Large music festival set for this summer in Whitefish
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 5 months AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | January 31, 2019 12:17 PM
A new music festival featuring a list of national performers has been announced for this summer just outside Whitefish.
Under The Big Sky Music and Arts Festival is expected to present stars from across the spectrum of Americana, folk and alt-country, according to a release, at Big Mountain Ranch on July 13-14. Tickets go on sale Feb. 19.
Headlining the weekend is the modern soul of Nathaniel Rateliff, who along with his band The Night Sweats, has had several hits in recent years, and of Band of Horses, a rock band from Seattle.
Country music is at the center of the Under The Big Sky festival with Dwight Yoakam performing alongside indie-star Jenny Lewis and country music singer Cody Jinks.
Under The Big Sky celebrates the tradition of gathering friends and family together under open skies to listen to music, according to a release. The festival will explore the breadth and legacy of Americana, taking in both traditional and contemporary takes on our country’s rich musical traditions, across two stages in naturally formed amphitheaters on the ranch.
Whitefish’s own Jameson and the Sordid Seeds and Mike Murray are also set to perform during the festival.
Rock-folk firebrand Elle King and Texan rockers Jamestown Revival will perform alongside Grammy and Oscar winning Yellowstone star and Americana traditionalist Ryan Bingham. Emerging stars also featured are Brooklyn indie four-piece Lucius, country rocker Nikki Lane and Americana experimentalist Amanda Shires performing alongside country acts Whitey Morgan and Shooter Jennings.
The festival rounds out its diverse programming with Canadian Western folk-star and Rocky Mountain rancher Corb Lund, alternative roots guitarist Bones Owens, blues steeped survivor Justin Townes Earle, the dark whiskey hues of San Diegan band The Silent Comedy, ruckus inducing energy from string quartet Hogslop String Band, Charlie Overbey’s hardened alt-country, and the acoustic duo Danny + Joy.
Under The Big Sky is at Big Mountain Ranch , which is located at 1875 Voerman Road. The festival takes place from noon to 11 p.m. both days.
The festival is an all ages event, with children under six able to enter for free.
Food and beverage will be a curated collaboration between the Whitefish restaurateur Pat Carloss and his team and Best Beverage Catering, who provide catering for many other major festivals. VIP experiences and seating will be offered, with a bespoke VIP food and beverage program.
A bike valet will be available on-site. Discounted hotel and camping accommodations are expected to be announced soon.
VIP tickets start at $250 plus fees and general admission tickets are $99 plus fees.
For more information, visit https://www.underthebigskyfest.com/.
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