By Ron VandenBoom
Its a comment most often heard from young people Theres just nothing to do in Montana.
Its a comment that once upon a time I made myself.
But this summer, the person who claims theres nothing to do in Montana is just not looking closely enough. Music festivals, concerts, or Woodstock-like events have been popping up right and left. And most of them advertise on the Internet.
Aug. 28 will see Lake Fest 99 in Big Fork, Montana, on the banks of Flathead Lake.
The Website promoting the event is located at www.lakefest.com and provides the visitor with general information about what bands will be performing, the location of the festival, and ticket information.
The site also lists the sponsors of the event, but Im sure a trip to the sponsor page is really more than even the sponsors expect.
Tickets to the festival can not be ordered online, but there is a phone number where you can order tickets and the cost is also listed.
What is most disappointing about the site is the one thing that should be the most impressive the Featured Bands page.
Why would people attend such an event if not for the music. Yet this page, while listing the bands, gives no description whatsoever. The bands Big Sandy Grain Co. Penumbra, Fuse, Abendego, Hip Strip Tet, The Stuttering Hutterites, and The Cory Heydon Band are locally unknown and require some explanation about who they are and what kind of music they play.
Rockin the Rockies is another music festival that is scheduled to take place this weekend Aug. 6,7, and 8, in the little community of LaHood, Montana, west of Three Forks between Cardwell and Lewis and Clark Caverns.
Unlike the Lake Fest 99 Website, Rockin the Rockies, located at www.rockintherockies.com has a complete list of all of the bands with descriptions and you can order the tickets on line.
Be prepared to spend some pretty good money if you plan on making this trip. A three-day ticket costs $100, and if you want the VIP treatment, the cost is $250. A one-day-only ticket will still cost $40, but even that only works out to $10 per band.
Just a few of the bands include 38 Special, Journey, Nazareth, Foreigner, and April Wine.
Climb on the Web and visit the site to learn more about the bands and how to get your tickets.
The Montana State Fair also has a Website located at www.city-of-great-falls.com/events/State_fair
If you are one of those who likes music, check out the Night Show pages and get the scoop on The Beach Boys, Jo Dee Messina, Mark Chesnutt, The Wilkinsons, or Rhett Akins. Sound clips are available for those who dont know who these groups are or what they sound like, but how likely is that?
If Def Leppard is more your speed, then Metro Park is where you might want to search for information or news on the Billings concert that will take place Aug. 14.
The site is www.metrapark.com/the_goods.asp and all you need to know about the tickets is on the site. There is also a link to Def Leppards home page.
