Popular bluegrass fest will be held in Victor

After the forced hiatus due to Covid, the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association Festival and Fundraiser came back stronger than ever in 2022, with a new venue and renewed enthusiasm. That has carried through to this year, and the annual event, scheduled for Saturday, April 15th at the Neely Center in Victor, promises to be a blockbuster of a good time.

That’s according to Mike Conroy, who organizes the musical shindig with his wife Tari and a few other intrepid volunteers. 

Eighteen bands are featured this year, some brand new bands and some seasoned touring  bands from throughout Montana and Idaho – “we’ve got the whole gamut,” says Conroy. The first group, the Jolley Family from Corvallis, a “brand new” family band, will take the stage at 11 a.m. They’ll split a set with Starr Chilson, talented dobro player from Stevensville. That will be followed by a different band every half hour until 7:30 p.m. Some longtime favorites in the lineup include the Soggy Bottom Girls, the Darby Sireens, Pinegrass, and Mike and Tari Conroy. 

Susan McCauley is in charge of the kitchen, and she and her crew will be serving up chili, soup and desserts, all for a modest fee. 

More good news this year – Conroy said one of the association’s members gave a big donation, so all MRBA members will get in for free. Admission is just $5 for non members, and there’s no charge for kids under 12.

Reyna Redman founded the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association in 1998. Mike and Tari have been members ever since. They started holding the festival in 2000 and it’s been held yearly since then, except for the Covid years of 2020 and 2021. Conroy said MRBA has just under 200 members, who gather regularly for music jams and campouts. This is the only fundraiser for the group. 

The Neely Center is located at 150 S. A Street, two blocks west of the gas station in Victor.

For more information contact Mike Conroy at 406-821-3777 or visit mtbluegrass.com or on Facebook at montana rockies bluegrass association.

“It should be a fun day,” says Conroy. The music is always great and “everybody really loved this venue last year,” he said. “It has a more intimate feel.”