This year’s Feed the Need concert features country singer-songwriter Drake Milligan, with organizers hoping to break previous fundraising records during a time of heightened food insecurity.  

The benefit concert for the Flathead Food Bank takes place at the Wachholz College Center on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. It will feature country singer Drake Milligan as the headliner, with Tommy Edwards and Clint Sherman also performing.  

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture told states that benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, would not be administered in November due to the ongoing government shutdown, food banks across the country sprang into action. Flathead Food Bank Executive Director Chris Sidmore said the food bank has already seen an increase in patrons.  

“On Monday alone, we saw 50 extra families. I don't have an exact number from Tuesday, but there was a big increase. And on Wednesday, we normally have one line of people out there, but this week we had two lines,” Sidmore said.  

The show marks the fourth year for Feed the Need, which started in 2022 with performances from Edwards and Jack Rogan at the Jewel Basin Center in Bigfork.  

The past fundraising record for the benefit concert is $70,000. The goal this year is $200,000, and $100,000 has already been secured in sponsorships. 

Admission to the concert is by donation at the door for the first 1,000 people.  

"The energy alone is just palpable. You know, you got 1,000 people united for one cause —all good-hearted people. So, just the atmosphere alone is almost indescribable,” he said.  

Headliner Drake Milligan is a rising star on the country scene who wants his music to feel fresh while still holding onto a traditional sound. He’s excited to come play music for a good cause.  

“We all play music to impact people's lives in some form or fashion. Music can also do great things in raising money for good causes. It's a great reminder of why we do this at the end of the day and why music is so great,” Milligan said 

As a teen, Milligan played Elvis Presley in CMT’s 2017 TV series “Sun Records,” and later appeared on “American Idol” in 2018 and “America’s Got Talent” in 2022. He also scored a No. 1 hit on Canadian country radio with his song “Honky Tonkin’ About” with The Reklaws.  
He’s shared stages with artists like Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton — and will share a billing with legendary duo Brooks and Dunn in the European Country to Country festival next year.  

Milligan said he’s excited to come back to Montana and play songs from his newest album “Tumbleweed,” which released on Nov. 7. He said the new album maintains his position as a torchbearer for traditional country music, but still feels fresh.  

“There are songs in there that feel very classic and nostalgic to me. There are songs I wrote seven years ago and songs I wrote this year. So, it's a great way for me to show that kind of maturing over time as an artist. I think it really is a great continuation of my sound, but also kind of takes me into new places as an artist,” Milligan said.  

Along with the music, the show will feature stories of clients who used the food bank services to get back on their feet and then became volunteers for the food bank.  

Students and teachers from Somers Middle School will have a booth in the lobby selling chai and hot chocolate to benefit the school’s food pantry. 

Even though these are uncertain times for the food bank, Sidmore said that people are stepping up to help from all over the valley.  

“I do feel like we're kind of staring into the unknown to the abyss here with what's going to come in the following weeks. But I’ve gotten to meet the most incredible people, some doing little food drives of their own, and I can't wait to meet even more at the concert,” he said.  

Along with the recent surge of support from community members, Sidmore said donors Lucy Smith and Rob Ridgeway are offering a combined $15,000 match for donations at Feed the Need.  

To learn more about Feed the Need, visit flatheadfoodbank.org/feed-the-need/.  

Reporter Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].