Under The Big Sky Fest Reveals STACKED 2023 Lineup
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners, mid-day draws, and up-and-comers, it’s a festival that is hard to beat, and illustrates just how far independent country has come.
Headlining in 2023 with be Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Williams Jr., whose ties to Montana are as significant as anyone’s, including using the state as a retreat throughout his career, taking a 500-foot dive off of Ajax Mountain and landing on his face in 1975, and recording the underrated album cut called “Twodot Montana” off his 1983 album Strong Stuff.
Zach Bryan is getting a deserved do-over from Under The Big Sky. Last year the festival booked him in an early day slot when he probably should have been headlining the whole damn thing. Well in 2023, he will be, and the field will be packed for him for sure. Joining Hank Jr. and Zach will be the massive indie folk band CAAMP in a headliner spot.
Also on the lineup in major spots are Whiskey Myers, Colter Wall, Ryan Bingham, and Charley Crockett. But it’s the undercard that will get you salivating as much as anything. The addition of 49 Winchester, Vincent Neil Emerson, Kat Hasty, Molly Tuttle, Bella White, Drayton Farley, The Red Clay Strays, and Christina Vane shows just how much the promoters are paying attention to who is cool in country and roots and the moment. Someone has Saving Country Music bookmarked, that’s for sure.
Under The Big Sky Fest 2023 will occur July 14th, 15th, and 16th. Tickets will go on sale December 9th at 12 pm Mountain, and they will sell out with the fest limited capacity policy. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to underthebigskyfest.com .
November 29, 2022 @ 7:24 pm
Might have to “check” it out. I’ll be the first to admit I have no idea who Hank Williams Jr. is, but I like some of these other artists. Yay!
November 30, 2022 @ 9:56 am
Hank Jr is a first Gen nepo baby.
February 13, 2023 @ 8:22 am
If you’re considering attending a country music festival and you don’t know who Hank Williams Jr is then you are attending the wrong festival. Maybe you can catch Lorde or something more to your tastes somewhere else.
November 29, 2022 @ 7:28 pm
Everyone should go listen to Cristina Vane. Her newest album from earlier this year is called Make Myself Me Again and it’s a super fun listen. Silky smoky voice and a tremendous slide and blues guitarist.
November 29, 2022 @ 7:57 pm
Was cool to see her on this lineup. It shows they’re paying attention.
November 29, 2022 @ 9:17 pm
I got to see her play at this tiny bar in Brooklyn, Skinny Dennis, a couple months ago. Had my first Lone Star beer that night too. It was a good night.
November 30, 2022 @ 7:13 pm
Say hello to Skinny Dennis, the only one I will miss…
November 29, 2022 @ 7:35 pm
I love Hank, I do. I found a copy of his Greatest Hits Volume 1 on cassette in my dad’s car and it was life altering at my young age.
I’ve seen him live at least half a dozen times over the years. The last couple of times sure seemed like he was more irritated with the fact that he was there than having any appreciation for the fact that the place was full of people who wanted to see him. Pretty sure he didn’t perform a single complete song and what he did perform he ad libbed lyrics to.
Perhaps he’ll be invigorated by the opportunity to play his new blues album live and this will be a win for everyone, but it made me a lot more excited for the rest of the lineup than it did for this headliner.
November 29, 2022 @ 7:40 pm
I will say that it is a bit odd to see Hank Jr. considering the overall lineup. Should be an interesting time. Lots of talent on the roster.
November 29, 2022 @ 8:06 pm
Leann Rimes? Is she teasing a “back-to-my-roots” comeback or have I missed something that’s been happening for a while, which is hardly out of the question? Don’t pounce on me if I’m hopelessly out of touch on this. I just didn’t expect to see Rimes in this lineup.
November 29, 2022 @ 8:26 pm
Holy freaking cow.
Anyone else who thinks Cristina Vane sounds like, Melanie – raise your hand.
https://youtu.be/RCTMTflcuug
Busted out laughing when heard Cristina’s voice.
