Montana Folk Festival is coming together, check out the festival on your smart phone before you get to Butte,” suggests Everett.
The app will make it easier for attendees before and during the event to satisfy their curiosity about any aspect of the Montana Folk Festival, returning to Butte this coming July 10-12.
Anyone with a smart phone can download the free mobile app at Itunes Store, or the Google Play Store, if using an Android device. Alternatively, the app can be downloaded directly. Look for EventBase and when you have it on your phone, search the app for the Montana Folk Festival.
The app provides schedule details, video clips, music clips and much more information about the upcoming event.
Or, if you prefer a bigger screen, the same level of detail can be found at the website at www.montanafolkfestival.com or on Facebook at Mtfolkfest.