by John Dowd
For 14 years both Mike Conroy, and his wife Tari, have been putting on the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival. The weekend event usually draws nearly 1400 people, and will be at its newer location for the third year in a row.
Located again at the Heiland family ranch, it will be 10 miles south of Hamilton, right around the 37 mile marker, at 424 Forest Hill Road, Hamilton. Conroy wanted to express a huge thanks to Janice Heiland and her family for allowing the space to be used over the weekend for the festival. The Heilands are the owners and ranch managers of the space, and Ted Heiland cuts the grass and does a lot to keep it pretty for the event. According to Conroy. “They’ve been so involved with putting this event on “ The event takes a lot of help, calling upon over 20 or 30 volunteers each year. In fact, Conroy cited his many friends as the reason the event can even be put on. “We have so many friends in the bluegrass family,” said Conroy.
President of the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association, Conroy explained that though the event is not associated with that organization, they do have one they put on in Victor every spring.
Conroy said he was born and raised in the area and has always been into bluegrass and putting these events on. He and his wife started doing the Hardtimes festival in 2009. He explained that they work hard for six months to organize the festival. “Every year it seems to have grown bigger and bigger!” said Conroy. When asked why they do it, Conroy said,“just because of our friends and the music.” He also expressed that after all the years, the festival has become “the way we’ve always dreamed.”
The festival will take place July 21, 22 and 23. There will be food available for purchase, including barbecue, shaved ice, classic Americana dishes and more. This year, 13 bands will play, and the show will be opened by members of the Heiland family, including Ted, his sister Ramona Potter and her daughter, Rachel Potter. Johnny Campbell is back again from Nashville by popular demand, along with bands from Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Throughout the event, there will be a new band every 30 minutes, and the music starts at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, July 21. “We don’t really highlight bands, they are all good bands,” said Conroy. There will also be bluegrass gospel on Sunday morning.
Admission for the weekend is available at the gate. For an adult it is $40, and $20 for children. A day pass for an adult for Friday/Saturday is $25 and $12 for kids. Sunday admission is $15 per adult and $7 for kids. Children 6 and under have free admission.
Camping is available, beginning Thursday, July 20 at 8 a.m., and first come, first served. Dry camping is $15 a night. According to Conroy, there are usually 150 campers. He also recommends people bring their own lawn chairs. The space will include numerous shade trees and a small irrigation stream running in front of the stage where kids like to play. In fact, Conroy expressed that the whole event is very family friendly, and there is no alcohol sold at the event.
More information can be found at hardtimesbluegrass.com, or by calling Conroy at (406) 821-3777.