Hope she shoots straight through the stratosphere
November 29, 2022 @ 8:30 pm
Geez…wonder If they’ll oversell and run out of beer, whiskey, wine, water & Food again?
Been there….I’m out.
November 29, 2022 @ 8:47 pm
Was there last year, and with the limited capacity, moving the stages and vendors back, and adding more resources throughout the site, none of these things were issues whatsoever. That said, two years ago on Saturday, it was a shit show. It appears they learned their lesson.
November 30, 2022 @ 6:53 am
That’s good to hear. It was the stories from years prior that helped me decide to not go last year. The other question was is there enough lodging?
I’d love to go cause it’s only a few hrs away.
November 30, 2022 @ 8:40 am
Lodging is definitely an issue. Obviously, everything in the area gets bought up, and since it’s right during the tourist season, it’s already stretched thin. They do put up a bunch of temporary campgrounds and such, and offer shuttle services to and from the site.
November 29, 2022 @ 9:09 pm
Independent country fans in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and those others places in BF West have a goddamn hard time finding good shows within a driving distance. So when this comes up, it’s a MUST GO. Can’t wait for July!
November 30, 2022 @ 6:20 am
Won’t be able to drive but I’m working on plans to travel from Massachusetts to catch this one.
November 29, 2022 @ 9:24 pm
Probably the best thing Hank Jr. ever wrote was the title tune for his “Montana Cafe” album. One of my all-time favorite songs.
November 30, 2022 @ 4:46 am
I’m loving those headliners. on the surface it might seem weird that Hank Jr is sharing a headline spot with Caamp, but I couldn’t be more excited about it. I grew up on Hank’s music, and as an adult, of love the Americana/folk rock stylings of Caamp. Officer Of Love is a fantastic song. This is one of the best festival line ups I’ve ever seen in any state or city.
November 30, 2022 @ 7:26 am
If I didn’t hate being in large groups of people souch this sounds pretty good. I do feel like there could be some artists from the generation between Hank and Hayes Carll who could bring some good history to something like this. Slade Cleaves, Joe Ely, Iris Dement or what have you.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:24 pm
Cody Jinks
https://abc13.com/cody-jinks-houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo-tour-concert-tickets/12510935/
November 30, 2022 @ 6:27 pm
I attended all three days of the festival last summer. I loved every minute. Contrary to previous year nightmares I read about on here, I saw none of that. They had the toilets separated for men and women and I never had to wait to pee somehow. The water situation was worked out. First class. They have a giant water station between the main and second stage where 20 people or more can fill their bottles. Beer prices sucked, but it kept me mostly sober during the three days. I put several miles of walking every day walking back and forth from main and second stage. Highlights were seeing Turnpike for the first time on Friday night. Saturday spending a lot of time at the second stage seeing Morgan Wade and Jamey Johnson back to back. Sunday was nuts being surrounded by thousands of twenty-somethings at 5 in the afternoon seeing Zach Bryan. Margo Price saw several thousand of his audience leave when she started playing. Midland was good but too many covers I thought. Jinks was awesome and had a similar crowd reaction as Bryan earlier. I would probably figure out a good camping situation if I did it again. I stayed 17 miles away south and had to drive back and forth every day. As a whole, the festival was amazing. You are surrounded by Montana! There is literally a stream that goes right through the second stage area that you can soak in while watching the show if its hot.
December 1, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Just wanted to say Bella White deserves some shine. I dig her stuff and she has a long career ahead of her.
January 10, 2023 @ 10:41 am
I’m from Alberta. My daughter and I are taking a road trip through the US next summer (a long time dream of ours). Under the Big Sky is the top of our list and with this being my daughters first concert we are so excited to see all her favorite artists in the lineup. Zach Bryan, Whiskey Myers, Colter Wall and Hank Williams Jr. Music, ranch and rodeo…what more could you want. We are counting down the days
March 25, 2023 @ 7:07 pm
Why can’t I find out who is playing on which dates
March 25, 2023 @ 7:11 pm
They have not released daily schedules just yet. They usually do that a month or two before the event.