MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

 KETTLEHOUSE AMPHITHEATER.

NEUBAUER MEDIA COURTESY OF LOGJAM PRESENTS

The sounds of Mumford & Sons, Pearl Jam, Trampled by Turtles, Sheryl Crow and other famous musicians swell into the streets and rise up to the mountains on any given night. Music pulses through Missoula. You’ll find local bands trying to make it big and bona fide rock stars on Missoula’s stages. It’s no wonder Missoula’s music scene is considered the best in Montana and is gaining notoriety throughout the West.

Missoula is undeniably a music town. You can find live music any day of the week, and sometimes the biggest challenge is just prioritizing which shows you want to see and which venues you want to hit first. Lineups include internationally known performers—think Elton John, the Rolling Stones and Foreigner—along with up-and-coming artists, indie favorites with cult followings, and local bands making their mark on the music scene. No matter the season you’re visiting or the genre you’re searching for, Missoula is bound to have a live show on the lineup.

Stay up-to-date with the latest musical happenings in Missoula by visiting MISSOULA.LIVE, and check for travel updates and safety resources at DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG/SAFE.

THERE’S NEVER A BAD SEAT IN THE HOUSE

The Top Hat offers an intimate setting with a dance floor for all ages (and scheduled family-friendly nights). The Wilma, a renovated historic theater, can accommodate more people and bigger shows and is known for having one of the best sound systems in the Northwest. Big-name bands play the Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, Washington-Grizzly Stadium and the Adams Center. Festivals throughout the summer, like the River City Roots Festival, bring in bands to perform on downtown stages.

Two outdoor amphitheaters combine some of Missoula’s favorite things—the outdoors, live music and local beer. The Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater features a worldclass stage set against the big blue sky, and the KettleHouse Amphitheater is situated on the banks of the Blackfoot River. There’s no better place to be than outside on a Montana summer evening.

A NEW MOVEMENT FOR MISSOULA’S MUSIC SCENE

Music is the heartbeat of Missoula, and a driving force behind our epic music scene is none other than the Missoula Symphony Association. After a year of streaming concerts due to COVID-19, the Missoula Symphony made a triumphant return to live music in 2021 with their new music director, Julia Tai.

Tai is one of the most dynamic conductors on the international stage and the first female music director in Missoula Symphony history. The arts community is thrilled to welcome her, and the feeling is mutual. “You really couldn’t find a more receptive and enthusiastic community than Missoula—I feel so fortunate to be a part of this big family,” said Tai.

Tai grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, and began her violin studies at age four and piano at eight. Her career in music allowed her to live around the world, and now she’s excited to call Missoula home. “I was immediately taken in by the beautiful scenery that surrounds the city—the river and the mountains. But what I couldn’t forget after my trip was all of the incredible people I met ... Everyone was so warm and supportive.”

After a year of obstacles due to COVID-19, Tai is ready to dive into Missoula’s live music scene. “I hope to really bring the community together. For me, concerts are not a way to showcase your personal ego, but to build bridges between people, using music as the universal language to bring people together. I think my first step as the music director is to really listen—listen to the community and the musicians, and get to know the city.”

If you’re interested in catching a Missoula Symphony concert, check out this season’s schedule and buy tickets at missoulasymphony.org.

Missoula Venues

BIG SKY BREWING COMPANY AMPHITHEATER

This newly redesigned outdoor venue attracts national acts like the Decembrists, Luke Bryan and Avett Brothers. Savoring a show here is the perfect way to spend a quintessential Missoula summer evening against the backdrop of rolling foothills and the big blue sky that gave the brewery and venue its name.

KETTLEHOUSE AMPHITHEATER

Situated on the banks of the Blackfoot River (famous for worldclass fly-fishing) this new venue draws performers like Sheryl Crow, Ween, Alice Cooper and Primus, who play under the stars while rafts float by behind them on the wildly scenic river.

THE WILMA

Retro elegance meets eclectic talent with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Peter Frampton and Lyle Lovett.

TOP HAT LOUNGE

An intimate venue perfect for spending quality time with the Oh Hellos, Tyler Childers and Skizzy Mars and local celebrities like Shakewell.

ADAMS CENTER/ WASHINGTONGRIZZLY STADIUM

Sir Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam and The Rolling Stones have rocked Missoula to the tops of the mountains and back at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, while the Adams Center has hosted big-name artists like Florida Georgia Line and Elton John.

OGREN PARK ALLEGIANCE FIELD

At the stadium, the sounds of Paul Simon and Widespread Panic have been known to enliven the night air and keep time with the Clark Fork River’s syncopation as it rolls on past.