Festival-goers should pace themselves this summer with world-class acts spanning black metal to country-western to orchestral arrangements, all within hours of Jackson Hole. Now in Montana after a Jackson Hole birth in 2015 on Shadow Mountain, Fire In The Mountains will be back for the first time since 2022, promising epic views, heavy riffs, and lots of black t-shirts. Targhee Bluegrass Fest will return for its 35th year, bringing the biggest names in jam-grass to the base of the Shoshone Lift at Grand Targhee Resort. The Horseshoe Music Festival will be upscaling from the Virginian to the Teton County Fairgrounds this September, bringing talented musicians, craft vendors, and holistic wellness to the Jackson community.
Many Jacksonites might have already booked it to Salt Lake where indie rockers Hurtado played their hometown festival, Kilby Block Party, for the first time in the wake of their new EP, “Cavalier.”
The future looked murky for Hurtado, having just come off an extended touring break after a stint of touring. Songwriter and guitar player Sam Hurtado told KHOL that the homecoming brought clarity.
“I think at this point, we’re Salt Lake heads. Like, we’ve been around, we’ve all been to Kilby a ton… This feels, at least for me, really special. Feels kind of cathartic to play after we put out our record like that.”
Festivals can be tiring: bright lights, loud sounds, way more than 10,000 steps. In summer, you’ve got the dry high mountain heat. But have you ever heard of someone who regrets running 26.2 miles? Actually, never mind.
Here’s our nonexclusive list of festivals and concerts to hit for your musical marathon mileposts:
- Sawtooth Valley Gathering: June 19-22, Stanley, ID
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival: June 19-22, Telluride, CO
- Zootown Music Fest: July 4-5, Missoula, MT
- Under the Big Sky Fest: July 18-20, Whitefish, MT
- Cheyenne Frontier Days: July 18-27, Cheyenne, WY
- The Red Ants Pants Festival: July 24-27, White Sulphur Springs, MT
- Fire In The Mountains Festival: July 25-27, Red Eagle Campground, Blackfeet Nation
- Rhythms of the Rio: July 31 – Aug. 3, Del Norte, CO
- Targhee Bluegrass Festival: Aug. 8-10, Alta, WY
- Field of Vision Festival: Aug. 15-17, Buena Vista, CO
- Horseshoe Music Festival: Sept. 11-14, Jackson, WY
Other opportunities to catch live, local music:
