After months of speculation about whether the concerts would continue, two major events have been scheduled for the Missoula brewery's sprawling back lot, with more likely on the way.
First up: Widespread Panic, a wildly popular jam-band that has visited Missoula several times in the past - most recently two years ago, when the group performed at the Adams Center. The band, with its ragtag caravan of "Spread-head" followers, will swing through town for a June 29 concert.
Although word of the two concerts has been slow to spread, Brewery president Neal Leathers had hoped to keep the events under wraps until the entire summer series was announced. But last week, Widespread Panic announced the Missoula date on its Web site.
"We were hoping to have a full slate to announce at once," said Leathers. "But that doesn't seem to be how these concerts are getting scheduled - it's more one at a time."
Despite only having gotten into the concert business last summer, Leathers is confident his brewery can handle the crowds that will likely arrive with Widespread Panic. The band has brought its share of headaches to local concert venues in the past, most notoriously when it performed at the 1,100-seat University Theatre in 1998.
That concert saw "at least as many people wandering around outside the venue as were able to get inside," recalled University Theatre director Tom Webster.
"It was a mess; people were trying to climb in the windows," he said.
Such problems will hopefully not arise at the brewery, which Leathers believes can hold up to 7,000 concert-goers. But, he admits, there's still plenty of work to do in preparation for this summer's shows.
"We're planning to expand the grass (lawn) a bit, and maybe change the stage location so that the space we do have gives better viewpoints from the wings," says Leathers. "Of course, with landscape companies, this is their busy season, so hopefully we'll have everything set and established by then."
The two upcoming concerts are the result of a recently inked deal with Bravo Entertainment, a Boise-based concert promotions company that brings numerous concerts to Missoula, including events at the Adams Center and the Wilma Theatre.
Leathers said he has signed a two-year deal with Bravo to bring summer concerts to the brewery, which is located at 5417 Trumpeter Way, near the junction of Expressway and Airway boulevards.
But even that deal may need to be amended come next year, Leathers noted. That's because the empty lots adjacent to the brewery's property, which are used for parking for the concerts, may be developed by then.
"We'll just have to see whether we'll be able to do more concerts here next year, or whether we'll have to find a different space for those events," said Leathers.
Hear the music
Widespread Panic will perform an outdoor concert at Big Sky Brewing Co. on June 29. Tickets go on sale April 30 and are $31.50. Ani DiFranco will perform a concert at the brewery on Sept. 7. Tickets for that event go on sale May 6 and are $25. For more information, visit www.bigskybrew.com or www.bravobsp.com.
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