BILLINGS - Billings premiere blues festival, Magic City Blues, has come full circle. The event celebrates its 10th anniversary from Aug. 11 to 14, with the return of George Thorogood and the Destroyers, who first performed at the festival eight years ago and has been the most frequently requested act since. Thorogood headlines Friday's show, with Michael Franti & Spearhead (the second most requested act) headlining on Saturday. Hanson (best known for the '90s hit "MMMbop") also hits the Blues Fest with an all-ages show on Saturday afternoon.
Opening up the festivities is a free concert on the lawn at 7 p.m. Thursday, at St. John's Lutheran Home, 3940 Rimrock Road. The festival kicks into gear on Friday, when gates open on Montana Avenue at 5:30 p.m. Six bands will perform on two stages Friday and Saturday night, including a reunion show of Billings favorites, the Tyler Burnett Band, on Aug. 13.
People are also reading…
A portion of the festivities have moved from downtown Billings to South Park at the corner of Sixth Avenue South and Broadway on the South Side, with performances from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 13 and 14. Saturday afternoon features an all-ages performance by Hanson, with The Chicago Mass Choir wrapping things up on Sunday. To celebrate the inclusion of South Park, festival organizer Tim Goodridge has joined forces with Jennifer Drinkwalter to host the Magic City Blues Sole Run, part of the Montana Cycling and Ski Race Series.
"Tim and I started talking about ... different things we could do out of South Park to make it more festive and fun, and, in the name of Magic City Blues, putting bands on the course," Drinkwalter said.The race is a 3K or 10K, with a route from South Park to Amend Park and back for the longer run, and a loop through the South Park-adjacent neighborhood for 3K participants. Bands will be positioned along the course, and the race is scheduled so that participants will finish in time to enjoy the beginning of Saturday's music.
"People come for the run, have refreshments, then the Blues Fest starts at 11," Drinkwalter said.
Thanks to local sponsors, 3,000 free tickets are available for the events at South Park, and Drinkwalter says there will be sponsorships for people who want to participate in the race as well.
"They're trying to do some free entries for families who normally wouldn't be able to go to a concert," she said.
Reserved tables are available for the Friday and Saturday shows on Montana Avenue, which are for the 18 and over crowd. For tickets or information, go to www.magiccityblues.com or contact Goodridge at (406) 670-2329.
