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Big Sky Big Grass offers unmatched intimacy
Published
9 years agoon
By Maria Wyllie
Explore Big Sky Associate Editor
BIG SKY – The ninth annual Big Sky Big Grass Festival returned to Big Sky Resort Feb. 5-8, showcasing another high-caliber lineup of musicians in a number of intimate settings.
Although big names like Sam Bush, Bill Nershi, and Del McCoury didn’t decorate the list of artists, Leftover Salmon opened the festival with a sold-out show Thursday night at Whiskey Jack’s. The high-energy group, which now includes Montana resident Bill Payne of Little Feat on the keyboard, threw down with festive songs like “Cajun Girl” and “It’s a Powder Day.”
Following the show, a few of Leftover’s band members gathered in the Huntley for a late-night picking session with members of Bozeman’s Kitchen Dwellers and other musician friends. The late night jam sessions have become synonymous with this small winter festival – something that fans and musicians alike look forward to each year.
Local musician Ben Macht, who plays mandolin for the Driftwood Grinners and the Gallatin Grass Project, has attended Big Grass eight times and said the intimacy of the festival is one of the reasons he keeps coming back.
“To be able to watch Leftover rip it up on stage in Whiskey Jack’s, and then sit with them in the Firehole while they are pickin’ is awesome,” Macht said. “I don’t think that happens everywhere.”
Drew Emmitt, who has been playing at Big Grass since year one – sometimes with the Emmitt-Nershi Band, with the Drew Emmitt Band, and now with Leftover Salmon – agreed that the late-night jam sessions are one of his favorite aspects of the festival, apart from skiing, and he says the wintertime setting at an actual ski resort sets the festival apart.
“It’s sort of like an all-inclusive [resort] … similar to an indoor version of the Strings and Sol festival we’ve been doing in Mexico,” Emmitt said.
Over the years, Emmitt says the festival has progressed to include more high-profile bands like Sam Bush and Peter Rowan. “I think more people have found out about it, and I think it gets better every year,” he said.
Other big names on the docket this year included Darol Anger & the Furies, the Travelin’ McCourys, Della Mae, and John Jorgenson’s bluegrass band J2B2. Lesser-known acts like the Billy Strings and Don Julin duo, and rock-country jam band Grant Farm won over the ears of many new fans who went in not knowing what to expect.
“I heard some people were concerned [the lineup] was too weak, but there were amazing musicians here and to be able to see the different musicians in different settings – like Whiskey Jack’s and the Carabiner– is so cool,” Macht said.
Billy Strings compared the festival to being on vacation.
“It was the best weekend ever,” said the 22-year old guitarist from Michigan. “As a whole, it was an amazing experience for me. That’s what a music festival should be like.”
Although some of the crowds were smaller than in years past, folks who attended – whether fans or musicians – took full advantage of the festival’s intimate nature.
“I think Steve [Merlino] does an awesome job,” Macht said, referring to the festival organizer. “I hope he keeps doing what he’s doing because [the] festival kicks ass.”
Jason Meyers, who helps Merlino organize the event, says next year there will be a few quieter shows held at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, as well as favorite acts from years past, and some more “newgrass” bands.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
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