2023 Marias Fair Concerts
The Trent Brooks Band
Thursday, July 20
Music & Dancing starts at 9pm, directly following the Indian Relay Horse Races
“I think of my music as the element that allows strangers to connect on a molecular level. Feelings, events, and things that make a great song are common threads between all people and music is the catalyst.”
~ Trent Brooks
Trent Brooks begins with a heavy authentic country roots base: George Jones, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams are just a few that can be quoted at the drop of a hat. The mid-western native also lists southern rock greats like The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, and The Allman Brothers band as influential to his sound.
After being the scheduled support act for Aaron Watson, and sharing the stage with country super stars Joe Nichols (Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off), Josh Melloy (I Met The Devil in Oklahoma), and Tyler Farr (A Guy Walks Into a Bar), The Trent Brooks Band is ready to set it off with their own still smokin’ brand of rodeo rockin’ honky tonk music. Currently joined on stage with Bassist, Justin Millikan, and drummer, Ivan Holland, and being fresh off the release of his newest album, High on a Honky Tonk, Trent holds a reputation as an “in demand” live act with stunning vocal harmony and stage presence.
Trent's style of authentic roots country runs the gambit of Williams, Paycheck, Jennings, and Jones…to Jackson, Strait, Pardi, and Combs.
“Don't confuse me with anybody else in the music business. I might play a few familiar songs but in a strange way they are a part of me and you’ll feel that impact. With my songs I can make you drink too much, laugh out loud or cry like a baby. I do my own thing, my own way…period. I am an original."
~ Trent Brooks
Fast Forward
Friday, July 21
Music & Dancing starts at 9pm, directly following the PRCA Rodeo and Championship Indian Relay Horse Races
Fast Forward is a Country/Rock band covering everything from Hank Williams Sr., to Afroman. The band has been in operation since 2016 and was named after Shay and Brayden (original bass player) Wacker's brand. Currently all members are hitting the road from the Billings MT area.
Fast Forward has four guys sharing the stage this summer. Deric Runestad from Roundup is on Bass/Vocals. Michael Staus from Billings is on Keys/Vocals. Nicholas Gray from Roundup is on Drums. Shay Wacker from Melstone is on Vocals/Guitar.
Facebook Event Page | Band Facebook Page
Brandon Hale & The Dirty Shame
Saturday, July 22
Music & Dancing starts at 9pm, directly following the Marias River Stampede Rodeo
Brandon Hale & The Dirty Shame is an Outlaw Country band from Bozeman, MT, formed in 2006. The band was inspired from Hale's early years spending time with his grandfather in the still untamed & wild northern corner of the state, Yaak, MT.
The band, formed in 2006, has toured all over the western US, from Alaska to Jackson, Seattle to Fargo, performing more than 1500 shows, opening for top Artists such as: David Allen Coe, Gary Allen, Craig Morgan, Eric Church and, John Anderson to name a few.
The Dirty Shame plays covers of the original outlaws like: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Coe, Haggard, Jerry Jeff Walker, and have been known to throw in some Stones, Dylan, Hank III, & Neil Young.
The Shame also performs numerous original songs written by Hale that take listeners on a journey through the untamed west, with stories of his family that have lived in Montana for decades. You'll hear tales of sorrow, passion, loss, love, women, whiskey and life on the open road. You don't want to miss Montana's #1 Outlaw Country band “The Dirty Shame”.
The band produced one album. Hale wrote most of the songs on the self-titled cd, and his lyrics that describe characters from a hard-living western life. In the thread of classic country, his bar-goers and modern highwaymen accept hardships with a mix of party, mourning and a touch of sweetness.
In “Lonesome Highway,” Hale sings:
"Got this aching in my heart, got to get the hell out of here
I don’t recognize the face staring back at me in the rear view mirror
Nobody said it would be easy, nobody said it'd easy to be free
I guess it's just time to pick up the pieces, pick up the pieces of me
Hey there bartender I'll have one more beer and I'll be on my way
Before I take my first steps on this Lonesome Highway"
Besides playing with his Outlaw Country band "The Dirty Shame" Hale now is playing solo gigs, singing original songs as well as, country and rock covers.
Check out the band's website for free music downloads!