Arts-Entertainment
The Third Annual Livingston Songwriter Festival kicks off in historic downtown Livingston on October 1st. Headliners for the returning festival include Matraca Berg, Radney Foster, Will Kimbrough, Gretchen Peters, Jim Photoglo, and Kim Richey. They’ll be featured in evening shows on October 2nd and 3rd at the Livingston Depot Center and the Attic.
Troubadours will perform at daytime shows all over the downtown area on both days, as well as night shows on Octeber 1st and late night shows on October 2nd and 3rd. Troubadour performers include Katrina Cain, Marcedes Carroll, Jackson Emmer, Anthony Garcia, Abbie Gardner, Susan Gibson, Goldpine, Erik Koskinen, Whitney Mongé, Sarah Pierce, J. Plank, Eric Ramsey, David Starr, and Erik Stucky.
“The lineup for this festival is absolutely amazing, “ said Mike Booth, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Songwriter Festivals organization that coproduces this festival alongside Joanne Gardner Lowell and John Lowell. “There is truly something for everyone this year, with musicians coming in from all over the country to be in Montana. They can’t wait to be in Livingston, and we can’t wait to share them with all of the audiences.”
Between these performers, the headliners have eight Grammy nominations, three Americana Music Awards, three CMA Song of the Year wins, and several other accolades, including two Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductions (Berg and Peters), one Texas Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee (Foster) and a winner of both the International Album of the Year and International Song of the Year (Peters.)
The troubadours include performers/writers from Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, British Columbia, California, Arizona and Montana. There is a two-day “Master Class” scheduled to be taught by Jackson Emmer and Susan Gibson to help interested songwriters polish their skills. Information on the festival is at www.livingstonsongwriterfestival.org. The nonprofit makes contributions to local music programs each year and donated $5000 worth of online music lessons to benefit students at Park High School in Livingston after last year’s festival.
Sponsors of the festival include Town Pump, Livingston Tourism Business Improvement District, Montana’s Yellowstone Country, Montana Office of Tourism, DeYoung Gallery, The Art of Parks Reece, Live from the Divide, Dovetail Construction, Yellowstone Forever, Neptune’s Brewery, American Bank, US Bank, Red Ants Pants Music Festival, Mighty Fine Time Live Events, Exit 104 Records, Starr’s Guitars, Small Dog Realty, Livingston Health Care, Adams Mutli Media, Montana Quarterly, KGLT and the Murray Hotel. Venues include The Attic, Engine Room, Livingston Center for Art and Culture, Livingston Depot Center, Howl, Perk on Park, the Shane Center, Perk on Park and the Livingston Elks Lodge.
“The streets of Livingston will be full of song the first weekend in October, don’t miss your chance to enjoy it!” added Booth.