John Stenson

Mike Ott is one of Montana's most talented musicians, visual artists and magicians. His comedy and magic show is this Friday, 7pm at the Butte Elks.

One of the great things about Southwest Montana is that when an event starts growing, you can count on it to keep growing. Heck, we've turned St. Patrick's Day into a full weekend even during the years it falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This year, the Uptown Christmas Stroll gets underway at the Courthouse and while there will be music and dancing in the rotunda, there will be a lot of other choices for you to enjoy tonight. Let's take a look at what's happening musically over the next couple of days in our area.

The 2023 edition of "Rhythm and Brews" at the Original Mineyard was off to possibly its best start in event history. In fact, the party was in full swing, and kids and adults alike were having a great time. And then the storm hit. Saturday evening's freak lightning storm and torrential downpour put an abrupt end to the event just after 5pm. But other than the early end and soaked partygoers, the fundraiser for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Butte was a big success. Here's a look at some of the fun that was had before the clouds opened.

Tomorrow's Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Butte's "Rhythm and Brews" Festival is going to be a good one. Things get underway at the Original Mineyard with the car show with registration at 10am. Gates open at noon with food trucks, beverages, kids' activities and lots of fun. Music will fire up at 1pm on the big stage. Let's take a look at this year's performers.

If the turnout the past several weeks is any indicator, this Thursday night's "Music on Main" event is going to be a big one. Coupled with a favorable forecast and one of Butte's most popular bands and you've got something. Add one of Montana's premiere guitar players to the mix and it adds up to an evening of great music, food and fun that you will want to come early for.

The Montana Folk Festival has grown into one of the biggest and most successful events of the summer in Montana because of the incredible array of world music and culture that it brings to the Mining City. And this year for three performances, organizers needed to look no further than our own backyard to fill some important spots on the performance schedule. Say hello once again to the popular duo The Berkeley Pits, veteran singer/songwriter Chad Okrusch and welcome the relatively new but very talented band Juniper Creek to this year's lineup.

Music has an uncanny way to connect events and memories. Music has its own way of bringing together people with otherwise little in common, but this thread alone can spawn beautiful, lifelong friendships. But with life, as it is with music, the song always comes to an end. Last Saturday's Butte Rock Fest, a huge success in its own right, perhaps inadvertently reminded us that life is fragile.

Hundreds of live music fans representing every age category gathered Saturday night at the Butte Depot's outdoor concert area for an incredible evening of live rock that reunited a pair of legendary bands, showcased the entire history of another and got started with a pair of acts that are writing their own chapters in the long history of Butte rock bands.

Live music with the Berkeley Pits kicks off another big weekend of activity at the Butte Elks on Galena St. that includes bingo and a Mother's Day breakfast.

It's going to be another very busy week at the Butte Elks Lodge 240 featuring bingo, singo, the Berkeley Pits and a Mothers' Day breakfast all on the docket.