Saturday, July 19th
Gates Opens at 6:00pm | Music Starts at 6:15pm | Event Ends at 11:00pm
Jesse Roper
Jesse Roper is a blues/Americana artist with a penchant for writing modern indie infused blues music and delivering bombastic live performances buoyed by his virtuosic guitar playing. His innate and impressive musical talent has served him well, giving him the flexibility to play with soul icon Booker T. Jones, rock veteran Colin James, blues belter Beth Hart, and Canadian legend Burton Cummings. The stage is where Roper shines. It has been his home since overcoming crippling stage fright during his early twenties. Fear is a part of Roper's past that barely seems real today - especially when you see the in-concert image of a six-string solider, hair matted to his face, tearing up the stage, without a hint of second guessing.
Roper's last album 'Horizons' marked a sonic high point in his career thus far. Working closely with famed JUNO-nominated producer Gus van Go (Metric, The Stills, The Beaches, Arkells, Sam Roberts) on that new collection of songs pushed Roper into creating some of his best work.
His newest single "Make It All Work Out" is the first of multiple energetic, fresh, soulful and R&B inspired tracks from a forthcoming LP that harkens the voices of JJ Cale, Leon Bridges, Alabama Shakes - while maintaining Roper's strong and unique expression in the genre.
Adventuresome doesn't properly describe Roper as an artist, because when the guitar-wielding dynamo sets out to accomplish something, there's no telling where his mind will wander, or when his energy will go.
The Dead & Down
The Dead & Down are an exploratory roots-rock band inspired as much by the vast landscapes and dramatic mountain ranges of their Montana home as they are by the myriad musical influences that weave through their sound. Based around the introspective songwriting and dusty vocals of frontman Taylor Burlage, the band navigates sonic trails between rust-flecked alt country and swampy rock ‘n’ roll, with detours through psychedelia and genre-bending experimentation. They have opened for the likes of Paul Cauthen, Futurebirds, and the Last Revel and have hit the stage at Under the Big Sky Music Festival, Red Ants Pants Music Festival and more. Their recently released sophomore album, No Broken Bones, displays the sound of a band hungry to find out what lies beyond the next ridge and only just beginning their journey.
“The Dead & Down have a sound that doesn't fit into one bin. They combine elements of Country, Americana, and Rock for a sonic experience that stays interesting. Their new song, “Switchbacks” has a solid country-rock feel, but the break in the middle is a lot more akin to prog rock. It's a combo that works!” - Bob Wall, KGVM Bozeman
“Alt-country, but on the moon––– and still so down to earth.” - The Pulp, Missoula
