Locals help Grammy-winning R&B artist play free concert in pasture
By Fischer Genau DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD
Daniel Caesar, the 30-year-old Grammy-winning R&B artist, has over 35 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has sold out Madison Square Garden and played for huge crowds at Coachella. But on Thursday night in Bozeman, he played a more intimate venue. In a horse pasture east of town, Caesar crooned to a crowd of a few thousand gathered there for a free pop-up show he announced on Instagram earlier that day.
Caesar is currently traveling across the U.S. and Canada, playing free pop-up shows in places like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, and on Thursday, he made a stop in Bozeman. But the show hit a few snags.
Josiah Schwahn was en route to the first location Caesar had announced, off the highway near Manhattan, when he got a call from a friend that “the feds” had shut down the show, and Caesar’s fans were anxiously waiting to hear an updated location. Caesar posted “New location coming soon” on his Instagram account, and Schwahn thought he might be able to help.
Schwahn is the head of VFX for the Bozeman-based production company Mission Ranch Studios as well as the co-founder of Stockyard Studios, a visual effects company. Both Mission Ranch and Stockyard operate out of an office on the east side of town, situated on 15 acres and a big horse pasture, with plenty of room for a crowd.
“Come to @missionranchstudios,” Schwahn commented on the post. “WE HAVE A LOCATIONS FOR YOU.”
Schwahn had all his friends like the comment so Caesar would see it, and within a few minutes, he was on the phone with one of Caesar’s managers. Soon after, Schwahn and the other members of Mission Ranch were clearing the horses out of the paddock and stowing their barn cats indoors, and a few minutes later, Caesar and his crew were setting up sound equipment for the show.
“Crazy 24 hours,” Schwahn said the next morning. “It happened quick for sure.”
Schwahn estimates that about 2,500 people descended upon the property to watch Caesar play, with long lines of parked cars strung out along Frontage Road—at one point in the show it was announced that they were towing illegally parked cars, and about 100 people sprung up and ran towards the highway.
With just an acoustic guitar, Caesar played a series of songs off his latest album, Son of Spergy, as well as a few of his old records. Early on, the clouds opened up, lightning flashed and rain poured down on the gathering, causing Caesar’s team to consider cancelling the show.
“It was a pretty unreal spectacle,” Schwahn said.
But eventually the squall passed and the music continued. The property that became an impromptu music venue Thursday night is owned by Mark and Sarah DeOpsomer, the parents of Mission Ranch co-founder Chase DeOpsomer, and they gave the boys their blessing to offer up the space.
“It was a unique, personal show,” DeOpsomer said.
Caesar wrapped up the performance shortly after it grew dark, and the crowd slowly emptied the pasture. DeOpsomer said he only picked up one can while cleaning the property, and that everyone there was very respectful.
“It was definitely a once in a lifetime memory for a lot of people,” Schwahn said.
Schwahn, DeOpsomer and a few of their friends got to hang out with Caesar after the performance in their office.
“Super, super normal guy, absolutely loves Montana,” Schwahn said.
Caesar talked to them about his love for the state, and during the show, Caesar told the crowd that his song “Call On Me” off the upcoming album was completed in Montana.
Caesar’s pop-up tour will continue until Oct. 13, and he’s scheduled to stop next in Los Angeles.
