Programming
Through the continued support of the Resort Tax, the ACBS has been able to bring top quality national entertainment to Big Sky. The funds that were awarded to the ACBS for the 2008-09 resort tax year helped us secure the bands for the 2009 summer concert series, and the funds were used to produce eight free shows. For the July 4 concert this year, the ACBS decided to spend a little more money to bring in Mingo Fishtrap from Austin, Texas, and a higher quality sound and light production. The results were spectacular: more than 1,500 people attended the free event, the music was fantastic and the fireworks were the best Big Sky has ever seen. The ACBS feels that this has become a signature event not just for Big Sky, but for Southwest Montana.
The bands performing in the 2009 Thursday night concert series are, by far, the highest quality of any weekly series in the state of Montana. From Juno (the Canadian Grammy) award-winning bands (Corb Lund) to major label artists(Sam & Ruby), these free concerts are fast becoming some of the most anticipated events of the summer. The response to them being free–thanks to the Resort Tax board–has been remarkable, and attendance has been even higher this summer. We feel we have succeeded in presenting a good variety of musical styles, too.
The ACBS also collaborated with the Big Sky Chamber in helping to add more music for the Country Fair. By paying for the evening band and part of the sound production, the ACBS was able to help the chamber extend the event and add a free evening concert to the activities. This relationship will hopefully continue in the future as the Country Fair becomes a larger and more varied event.
In collaboration with Big Sky Resort, the ACBS was also able to add a free music component to our annual chili cook-off on August 28th. The event took place in the Mountain Village Plaza, and although admission was charged for those who wanted to taste all of the chili, the plaza was open to those who just wanted to come listen to the music.
Because of the success of the Bonnie Raitt concert, and the support for headliner funds from Resort Tax, the ACBS was able to bring in the Doobie Brothers on September 4th. This was without a doubt the biggest show the ACBS has ever brought in, and simply could not be possible without the help from resort tax. This show was one of the most memorable in Big Sky history!
Infrastructure
The biggest purchase with the 2008-90 funds was a new back curtain for the outdoor pavilion, at a cost of around $7,000. The curtain looks nice and new, and adds a more professional appearance to the pavilion. We also added six new LED stage lights, which have made a big difference in lighting up the stage. These are state-of-the art lights with a lot of power, but are small and portable enough to use anywhere--even for smaller, indoor shows.
Another thing we did was replace our old, 30-amp power extension cords. The old cords were against code and completely falling apart. Replacing these adds a measure of safety to the stage area, as they are used every week for the lights. We also repainted the stage with a better, more weather resistant paint.
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