2024-25 Big Concert Series Kicks Off Sept. 27

The Northeastern Arts Network is pleased to present the 2024-25 Big Sky Concert Series. This year's series features exciting a kaleidoscope of musical entertainment as part of this art organization's ongoing commitment to provide quality entertainment to the community with a variety of shows that will appeal to every age and interest. The following performances will be held at 7 p.m. at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney.

The season kicks off on Sept. 27 when Montana Repertory Theatre presents "MONSTERS+FARMERS" by JM Christiansen.

Join us as we step into the captivating world of Riley, a teenage science enthusiast living on a Montana ranch near the scenic Mission Mountains. Inspired by Mary Shelley's timeless masterpiece Frankenstein, Riley embarks on a fascinating endeavor to create her own DIY creature, chronicling the process on her popular YouTube channel. But when her creation takes an unexpected turn, Riley and her brother Aidan must navigate the chaos to safeguard their surroundings, all while the world watches through their smartphones. "Monster + Farmer" intricately explores themes of creation and connection in an increasingly digital landscape, offering an engaging and thought-provoking theatrical experience.

On Oct. 24, we welcome Montana's own, The Lucky Valentines. The Lucky Valentines have written upward of eighty songs, and use a mix of folk melodic sensibilities, tight harmonies, and a whole lotta love to make sad things beautiful. Their sound could be bottled up as "Bruce Springsteen and Patty Griffin meet Shovels and Rope in a Gypsy Junkshop". He sometimes uses a thirdhand suitcase as a kick drum, and the rotary phone from her father's shop as a mic. She blends classical violin with raging folk passion. He channels John Prine and Hank Williams. They have been featured on MTPR's Musician Spotlight, at Austin's Iconic Hole in the Wall Cafe, the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, and were featured on 11th and Grant with Erik Funk. TLV blends homespun DIY folk and country sounds with fresh sonic energy; infused with cold heartache, electric wonder, razor sadness and fiery joy, their music is made to be played on repeat.

The Jazz Legacy Project performs the great legends of jazz such as John Coltrane, Billy Holiday, and Thelonious Monk on Nov. 7. Created in 2015 after an epiphany Justin Varnes had while teaching Jazz History at Georgia State University, the JLP has an ongoing residency at the Velvet Note jazz club in Atlanta, where they have been selling out their performances for six years and counting. Ditching a traditional textbook in favor of playing records and telling stories about the artists to college kids who knew little or nothing about jazz proved to be a big success. It turned out that performing the artist's music and telling their stories in between proved to be an even bigger success. But it's more than just offering insight into what to listen for when listening to jazz, it's also woven into American history - as jazz itself is. Many movements in jazz are a direct result of cultural shifts in America, and connecting an artist's music to a time or an event in history can open up a new world when listening to it.

March 20, 2025 will feature the "A Capella" group Backtrack Vocals from New York City. This 5-person professional a cappella singing group transforms familiar pop, funk, Motown, standards, and Broadway songs with all-new vocal (and beatbox) arrangements. Capitalizing on their fresh sound, they began their musical journey by launching a YouTube channel, where their unique music videos featuring new arrangements of songs by Sia, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Michael Jackson, and Shawn Mendes (to name a few!) have garnered over 10 million views. Backtrack Vocals recently won New York's Got Talent Season 6, and other high-profile appearances include television spots on NBC, FOX, PBS, Steve Harvey's daytime show STEVE!, and Broadway's Kinky Boots.

All concerts are held at the MonDak Heritage Center (406-433-3500) in Sidney at 7 p.m. Season tickets can be purchased at the door: adults $60, senior $55, and students $35. For concert information contact Leann 406-480-5594 or Jill 406-489-4304.

The Big Sky Series is made possible in part by the Montana Performing Arts Consortium Presenter Development Program which is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Montana Arts Council, legislative grant from Montana's Cultural Trust, and WESTAF.