Live Music Venues in Missoula, Montana
Live Music Option Number One
The Missoula Folklore Society
PO Box 9296
Missoula, Montana 59807
http://www.montanafolk.org/venues.html
The Missoula Folklore Society is a nonprofit country music and dance appreciation organization that performs regularly throughout the year, and in a variety of locations. If you like an unplugged sound of traditional music then you will love the performances put on by this group. They put on a number of live music events including concerts, jam sessions, and dances. While they don’t have one specific location for their events, you can check out the Entertainer insert in the Missoulian Sunday paper for performance information and locations, or you can go to their website for a complete schedule.
Live Music Venue Option Number Two:
The Wilma
131 S. Higgins
Missoula, Montana 59802
(406) 728-2521
The Historic Wilma building is a downtown Missoula landmark. No matter where you stand downtown you will be able to see this building because it is one of the tallest in the city. For decades live music performances, dance performances, boxing, movies, and find restaurants have utilized the unique charm and grandeur or the Wilma. Today the Wilma is undergoing a facelift, as current owners are trying to return it to its past glory. If you are visiting town and want some live entertainment, then you can drive by and read on the marquis what special performances are taking place, or you can give them a call for information on ticket price, show times, and recommendations on what shows to see. In the past the Wilma has been host to the Missoula City Symphony, the Wallflowers, Robert Cray, Karl Densen, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Dwight Yoakum just to name a few.
Live Music Option Number Three
Out-to-Lunch in Caras Park
Hosted by the Missoula Downtown Association
(406) 543-4238
http://www.missouladowntown.org
If you happen to visit Missoula during late spring or during the summer and you are interested in some live music performed by local musicians, then you may want to venture downtown on a Wednesday during lunchtime to enjoy the weekly Out to Lunch activities hosted in Caras Park. Food vendors, street performers, and live music will give you a truly unique Missoula experience. The musicians perform under the Caras Park Pavilion, however, you can enjoy their music really from anywhere downtown as the music really carries. You can even enjoy the live music as you stroll along the river trail that runs just behind the Pavilion. The type of music being played will vary week to week, so for more information on who will be playing and what other activities will be available at the Out to Lunch for the week that you will be visiting you can contact the Missoula Downtown Association for more information.
General Tips for Finding Live Music in Missoula
Missoula is a great city for live music performances. In almost any given week there will be a half dozen live music events that you can attend. The city is home to a variety of different types of local bands with styles that range from folk to alternative rock. Also, because Missoula is a common stop on highway 93 between Chicago and Seattle, we get a lot of bands who stop here for a night or two and perform at local clubs and bars for patrons. In addition to local bands and touring bands, Missoula also gets a couple of big name music stars that put on larger concerts at the University’s Adam’s Field House. Local school performances and music festivals also are common for the city as it is filled with many talented school bands, choirs, orchestras, singing groups, etc. The point that I am trying to make here is that if you are looking for a live music experience all you have to do is keep your eyes open. Music events can be found in the weekly Entertainer insert in the local paper on Sundays, they can be found in the Missoula Independent publication, they can be found by contacting the Missoula Chamber of Commerce, and you can also find information about planned events form the Missoula Downtown Association. However, for the more cutting edge performances you may have to just stumble upon them by visiting one of the many colorful bars, coffee shops, or book stores that host live performances on the weekends.
