The Livingston Bluegrass Festival returns for its second year, bringing two full days of world-class bluegrass music to the Henry E. Blake Pavilion. Featuring nationally touring acts alongside regional favorites, this festival is quickly becoming a must-attend event for music lovers across Montana and beyond.
Friday Lineup
Montana Standard
Their combined decades of experience, unique twin fiddles, tight vocal harmonies and rock-solid instrumentation produce an excitingly energetic sound unique to the region, perhaps to the country. Their reverence for the traditions of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, as well as vintage country music set the stage for a great show!
Damn Tall Buildings
Celebrated folk-bluegrass band based in Brooklyn, known for their soulful melodies and intricate instrumentals. This seasoned trio—Max Capistran, Sasha Dubyk, and Avery Ballotta—has spent over a decade honing their craft through dedicated touring and recording, creating a distinctive sound that weaves heartfelt lyrics into thoughtful fiddle, guitar, and bass arrangements.
“Think of: The Carter Family for the millennial generation. Old Crow Medicine Show meets Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros meets Flatt & Scruggs meets Nickel Creek, with a dash of Avett Brothers and a sprinkle of Johnny Cash.” - The Boston Globe
Saturday Lineup
Release the Squirrels
A dynamic bluegrass quintet from Western Montana’s rugged valleys, unleashes a sound that honors tradition while breaking new ground. Formed in 2024, this spirited ensemble blends danceable old-time originals, inventive covers of modern hits, and reimagined bluegrass classics. Rooted in the legacy of Bill Monroe, the Bluegrass Album Band, and John Reischman’s intricate instrumental compositions, the Squirrels infuse their music with bold arrangements and a modern edge. Their virtuosic musicianship shines through blistering flatpicking, hard-driving banjo, rock-steady upright bass, mesmerizing fiddle melodies, and inspired mandolin runs.
Special Consensus
For five decades, banjo master Greg Cahill has led with a clear musical vision rooted in tradition and driven by innovation. Anchored by Cahill’s distinctive banjo style and the powerful lead vocals of Greg Blake, the 2023 and 2025 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, alongside Brian McCarty (mandolin and vocals) and Nico Humby (bass and vocals), Special Consensus moves effortlessly from jazz-tinged instrumentals to award-winning originals—always maintaining their bluegrass core while following their creative instincts. Special C has released 22 recordings that have garnered two Grammy nominations and eight IBMA awards.
From lightning-fast picking and soaring harmonies to foot-stomping jams and unforgettable live performances, the Livingston Bluegrass Festival promises an incredible weekend of music, community, and mountain-town magic.
Generously sponsored by Walter & Regina Wunsch - SPECTEC TIC, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Marcia McCrum, and Carol Lalani in memory of Sal Lalani.