This Week in Concerts: August 22nd thru August 28th

The Rialto is getting a rare dose of electronic music from veteran music producer, MartyParty of PantyRaid. Martin Folb a.k.a. MartyParty started producing his own flavor of music in 2005 with a mission to change the monotony of electronic music by creating an entirely different electronic sound.

He wanted to be more musical, more story telling, and have more diversity in the beats. The result is a growing anthology of music crossing over most popular genres into a rich original sound.

With anthemic choruses, lush 3 part harmonies, and rhythms rooted just as deeply in Motown as in rock ’n’ roll of the past and present, The High Divers create songs that nod to the classics, while carving out a sonic space all their own.

With the spring release of their second full-length album, All Our Neighborhoods, The Mondegreens have taken yet another major step forward. What started as foot-stomping, folk-rock, echoing their sunny roots in rural Northern California, has developed an edge since a 2015 relocation to Seattle

After two incredible sold-out runs in 2017 and 2018, “Freak Out: The Musical” returns to its new home at Bozeman’s Rialto theater for a two-night, three performance run (including a late night “audience sing-along” edition.)

“Freak Out: The Musical” is a one-of-a-kind event. An uproarious “b-movie” parody that is equal parts Easy Rider, Hair, Rocky Horror Show, The Muppet Show, and Rosemary’s Baby. “Freak Out” combines catchy and clever original songs, a full rock band (no pre-recorded music,) highly-innovate puppeteering, psychedelic light shows, ingenious practical effects, and a cast of over a dozen performers.

53 Years and counting, the iconic and profoundly influential Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in Country Rock and American Roots Music, continues to add to their legendary status.

With multi-platinum and gold records, strings of top ten hits such as “Fishin’ In The Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles”, multiple Grammy, IBMA, CMA Awards and nominations, the band’s accolades continue to accumulate. Tickets are almost sold out, so grab them quick!

Bozeman’s beloved stompgrass folk band, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs are headlining the Official River City Roots Afterparty! This award-winning band has been taking their infectious sound on the road since 2013, sharing stages with the likes of The Travelin McCoury’s, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Jeff Austin Band, Amy Helm, Leftover Salmon, The Infamous Stringdusters, Corb Lund, Billy Strings, Mark Chesnutt, Blitzen Trapper and many more.

The Bird Dogs released a live self-titled studio album in 2016, recorded at Basecamp Studio in Bozeman. Their follow-up album, titled The Vigilante Session, was recorded live at a forest service cabin in the Ruby mountains.

After opening for Norah Jones on tour in 2004, Lee released his self-titled debut album in 2005 to widespread positive reviews, and it reached #2 on US Billboard Top Heatseekers. Rolling Stone listed him as one of the “Top 10 Artists to Watch.” Lee’s fourth album, Mission Bell, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the Digital Albums chart, the Amazon Top-Selling Albums and iTunes charts.

Lee’s music has been heard on screen for several TV shows including House, Parenthood, and Grey’s Anatomy. He also had music on the film Supply and Demand, and his song “Sweet Pea” was used for an AT&T ad campaign.