2023 Under The Big Sky Fest Schedule & Survival Guide
If you’re heading to Whitefish, Montana or are already there, congratulations, you’re about to experience one of the greatest assemblages of talent in independent country and roots music that happens all year. If you’re unable to be there, feel free to follow along with Saving Country Music on Instagram for regular updates from the field.
Whether it’s your first time, or your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, below is the full schedule for Under The Big Sky Fest 2023, along with some useful tips about how to have the best experience possible.
The Schedule:
See a list of pre-parties/afterparties
Useful Hints:
Plan Ahead
Cell phone coverage on the site can get extremely spotty to non existent as the festival site fills up through the day. Plan out designated places and times to meet up with friends. The Under The Big Sky site is HUGE. Don’t anticipate you can fetch things from you car or from town. Pack accordingly. Bring a reusable cup or bottle for water from the numerous refill stations. The whether is not supposed to be super hot like in previous years until Sunday, but be prepared. You’re also at 3,000 ft., so skin burns quicker.
You’re Not Going To Be Able To See Everything
And don’t try, unless you’re crazy. With two stages about a 1/4 mile away, and the additional obstacles of a huge hill in between, tens of thousands of other fans clogging up the pathways, and a moat full of rabid raccoons (not really, but might as well be), you’re just not going to catch all of the acts on your wish list by rushing back and forth. But if you’re practical with your plans, you can see a lot of great stuff.
Figure out when you want to transition between stages so that way you cut down on walking back and forth. For the big acts, if you want to be right up front, you better duck out of the show before early so you don’t have to fight through the crowd.
*HINT – If you really have to make it between the stages quickly, there are some shortcut paths through the woods to the side of the main path between the two stages. They’re harder to trek through, but less congested, and shady.
Make Sure To Take The Time To Discover Something New
One of the great things about Under The Big Sky Fest is there isn’t a bad act on the roster. Even the early acts would be late afternoon performers or headliners at other festivals. Drayton Farley on Friday, Kat Hasty and The Local Honeys on Saturday, and Colby Acuff and Christina Vane on Sunday all are the future of country/roots music, and are performers that come highly acclaimed from Saving Country Music. You may not be able to see them all, but you’ll be thankful if you catch a couple of them and find your next favorite artist.
Don’t Skip Out on the Local Acts Either
Yes, these are LONG days, and there are other things to do while visiting Whitefish. But one of the cool things about Under The Big Sky Fest is it doesn’t just book big names and ignore the local talent. Friday opener Archertown was formed in New York, came to prominence in Nashville, but is actually from Whitefish. So are Jamie Wyman and the Helnore Highwater Band. Izaak Opatz is based out of nearby Missoula.
There’s a reason these local bands are getting big opportunities on big stages. It’s even better if they’re exposed to national fans.
Takes Some Time to Soak It All In
Along with the talent on the stage, the setting of the Under The Big Sky Fest is a feature itself. There is a train track running through the site, as well as a creek in front of the Big Mountain Stage. Beautiful mountains are off in the distance. There is a real, actual rodeo that transpires by the Big Mountain Stage. Food and beverages are of course pricey, but there are some great local food vendors worth savoring.
Important Sets
Colter Wall just does not tour these days. His appearance at Under The Big Sky is one of a very few live appearances all year. Don’t miss it for swanky dinner plans in Whitefish. He’s also appearing on the same day he releases his new album Little Songs, so be there.
Speaking of upcoming releases, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway’s City of Gold comes out the week after. You see how Billy Strings is selling out arenas now? That’s the trajectory Tuttle is currently traveling on. See her in more intimate moments while you still can.
The Red Clay Strays, 49 Winchester, and The Hogslop String Band are some of the best live bands on the planet. You don’t need me to tell you to not miss Charley Crockett and Whiskey Myers. But these bands are also ones that need to be highlighted on your list.
Shane Smith and the Saints could be headliners. Instead, they’re playing opener for The Dead South on the second stage. Saturday and Sunday night are a murderer’s row of talent as it is, but this could be a set for the ages.
Say Hello To Yours Truly
If you see a guy that looks super busy wearing a black vest and brown hat with a camera on his hip, stop him and and say hey. He may even have some goodies to give away, while supplies last.
July 13, 2023 @ 8:49 am
Is it just me or does LeAnn Rimes seem kind of out of place in this lineup? I mean, I get that 2023 LeAnn Rimes is not 2003 LeAnn Rimes, but still….
