Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/category/culture/page/8/)
After two years of hosting the Native American Race Relations and Healing Lecture Series, one of the things that I have found most surprising about this experience is how little I knew about Native American history and culture. (more…) Continue Reading →
A family with deep roots in Montana met last Saturday on the land their ancestors homesteaded almost 140 years ago. “In Montana,” said Stan Stevens, at 93 the oldest of the clan at the family reunion, “we go back forever.” (more…) Continue Reading →
The main organizer of Richard Dreyfest V, the punk-inspired music and arts festival that opens Friday in downtown Billings, wasn’t really expecting to get an interview with the actor to whom the festival pays indirect homage. “It was just kind of a weird, cool, freaky thing for us to pick up,” said Phillip Griffin, a musician and writer who stepped in this year to put together the fifth annual festival. (more…) Continue Reading →
There were times when Mike Uhrich wondered whether Tuesday would ever come. “There’s been a lot of people waiting a long time for this, me included,” he said. (more…) Continue Reading →
Executive Chef Ian Anderson took the reins of the historic Northern Hotel kitchen more than a month ago, and already there is a new pulse. Some time had passed since I’d stepped into Bernie’s Diner, the Northern’s breakfast-and-lunch cafe, and it was quieter back then. On this Wednesday morning, behind the counter, staff busily filled cups of coffee and gathered plates of food for the customers who filled the seating by the west-side windows. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Goodridge kids have grown up with the blues. The Magic City Blues, to be precise. Their parents, Tim and Pam Goodridge, have been putting on the annual music festival in downtown Billings since 2002. One way or another, their three children—Henry, 21, Will, 18, and Jane, 16—have part of the festival for most of their lives. (more…) Continue Reading →
Thirty years after the community saved the old Fox Theater in downtown Billings, Larry Martin is convinced the community will rally again behind a dramatic overhaul of the Alberta Bair Theater, successor to the Fox. “At this point, it’s impossible to imagine downtown Billings without the Alberta Bair Theater, and I think the bulk of the community sees it that way,” Martin said. (more…) Continue Reading →
To look at the lineup for Richard Dreyfest V, a music and arts festival coming up next month, you’d think it was a week-long event. But no, all those bands, artists, comedians, poets and more—60-plus and counting—are going to be performing over just two days at eight venues in downtown Billings. (more…) Continue Reading →
It’s pretty exciting when big-name stars make appearances in Montana: Elton John, Paul Simon, Garth Brooks and the like. But it’s not as unusual as today’s press might make it appear. While we may seem “out of the way” to folks back East, Montana has a long history of drawing the latest fads, entertainment, attractions and big-name talent. (more…) Continue Reading →
Trent Inderland is looking forward even more keenly than usual to a bluegrass concert in Billings next week. Inderland, vice president and concert coordinator for the Yellowstone Bluegrass Association, is excited partly because the group that’s playing July 7 is the Gibson Brothers band, winner of numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and veteran of the Grand Ole Opry. (more…) Continue Reading →
