By Renae Counter Big Sky Weekly Editorial Assistant
BIG SKY – Rain or shine, the show must go on.
Afternoon thunderstorms passed through Big Sky hours before the second annual Spruce Moose Festival, leaving the venue one big puddle. The crowd showed up with multiple layers on, decked in rain boots, water sandals, or just barefoot to enjoy the sounds of Michael Franti and Spearhead.
The Whigs opened for Franti, getting the crowd dancing and splashing as the skies overhead cleared.
When Franti and Spearhead took the stage, the scene immediately embodied “the sound of sunshine coming down,” words from one of the band’s songs. Although Franti has played Bozeman a number of times, this was his first show in Big Sky.
Franti kept the music upbeat and the crowd even more so; despite the cold night and the wet ground, the mood stayed alive and positive, much like the music.
Crowd participation was encouraged, and during multiple songs Franti invited fans up to play air guitar and show off their best moves. During his hit song “Say Hey (I love you)” children from the crowd were invited onto the stage, helping sing the chorus and getting to meet the band.
When Franti exited the stage the crowd, insisting on “one more song,” cheered him back on. After the show, music was left playing and the crowd continued to dance on the soaked hay piles, despite the chilly evening.
