2024 Under The Big Sky Fest in Words and Pictures

It really is hard to come back to reality after spending three days in picturesque Whitefish, Montana, taking in the music of some of our generation’s very top talents courtesy of the Under The Big Sky Festival on the Big Mountain Ranch. From helping to crown legacies, to breaking up-and-comers, to giving opportunities to those who deserve them, to making plenty of memories for attendees along the way, Under The Big Sky Fest in 2024 had it all, and in ways that feel like they’ll impact the music world well beyond the festival itself.
Under The Big Sky 2024 is perhaps the moment we will point back to that truly broke Zach Top into the public consciousness when he took the stage with headliner Billy Strings and held his own during a epic rendition of “Freeborn Man.” It will be the time when Sierra Ferrell revealed herself as a modern queen of country as she made a regal entrance into the festival on horseback.
When you assemble so much talent and in one place, it’s bound to give rise to moments of magic. This is how Under The Big Sky both started, and ended in 2024. One of the first bands to take the stage on Friday, June 12th was the duo-fronted Muscadine Bloodline out of Alabama. They said that Whitefish was the farthest north they had ever been, and were somewhat starry-eyed to see Canadians in the audience who made the 30 mile trek south from the border to attend.

Muscadine also happened to release a new single the same day they performed called “Tickets to Turnpike” featuring fiddle player Kyle Nix of the Turnpike Troubadours. The Turnpike Troubadours were headlining Friday night as well, and Nix was able to sit in with the Muscadine boys for the song.

Along with Zach Top sitting in with Billy Strings for Sunday evening’s final set, Billy String also sat in during Sierra Ferrell’s set and performed with her on the song “The Bells of Every Chapel.” Then Sierra returned the favor by showing up for the Billy Strings set, singing a rather epic version of Cher’s “Believe.”

Speaking of collaborations, Sierra Ferrell also just appeared on the new single from the Hogslop String Band called “Oldsmobile.” It was Hogslop’s fifth year at Under The Big Sky, and they are the only performer who has played every year of the fest. In fact, when the 2024 lineup was announced initially and Hogslop was not on it, a fan revolt ensued and they got invited back anyway. They showed up on stage dressed like a hillbilly version of the Village People, and promptly set Montana ablaze, fueled by Fireball Whiskey.

Something that separates Under The Big Sky Fest from other megafestivals is their strong support for local talent. This came in the form of booking the dynamic bluegrass band The Lil’ Smokies from Missoula once again, local band Badger Hound who also played the pre-party, as well as the new duo called Denim Gold.
Made up on local songwriters Hannah King and Michelle Rivers, both songwriters had performed at Under The Big Sky separately over the last few years, though guesting on each other’s sets. Frequent songwriting partners, they decided to officially launch a side project, and did it in part with a song aptly titled “Under The Big Sky.” Though the song is more about Montana than the festival itself, it feels like the festival now has an official theme song.


Under The Big Sky Festival is independent country music’s original megafestival. But unlike some of the other megafests that have popped up around the United States whose frenetic schedule with three stages saps patrons and spreads the energy too thin, this two-stage, three-day, 25,000-capacity festival is more manageable to attend, though certainly not intimate, while also offering the opportunity to see much of this generation’s top talent all in one place.
Though two stages are easier to manage compared to three or more, there is a massive hill between the two, meaning patrons have to figure out times to switch stages, or you spend most of your day walking back and forth. With the packed nature of the lineup, this resulted in some very difficult decisions.
Flatland Cavalry and the Turnpike Troubadours going toe to toe Friday night with only a 30 minute stagger resulted in some tough decisions being made by fans of both bands. You only had 15 minutes to see Paul Cauthen before Billy Strings started on Sunday, and only 15 minutes to get from the end of Sierra Ferrell to see the start of Charles Wesley Godwin. Flatland Cavalry arguably had the worst of it, but rose to the occasion on Friday night.

