For decades, Butte has been referred to as the “Richest Hill on Earth.” The town has since earned an additional nickname: Montana’s Festival City.
The Montana Folk Festival, an annual summer attraction, has become a much-anticipated event that brings people from across the country to Butte.
George Everett of the Montana Folk Festival Executive Committee said, so far, everything is going well.
“The tents are up, and we’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll,” he said.
Thousands of people, residents and visitors alike, will be headed to Uptown Butte this coming weekend to listen to 22 musical acts, featuring genres ranging from bluegrass to rock, gospel to country, jazz to soul, and Latin to Celtic to Quebecois.
The opening ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in the Original Mineyard, with music to follow on the stages at the Original, Quartz Street and Granite Street.
An additional stage has been set up in the old St. Mary’s Church on Main Street, which will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Everett said St. Mary’s has seating for 350 people and will be utilized for intimate groups and workshops.
Tents have also been erected near the Original Mine for First People’s Marketplace and Montana Arts Market. A family area will be near the Granite Street stage.
Rain is not forecast for the weekend, but warmer temperatures are. Meteorologists predict temperatures in the high-80s to low-90s.
Everett and crew are prepared.
The Granite Street stage has been set up as a shaded venue. In addition, five water refill stations will be placed throughout the festival site.
“People should be prepared for some hot weather and stay hydrated,” said Everett.
Festival admission is free, though organizers urge attendees to contribute $25 per day or $35 per family.
“People should come and plan to have a great time,” said Everett.
Listed below is a brief synopsis on each of the musical acts:
—The music of world-renowned Pine Leaf Boys of Louisiana is a deep-dive into the full spectrum of Louisiana’s musical heritage, blending swamp-pop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll.
—Steady touring and albums at No. 1 on the Billboard bluegrass charts make the Amanda Cook Band one of the genre’s brightest lights today.
—Keith Johnson is an accomplished blues guitarist, harmonica player, songwriter and published author.
—Centering its music on what they call Afro Caribbean soul, Afro Dominicano blends traditional folkloric genres from the Dominican Republic.
—Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tamburaški Sastav Ponoć represents a new generation of brilliant players of tamburitza music, the traditional string band music of the Balkans.
—The music of The Legendary Ingramettes bring roof-raising harmonies and explosively powerful vocals, all driven by the voices of women.
—Cécilia brings the best of many musical worlds together in their explorations of traditional, Celtic and Quebecois music.
—The Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia exemplifies the modern-day creative hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music.
—A serious reggae revolutionary, Prezident Brown, launched his musical career at the age of 14, and keeps persevering as a defender of the faith.
—Washington D.C. is the birthplace of Be’la Dona. Their unique style of funk, jazz, R&B and rock has been said to command audiences and the meshing of the raw talents possessed by these seasoned musicians captivates all who see them perform.
—Saraswathi Ranganathan is a virtuoso of the Veena, an ancient Indian instrument. The artist is the first Indian woman and Veena artiste to win a Chicago Music Award in its 35-year history.
—Dale Watson’s music ranges from swing to honky-tonk and rockabilly in a career spanning more than 40 years.
—Based in San Francisco, Parangal’s mission is to give tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic attire, music and dance through research, workshops and performances.
—Appalachian songs, stories and ballads will be provided by Nest of Singing Birds of Weaverville, North Carolina.
—The father-daughter duo of Pedro Luis Ferrer of Miami, Florida, creates unique and compelling harmonies, drawing on deep research into indigenous Afro-Cuban styles, while adding contemporary innovations.
—Based in New York, Nour Harkati is a Tunisian desert blues musician, singer-songwriter, forging a powerful bridge between ancestral North African traditions and the raw pulse of contemporary urban sound.
—Vasilis Kostas, a Grammy-nominated performer on the laouto, represents the next generation brought up in the musical traditions of Epirus, a region in northwest Greece known for music with strong melodic lines, mournful lyrics, and slow rhythms.
—Raven dancer and storyteller Gene Tagaban of Ruston, Washington, uses interactive stories, music and dance as tools to entertain, inspire, and heal.
—The Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Alash are masters at their craft, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time.
—Bluesman Jimmy “Duck” Holmes of Bentonia, Mississippi, is the greatest living proponent of the Bentonia blues, a highly localized style known for its haunting and eerie sound.
—Montana songwriter Sterling Drake’s music carries the character of the rural West, often speaking directly to the people, places and working cultures that define it.
—Wolfbear Singers, an award-winning traditional drum group, are from Lodgegrass, Montana. The group brings their unique energy, voice and vibes to create a vibrant sound that resonates with audiences.
For more details on the upcoming festival, visit www.montanafolkfestival.com or on Facebook at mtfolkfest.