Changes Big and Small at this Year's Bob Marshall Music Festival

SEELEY LAKE- The Bob Marshall Music Festival is returning for a third year as Seeley Lake's own music festival but this year several big changes are afoot.

Festival organizer Chris Stout is managing and funding the festival himself this year. This is a change from last year when he received financial support from the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.

"Last year the foundation was very generous in putting it forward," Stout said. "But I think in the end they kind of felt that it wasn't necessarily in line with what their mission was. And so at that point in time, I just said I'll take it on myself and do it."

To better manage the finances of the festival and the 50K runs he organizes across the country, Stout created an LLC, Outside Productions. He also dropped a few activities including the Paddle Board race, stages throughout town and Sunday morning worship, to ensure that every event he put on was well organized.

"Every year the feedback was 'You don't need to be spread so thin,'" he said. "It's not like we have a staff of 50 people running around doing this. Some of the stuff wasn't put together as well as I would have liked to see it just because of manpower and budget."

This year's festival will be smaller and more based around the festival grounds, south of Cory's Valley Market. The music will also start later in the day to give festival attendees the chance to enjoy outdoor activities as well as hang out in Seeley Lake.

Stout changed the timing of the festival because it was more difficult to book bands during the third week of July which conflicted with other music festivals. The weather during that time of year also influenced his decision.

"Originally the festival was in the third week of July. It was like five days before the [Rice Ridge] fire started and it was a 100 degrees. So this year, when I had complete say over it all, I would do it the last weekend in June," Stout said.

Another major difference this year is the price of tickets. Stout said he dropped all of the ticket packages down by about $20 and added a day pass so people from the area could enjoy the music without having to buy a full weekend pass.

Passes can be purchased online at thebobmusic.com up to and including the day-of. They can also be purchased at the entrance to the grounds.

The festival takes place in the field south of Cory's Valley Market, and begins on Thursday, June 28 at 1 p.m.

Band Previews

The Brothers Comatose

The Brothers Comatose is comprised of brothers Ben Morrison (guitar, vocals) and Alex Morrison (banjo, vocals), Gio Benedetti (bass, vocals), Philip Brezina (violin) and Ryan Avellone (mandolin). The five-piece string band describes their musical style as "raucous West Coast renderings of traditional bluegrass, country and rock 'n' roll music."

The Last Revel

The Last Revel calls their style of music a blend of the genres of Folk, Rockabilly, Old Time String-Band and Rock. The trio, consisting of Lee Henke, Ryan Acker and Vincenzio Donatelle are originally from the upper Midwest, use their the acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, five-string banjo, harmonica, kick drum and three-part vocal harmonies together to create their signature "Front Porch Americana Soundscape."

The Cold Hard Cash Show

The Cold Hard Cash Show is a tribute to the music of Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three. Members Merle Travis Peterson on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Fel Torres on drums and John Sporman on upright bass have performed with high profile celebrities and at special events across the country, even appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

The Social Animals

The Social Animals are a rock/indie band from Duluth, Minn. Band members Dedric Clark, Tony Petersen, Boyd Smith and Roger Whittet have released one EP called The Formative years.

National Park Radio

National Park Radio call themselves a "modern folk band born and based in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas." The band consists of four members: Stefan Szabo, Heath Shatswell, Mike Womack and Jon Westover and they have released one, self-titled EP.

Halladay Quist

Halladay Quist is a Montana-born singer who has traveled extensively and been part of musical groups ranging from a classical choir to being in the cast of her brother's rock opera, Phantasmagoria. Her music is a blend of folk rock and she has one, self-titled album. She has also created a program where she visits schools and shares Native American stories and legends with children through song.

Jive Mother Mary

Jive Mother Mary is a rock n' roll band originally from Burlington, NC. Their influences include southern rock, folk, gospel and according to their Facebook page, "the list goes on and on." The five members, Mason Keck on guitar and vocals, Will Sanders on bass and vocals, Tyler Schulz on guitar and vocals and Seth Aldridge on drums have been together since 2010 and they are currently working on their third studio album.

Beat Deaf

Beat Deaf, a trio from Helena, MT that describes their style as  "vaguely folkish alternative rock" consists of members Joey Gaither, Tyler Cano and Cory Groce. They play both originals and cover music. They have one album, "Troubled Time."

Kimberly Dunn

Is a solo artist originally from Austin, Texas. Her music is a combination of country, rock and pop. She has two albums out now, "Forever on the Run" released in 2014 and her sophomore effort, "New Smoke Show" which was released this year.

TJ Brosscoff

TJ Brosscoff is a solo artist based in Irving, Texas. He describes his style as alternative country. His most recent album is a 2016 release called "Love, Loss and the Afterglow."

Dodgy Mountain Men

Dodgy Mountain Men is a Missoula band who calls their style "Home-brewed Montana Stompgrass." The quartet has released two studio albums and has performed at music festivals across America. They describe their members and instrumentation as "Eric Boss on his git' Jed Nussbaum on mando an' electric guitar, Josh Clinger an' a bass and Christian Gutierez percolatin' percussion."

Tylor & the Train Robbers

From their hometown of Boise, Idaho, Tylor and the Train Robbers have created a sound that they call a blend of "gritty Americana and outlaw honky tonk." The band's name is inspired by Tylor's outlaw relative, the late Black Jack Ketchum. Other band members are Jason Bushman on backup vocals and bass guitar, Johnny Shoes lead guitar and Flip Perkins on drums.

Good Old Fashioned

Good Old Fashioned is a Missoula-based band that describes their style as "acoustic roots music." Members of the group are Chris and Callie Woodman, Brody Klemer, originally from Seeley Lake, Jeff McLain, and Adin Kloetzel, who grew up in Ovando.

Matt Strachan and The Hoot Owls

Matt Strachan and the Hoot Owls, brings Strachan back to his hometown of Helena, Mont., where he has become well known for his high-energy country-rock performances. He previously headlined at the Bob Marshall Music Festival with fiddler Felicia Hellems, bass player Paul Brantley and drummer Cody Davis.

Chad Okrusch

Singer-songwriter Chad Okrush describes his style as "Rocky Mountain Americana." He has one album, called Wisdom Road, which was released in 2008.