Though some attendees got frustrated at the festival for the tight scheduling, it’s often not just the festival calling these shots, but the bands and their management. Who gets to play when and where is something that gets negotiated months in advance, and before artists and bands commit to performing.
Most of the bands booked at Under The Big Sky come from the country and roots realm, but there are also a few indie rock projects that make the lineup each year. With a name like Richy Mitch and The Coal Miners, you might expect some real hillbilly music from this Colorado-based band. But instead Richy spent most of the time staring at his shoes and his guitar effects pedal. Peeping at their Spotify numbers though, apparently someone is listening.
Conversely, indie rock bands like Mt. Joy and The Revivalists brought the party, and could hold their own among the predominantly country music listening crowd, especially since some of their music comes with roots inflections. When the indie rock bands were booked on one or the other stage parallel with a country band, this is when you heard less complaining from patrons. It made the options easier.
Some were worried if Friday Night’s headliner, the Turnpike Troubadours, might cross paths with Saturday Night’s headliner, Miranda Lambert. Let’s just say that the two have a history. No such interaction happened, and frontman Evan Felker dedicated “Diamonds and Gasoline” to his wife who apparently made the trek to Montana.
A lot of how well a Turnpike Troubadours set goes is dependent on Even Felker’s level of enthusiasm, and he was especially animated Friday night in Whitefish. In 2024, they have really been exploring the depth of their catalog at concerts, exposing songs like “The Mercury” (alright, alright) as the hits we all knew they were when we first heard them.
Miranda Lambert’s Saturday night set was a run through the hits of her career, which when taken in total, really speaks to the depth of her catalog. It was a strong set from Miranda and her band, though in some respects it felt like Under The Big Sky Fest had caught a falling star as opposed to supporting a rising one. Compared to the other headliners, the crowd was less engaged.
“I can see your head is not turned the right way, which is this way,” Lambert said at one point to some folks in the crowd. “If you came to visit, you can do it somewhere else. If you came to sing and hear some country music and drink some beer and raise some hell, then we’re doing that tonight.”
Billboard and Whiskey Riff both ran articles about the moment (even though they were not there) like it was some big altercation, but that really wasn’t the case. What it did speak to is to how portions of the crowd seemed a little inattentive during her set. Unfortunately, Lambert’s peeps put the kibosh on any and all professional photography, and at a time when she could probably use a little buzz. So here is a stock photo of her from a while back.
Everything was topped off by the Billy Strings set Sunday night. Though it was his beyond epic and extended version of John Hartford’s “All Fall Down” that crowned the performance and set the high water mark, it was his collaborations with Sierra Ferrell on “One Loaf of Bread” and Cher’s “Believe” that set the crowd on fire, along with Zach Top’s participation on bluegrass classics “Freeborn Man” and “Big Spike Hammer.”
If anybody “won” the 2024 Under The Big Sky Festival, it was Zach Top. Holding his own with Billy Strings on the main stage during the headliner set with 25,000 people watching on, it validated that he’s not just a cowboy hat, boots, and a polished voice. Zach Top is truly the multi-tool, multi-capacity performer that can do it all: bluegrass flatpicking, Telecaster chickin’ pickin’, while writing and singing songs with the best of them.
The competition in the realm of independent country megafestivals only promises to get worse. C3/LiveNation is already encroaching on Under The Big Sky’s market with their FairWell Fest in Oregon and another event down in Missoula. But Under The Big Sky will always be the first, remains independent, and as it proved in 2024, is still one of the best festival for making lasting memories, and fostering major moments for performers and patrons alike.
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All photos by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos. Apologies to the artist and bands not pictured or mentioned. Every effort was expended to cover as many artists as possible. For more photos, videos, and media from Under The Big Sky Fest and other live events, follow Saving Country Music on Instagram.
July 17, 2024 @ 12:08 pm
Is this the one you were forcibly removed from?
July 17, 2024 @ 12:33 pm
I was forcibly removed during the Billy Strings set. That is one of the reasons I have not published any photos from his set yet. I am currently working on a separate story about this. Hopefully it will be up soon. I’m just trying to be judicious and pragmatic about it so it never happens to anyone else again.
July 17, 2024 @ 1:15 pm
Lambert is done for. Has been for a while now. Attitude notwithstanding.
Zach Top is the real deal.
I doubt Sierra will be crowned Queen of Country Music anytime soon. A bit of hyperbole I think. And the “regal” entrance on horseback? Not. But she is stupid talented. Upward from here.
Can you give more detail on Flatland’s performance?
July 17, 2024 @ 1:31 pm
I only saw the first few songs before I had to skedattle over the hill to get into position to see the Turnpike Troubadours, so I don’t feel comfortable giving a full opinion of a set I missed much of. But they sounded great as always, Cleto Cordero walked out on stage like a superstar, and there were a lot of enthusiastic folks there to see them.
If I was stretching for a criticism, I would say it’s clear that Cleto has been to the Nashville School of Stage Presence. Though engaging the crowd is certainly an important element of performance, but in independent music, it’s also important that it feels organic.
July 17, 2024 @ 2:25 pm
Lambert is done for
(lol)
Must be nice knowing the future pal
July 18, 2024 @ 10:25 am
CK, Let’s revisit this end of year for an comparison. I will admit if I’m wrong. We should, by then, have a good overall performance review of her latest album and singles releases.
July 24, 2024 @ 4:06 pm
She will have a lull that may persist for a while, but she’s not going anywhere. Tanya Tucker 2.0 in 20 years.
July 17, 2024 @ 1:20 pm
This was our first time to Under The Big Sky, and not one of the bands or artists we saw were a let down. We loved everyone we saw, and became even bigger fans of artists we had never got to see live. Kaitlin Butts was in top form, and everyone in the audience whether male or female were totally engaged. We saw Zach Top twice, once being at the after party for 2 hours, and he won us over and then some. He’s so incredible live. We also got in our car and immediately bought tickets to see a full Sierra show near where we live. I have a feeling we will be back next year!
July 17, 2024 @ 1:32 pm
No BS. When I was walking back to the SCM Mobile Command Unit after the end of Billy Strings, I passed two separate vehicles blasting Kaitlin Butts. I took it as a sign that she made an impression.
July 17, 2024 @ 1:27 pm
Great article Trigger. Need to get out to this one year.
July 17, 2024 @ 2:31 pm
@Trigger:
The Wall Street Journal on the contemporary country scene (free version courtesy of the Microsoft Network):
“Country Music Is Booming Again. This Time, the Fans Are in Charge.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/country-music-is-booming-again-this-time-the-fans-are-in-charge/ar-BB1q9PMO
July 17, 2024 @ 3:12 pm
Thanks, saw that. Pretty good article. I think it speaks to a lot of what we talk about around here. Always happy to see outside media get it (mostly) right.
July 17, 2024 @ 6:18 pm
Wish I had money enough to attend this every year. I had a blast when I went in 2022. I’m interested to hear about this happening at the Billy Strings show.
July 18, 2024 @ 7:11 am
Wow!! really sounds like the best of times, maybe one day…even if it’s quite literally the other half of the globe from here!!!
July 18, 2024 @ 9:19 am
Shovels & Rope seems like ages ago.
July 18, 2024 @ 1:30 pm
I hate to admit it because I really like them, but this was the exact thought I had when they took the stage. They played right after Zach Top who drew a massive crowd and put on one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. They the crowd thinned out, and the put on the same show I feel like I saw from them 10 years ago.
July 19, 2024 @ 11:42 am
Being a lifelong country music fan, and loving all the performers that perform here, I will say living here and having attended before, the locals hate this show. Not the performers, or even the fact that they are performing, but the people it brings in.
I was amazed after last years show (headlined by HWJ himself) but what amazed me is how many attendees were there “just to be here” not to actually see the performers or be a part of the experience. I can’t tell you tell how many people were asking about this “old guy” headlining that they have never heard of. Seriously? Hank Williams Jr? Over the years this is turning into an “instagram” festival, especially when you look at the people attending. People pour in to town and are generally rude around town, especially to service industry workers. There is a high level of entitlement that is obvious. More fights in the local bars than you ever see, etc. etc. The locals know to just not head out that weekend. That weekend is not the Montana that we love and know. It is not what makes this place so special, that goes out the window that weekend.
Having said that, I have no problem with the show itself, I just wish the people were more in tune with what makes this area so great and a little more respectful of the land and the people. Unfortunately when you look at how the festival has changed over the last 4 years it feels destined to become cochella north…
July 19, 2024 @ 10:33 pm
First, there has never been a festival that draws nationally and internationally that the locals don’t hate. They hate the traffic. They hate the cell towers getting crashed. They hate the out of towners and their stupid faces. But the local boosters and business owners love it, so it happens. This is the way it goes. Under The Big Sky is no different.
I will say that I never see a greater assemblage of pretty people at a festival like I do Under The Big Sky. There is definitely a nexus between the festival, Southern California, and the Yellowstone Effect. Most certainly some come to it to see and be seen. But those folks show up late and leave early. There are also a lot of great country music fans. But it just takes one asshole to spoil the bunch. And when you put 25,000 people in one place, there’s going to be some assholes.
July 24, 2024 @ 4:14 pm
Does the topography not allow for a main stage with a second stage at the back? Then just volley back and forth between stages. Then have a 3rd stage over the hill for people looking for a more intimate or different experience.
July 24, 2024 @ 4:21 pm
Where the 2nd stage is, it is actually an awesome area because it’s a natural amphitheater on the side of a hill with a creek running at the bottom. It’s probably the best of the two places to watch music. But it won’t facilitate a crowd of 25,000 people. That is why you have the main field. On the opposite end of the field are trees/a forest, so you couldn’t really do something on the opposite end. Sometimes events will have two stages right beside each other, so as one stage is setting up, music is happening on the other. That might work here, but then you don’t have the natural amphitheater stage.