Big Sky resident Annie Clements brings top female musicians to Montana for a world-class performance
By Leslie Kilgore EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Annie Clements moved to Big Sky from Nashville, Tennessee with her family in the winter of 2022. As a touring musician with Maren Morris, for whom she plays bass in her band, and a working mom, her life and weekly schedule are filled with traveling the world for performances, tours and interviews while also being home to take her daughter to school in Big Sky as much as she can. To say she lives an exciting life is an understatement but coming home to Big Sky is always a welcome break from traveling and working with one of the top female country musicians in the world.
Clements and her husband, Thad Beaty, who was voted Best of Big Sky’s “Best Musician” in 2023, moved here for the same reason many couples choose this community as home: to raise their family in a mountain town lifestyle with the values that Montana often embodies.
Lucky for the Big Sky community, Clements and Beaty also brought with them a strong connection to the country music industry and world-class talent themselves, which has elevated the music scene in Big Sky in just two years. One example is his Songs From the Sky series that brings musicians to Lone Mountain Ranch.
Like many world-class musicians, Clements and Beaty have ongoing projects with performers who play with some of the top artists in the world. Most recently, Clements is confirmed to open for Dierks Bentley with her all-female band Side Piece at the upcoming Wildlands Festival on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Explore Big Sky spoke with Clements about her upcoming show at Wildlands Festival and performing with her husband and musician friends at the Big Sky Events Arena.
Explore Big Sky: Can you tell us how Side Piece came about as a band?
Annie Clements: I’ve been touring for so long and sadly there aren’t a ton of women in the backing bands for bigger artists, especially in country music. You get to know the handful that are doing it, meeting up backstage at award shows, sharing bills at festivals. I’m always looking for opportunities to play with other women as I love the camaraderie, the sound of the harmonies, I just love that energy. It’s also important for me to have opportunities to perform when I’m not on a tour. So, Side Piece was created to meet several needs, both personally and professionally.
EBS: What is the meaning/significance behind the name of the band?
AC: The name is a cheeky double entendre as we’re all “side” musicians for bigger artists. It’s a “side project” of sorts and we’re also poking fun at the inevitable eye rolls you get in a so-called “girl band.”
No one calls Pearl Jam a “boy band” just because it’s all guys. We’re just owning and celebrating being a bunch of friends who have a blast playing and are embracing it all. Which is funny for this particular show, as my husband Thad will be joining us on guitar. We do make allowances for male family members!
EBS: Any fun/interesting facts about each band member, and where they are based currently?
AC: Because the band consists of people who are generally on tour, we have a rotating roster; I often refer to it as the “Babysitter’s Club” of bands. We have a core group but lots of friends we can pull in as well.
For Wildlands, we’ve got Megan Jane on drums who is one of the hardest working and busiest drummers in Nashville. She’s played with Lainey Wilson, Alanis Morisette, tours with Brandy Clark and has the best hair ever. It’s gonna slay in a low humidity climate!
Rachel Beauregard, also from Nashville, is on acoustic and vocals and is with me out on the Maren Morris tour. She’s toured with Hozier and Lauren Daigle and is one the highest energy humans you will see on stage.
Thad Beaty, my husband, will be on guitar and vocals. He and I met touring with Sugarland and have gotten to share the stage with Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi and so many other amazing artists. He’s been working so hard here in Big Sky to put on shows and has organized a calendar of all local music happening daily here in town. People can now check out .bigsky.com/music to find out who’s playing every night.
EBS: Can you share any interesting details about Side Piece’s music and your live shows?
AC: We play our favorite covers, lots of country, rock n’ roll, lots of songs by the artists with whom we’ve worked. It’s a really fun, high-energy show.
EBS: What are you most excited about for your show at Wildlands Festival and opening for Dierks Bentley
AC: The very first tour Thad and I did with Sugarland was opening for Dierks Bentley and Kenny Chesney. I’ve shared many bills with Mr. Bentley over the years and I always go back to the energy and excitement of that first tour. We filmed the music video for “Down in Mississippi (And Up to No Good)” on that tour, and there were so many firsts for my career. I’ll always associate Dierks with that special time and I’m excited to bring things back full circle in Big Sky.
EBS: Playing in your hometown, how does that feel?!
AC: I am so excited to get to play Wildlands as a resident of Big Sky. I’ve played tons of shows in my original hometown of New Orleans and my hometown of nearly 20 years in Nashville and it’s always a thrill. But Big Sky is such a small town, such a close community. I have a feeling I’ll know approximately half the crowd on a first name basis. I’m so excited to look out and see so many friends, students and loved ones.
