It was in the fall of 2022 that three musicians, Rhett Henry Baxter, Camille Kelly and Johnny Wall, met for the first time in Whitefish.  

They came from a little bit of everywhere – Portland and Denver, Tulsa and Maui.  

But mostly, they came from the road. 

“We accidentally found ourselves at open mic at Casey’s,” Kelly said.  

A week later, they booked their first show and moved into a trailer.  

“But we kept coming back to Whitefish, where it all started,” she said.  

Wall had just picked the drumsticks back up after a 10-year hiatus when a friend drew him to Whitefish, and he too found himself at a Casey’s open-mic night.  

Shortly after, he had his drums and equipment shipped from Maui, and a new life began.

The style of the already involved Baxter and Kelly, who had released an album as a duo, was an immediate match for Wall, he said. 

“Coming up on West Coast country and rock and roll, these guys had it all,” Wall said.  

And so, Radio Ranch was born.  

“Johnny’s punk-rock background elevated our sound,” Kelly said. “His drumming style ushered us into a southern rock energy – it was much folkier when it was just the two of us. Bringing him in created the sound we identify with.”  

Wall’s grateful for the balance. 

“Country and rock ‘n’ roll, they’re first cousins,” he said. “Rhett’s and Camille’s country lyrics are a gift. That’s what makes country soulful, but you apply rock and roll, it takes it to a whole ‘nother level, powerful.”  

The trio played their first gig together at The Remington in 2022, just days after meeting. 

“We didn’t have a place to practice. We just pulled it together by the seat of our pants,” Wall said.  

The show was three hours long and Baxter joked, “I honestly don’t know how we did it.” 

By the summer of 2023, they were playing at the Under the Big Sky music festival in Whitefish. Since then, they’ve traveled far and wide, and have become regulars at Flathead Valley venues, but The Remington is still a favorite. 

“Dave [at The Remington] has been too good to us,” Baxter said. “Dave is what every venue owner should strive to be like. He is hospitable and he cares about music.” 

Pulling it together quickly seems to be a trope for the band.  

Last year, the band found they suddenly had a month to come up with an album before heading to Nashville to record with Leroy Powell out of the Sound Emporium Studio.  

Five days in Nashville later, and they created eight songs for their new album, “Half Way Home.”  

“The whole record is about the road,” said Baxter, who’s found home in climbing, skiing and the road itself.  

“The road – it's a gift,” he said. “To have that opportunity. To move freely. To live freely. To meet people and hear their stories, and then write about them,” he said.  

Recently, the band trekked it out to the desert near Vegas for an entirely self-composed music video for their latest single, “Easy Rider.”  

“Camille shot me, I shot them, then I edited it,” Baxter said.  

While filming, Kelly said, “The wind was a bit of a crux, our hair whipped around.” 

Baxter joked, “Those weren’t fans. The real deal.”  

Wall added, “We’re as DIY as it gets ... we could use a little help.” 

Sure enough, the exposure for Under the Big Sky, where the small band will again be playing this weekend, will be a big boost, and is unlike any other experience, they said.  

“Outriders [the festival organizers] has made a lot happen for us,” Baxter said. “And they make a lot happen for this valley, as far as pushing music forward.” 

They’ll get a little family help this weekend, too. They’ll be joined on stage by Baxter’s brother Trey, and Wall’s son, Zach, to fill out the band.  

Under the Big Sky runs Friday through Sunday, July 18-20, at Big Mountain Ranch off of East Edgewood in Whitefish.  

The Radio Ranch trio turned family-quintet will play Sunday from 1:15 - 2 p.m. 

Other Montana based artists include Tomara, Drew Landry & The North County Ramblers, North Fork Crossing, Hannah King, Give It To ‘Em Florabelle!, Sterling Drake, Halladay Quist, The Helnore Highwater Band, and Tobacco River Ramblers.  

They’ll play among big-name headliners Tyler Childers, Mumford & Sons, and The Red Clay Strays.