AN INSTANT CLASSIC UNDER THE BIG SKY

With thousands of attendees and big headliners at its inaugural year in 2019, Under the Big Sky Festival stunned music fans and shook up the local scene overnight. Adorned in sequins, Jenny Lewis charmed the crowd; Dwight Yoakam tore up the stage with his dance moves; and the moon rose up behind Nathanial Rateliff, as he brought the swaying crowd together in the final performance. Each year since, the energy has only grown. With a blend of national names and regional favorites, the festival is now a point of hometown pride in Whitefish. Hosted at the Big Mountain Ranch, a charming property, this is the kind of festival where folks relax in lawn chairs, spread out to dance freely, and soak up the atmosphere. This summer, the lineup is studded with headliners Hank Williams Jr., Zach Bryan, and Caamp. In addition to this festival, musicians keep nights lively throughout the year at the bars and venues around Whitefish, like Tupelo Grille, the Tap House, Slow Burn Records, and the Great Northern Bar and Grill. For bigger music venues, Flathead Valley residents like to take a quick weekend trip down to Missoula to see shows at the KettleHouse Amphitheater and the historic Wilma.