Rock ’n’ roll trailblazer Joan Jett and country music star Scotty McCreery will take to the stage for concerts during the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo in August.  

The fair concerts kick off Aug. 12 with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.  

Famous for her raucous, three-chord guitar-playing and rebellious image, singer Joan Jett was a member of the all-female, teenage punk-rock band the Runaways in the 1970s before becoming a successful solo artist in the 1980s. Known for breaking into a genre once off limits to women, her successful career has spanned decades. 

Eight albums by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have been certified platinum or gold and the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. They have nine Top 40 singles, including the classics “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.”  

After working for years to secure Joan Jett, Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally said he’s excited for the show.  

“She is one of the icons of rock 'n' roll,” he said. “She has so many number one hits. You can’t turn on a rock radio station without hearing her.”  

Gates open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. 

Reserved seating tickets are $75, and party pit tickets are $85. General admission tickets are $65. All tickets purchased prior to arriving at the fair include admission to the grounds.    

Then on Aug. 13, country music’s Scotty McCreery brings his rich baritone vocals and insightful storytelling to the fairground stage. The 30-year-old has sold more than four million albums and achieved five consecutive No.1 hits including “Damn Strait” and “You Time.”  

After winning the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17, McCreery was named the ACM New Artist of the Year and won the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year in 2012.  

The opening act for the evening will be local favorite Copper Mountain Band. The high-energy country and classic rock group formed in 2007 and has been touring off and on ever since.  

The Copper Mountain Band takes the stage at 7:15 p.m. and McCreery at 8:15 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. 

Reserved seating tickets are $55, and party pit tickets are $65. General admission tickets are $45. All tickets purchased prior to arriving at the fair include admission to the grounds.    

Also, during the fair, the PRCA Rodeo runs Aug. 14-16 featuring world-class athletes from Canada and throughout the United States. Events include bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding.   

Reserved seating tickets are $35, and general admission tickets for everyone over the age of 12 are $30. General admission tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $15, and children age 5 and under will be admitted to the general admission area free of charge.  

The fair closes Sunday, Aug. 17 with a mud bog race with the Eureka Dune Runners. That show begins at 2 p.m. and tickets are $15. 

On Aug. 8, a youth rodeo and fair parade are both planned. Details on those events will be released later.  

The theme of this year’s fair is “Together We Are Montana’s Best.” 

“The theme is designed to highlight the volunteers and service organizations that make our community better,” Nunnally said. “We want to highlight those volunteers.”  

For more information about the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo or to purchase event tickets, visit nwmtfair.com or stop by the fair office during business hours.   

    Country music star Scotty McCreery will play at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Ray)