July 13, 2023 @ 9:11 am
It will be really interesting to see the set she performs. If she focuses on her classic-sounding country stuff and throws in a Patsy Cline cover, it could be great. If she plays the same set she’s playing on whatever current tour she’s on and it’s mostly pop stuff, it won’t go over well. She has the bullets to fire for a crowd like this. The question is if she’ll use them.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:51 am
She’s gone so full-blown pop in recent years that I tend to forget how traditional her sound was when she first came up.
Side note, LeAnn Rimes was the Saturday headliner of the only major festival I’ve ever attended, Country Jam in Eau Claire, WI back in the ’90s.
July 13, 2023 @ 11:10 am
Saw her perform at the Ryman a few months ago on her current tour. She did a fantastic job of mixing all of her styles of music into the show: the pop hits from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack, cuts from her recent Remnants album, 90s favorites, and a dose of classic country. She put on a great show…and her voice is phenomenal!
July 13, 2023 @ 8:50 am
At some point on Saturday, do Molly, Leann, and Bocephus get together backstage, and commiserate about how brutal the business can be to talented musical folk when they first become famous as teenage prodigies?
July 13, 2023 @ 8:52 am
This was very nice to read and made me happy. I couldn’t make it out this year, but had to say: 49 and whiskey myers having overlapping sets is absolutely criminal. How can anyone make that call to either leave 49 early or miss the first half of whiskey myers? Good problem to have though. Also, i think it’s weird and kinda lame that Luke Grimes is getting late afternoon / evening set times at a bunch of festivals with 4 released songs. yellowstone effect i guess!
You know who rips really hard and i wish was playing at big festivals 5 4 3 2 1 too slow his name is jeremy pinnell and he ripzzzssszzsss
July 13, 2023 @ 9:18 am
I’m pretty sure he was getting big slots with only 1 released song. Hopefully he can bring it.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:24 am
49 Winchester came through my area last weekend and Whisky Myers is coming by next weekend so that’s how I’m solving that problem this year. WM is between Priscilla Block and Tim McGraw…. So I don’t even know what to think about that.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:14 am
If War Pony is the same War Pony that’s from my area, eastern Oklahoma, they would be worth catching. Indigenous rock and roll and blues.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:41 am
Have a great time! I’ll be following along on Instagram.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:50 am
She’s gone so full-blown pop in recent years that I tend to forget how traditional her sound was when she first came up.
Side note, LeAnn Rimes was the Saturday headliner of the only major festival I’ve ever attended, Country Jam in Eau Claire, WI back in the ’90s.
July 13, 2023 @ 10:59 am
Trigger, would be great to see a review of the next Caamp album in the future, great folk rock band from Ohio that’s made up of a bunch of buddies who grew up together. Obviously not country, but it’s been very interesting to see them climb the festival lineup year after year. Something similar to the spotlight you gave the Michigan Rattlers, both great American bands putting out some genuine music. Crazy to see them headline such a massive festival this year, but their catalog of songs is rich. Just a thought for down the line.
July 13, 2023 @ 11:06 am
Red Clay Strays will be headlining this in a few years after they get a couple more albums out. Enjoy Trigger and all the SCM regulars attending. Here’s to good weather for you all.
July 13, 2023 @ 11:07 am
some line up in a beautiful part of the world. If only I could be there.
July 13, 2023 @ 5:20 pm
Great lineup! Dont skip Hogslop String band- they are a heck of a lot of fun to see live too-
July 13, 2023 @ 9:06 pm
Any news or hearsay about whether Colter will be touring at all to support the new album?
July 13, 2023 @ 9:34 pm
Maybe in 2024. But if there was any tour support behind this album, my guess was a we’d already seen dates by now. My understanding is he’s just more interesting being on horseback than on a stage.
July 13, 2023 @ 9:40 pm
See you tomorrow night.
July 14, 2023 @ 7:38 am
Thanks for the write up! Enjoy everyone heading there. It’s too crowded for me. Molly Tuttle has been in the area. She joined Old Crow on stage outside Missoula Wed.
July 14, 2023 @ 3:08 pm
Having two stages is a catch 22. The overlapping set times are the biggest downfall of festivals but there’s so many great bands at this festival every year. I know this site is all about Country music and Shane Smith and the Saints are an awesome band but don’t overlook Marcus King. I’ve seen him and his band twice and they puts on an amazing show from start to finish. Good Bye Carolina is a must see live.