19^TH ANNUAL RIVER CITY ROOTS FESTIVAL LINEUP FEATURES BIG RICHARD & KYLE TUTTLE BAND

 MISSOULA’S SIGNATURE CELEBRATION RETURNS AUGUST 22 & 23

The entertainment lineup for the 19^th annual River City Roots Festival will be headlined by the Kyle Tuttle Band on Saturday night and Big Richard on Friday night. Roots Fest will take place August 22-23, 2025, in the streets of Downtown Missoula.

The Kyle Tuttle Band is led by the rare and virtuosic banjo player Kyle Tuttle. He is best known for his work with Grammy-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle and former Yonder Mountain String Band mandolin player Jeff Austin, but has also been alongside Larry Keel, the Travelin’ McCourys, Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, and Railroad Earth. Tuttle recently released his third album, Labor of Lust. Catch the Kyle Tuttle Band starting at 8:30pm Saturday, August 23.

Returning to the Roots Fest stage is the all-female group Big Richard. Exploding onto the Colorado scene in 2021, the group has tight vocal harmonies, dazzling string virtuosity, and clever arrangements alongside a healthy dose of humor. Big Richard is made up of Bonnie Sims on mandolin, Eve Panning on fiddle, bassist Hazel Royer, and Dr. Joy Adams on cello. Big Richard is touring to promote their debut album Girl Dinner.

River City Roots Festival is Missoula’s Signature Celebration. Admission-free and accessible for all, Roots Fest features live music, art from 35+ artists in the Art Show, a 4-mile run in partnership with Run Wild Missoula, a food court featuring local food trucks on Ryman Street, and the Family Roots Fest in Caras Park on Saturday. Roots Fest is returning to its regular August weekend after having to move to September last year due to the Tyler Childers Concert in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

A special feature of this year’s festival is an all-female fronted lineup for Friday, starting with the Lena Marie Schiffer Duo. Most folks know Lena as a former member of Montana’s Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs. Lena’s new band partner is Ani Casabonne on fiddle. Another artist well known to Missoulians, Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld, take the stage at 4:30pm on Friday. The duo met playing together at Portland’s indie roots festival, Pickathon, in 2010. Taking the stage before Big Richard at 6:30pm is Pixie & the Partygrass Boys. Having started as a group of ski bums playing house parties near Salt Lake City, they bring the energy of closing weekend at your favorite ski resort. The band will release its fourth album in May.

Missoula’s own Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders continues the tradition of opening Roots Fest for the kids on Saturday at 12:30pm. Comprised of Cowboy Andy, Oscar Hunt, Russ Gay, Ian Smith, and Matthew Bainton, the Salamanders focus on family-friendly music that makes kids want to dance.

Following Cowboy Andy is the well-known local group The Big Sky Mudflaps. Celebrating their 50^th year, they play an eclectic range of classic Americana music, focusing on swing and rhythm & blues, with some of their current material being fueled by the fiery rhythms of Cuba and Brazil.

Taking the stage at 4:30pm Saturday, Jake Leg consists of award-winning musicians Eric Wiggs on guitar and vocals, Dylan McCarthy on mandolin and vocals, Justin Hoffenberg on fiddle, and Aaron Hoffenberg on bass. Jake Leg breathes new life into modern progressive bluegrass, crafting a captivating landscape of high-level instrumental ability and thoughtful songwriting.

The Fretliners, who hit the stage at 6:30pm on Saturday of Roots, first played together around a microphone in the Cloverlick banjo shop barn, kicking off a new venture for the four members of the band. As a powerful bluegrass quartet, they are recognized for their songwriting and undeniable chemistry. How good are they? In 2023, they won both band competitions at Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Festivals – a feat that has only been accomplished once.

River City Roots Fest is produced by the Downtown Missoula Partnership (DMP) with significant support from Missoula-area businesses. Dick Anderson Construction, returning as the title sponsor, has had a significant, positive impact on development throughout the area, especially in Downtown Missoula. Long-standing Main Stage Sponsors Big Sky Brewery and Blackfoot Communications return this year to support Missoula’s Signature Celebration.

“This year’s lineup is full of bands who have never played Roots Fest, so we’re excited to showcase new music to attendees, along with a few recognizable favorites, to get the crowd excited,” said Ellen Buchanan, Committee Chair and Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) Board Member. “It’s an honor to plan and host this free event for Missoula, and showcase some of the core elements that make our community so strong – music, art, local businesses, and making connections with fellow Missoulians. We’re incredibly grateful for the sponsors who commit to supporting our event every year in order to ensure Roots Fest stays free and accessible to all.”

For more information on the 19^th annual Roots Fest, visit www.rivercityrootsfestival.com or contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership via phone (406-543-4238) or email ([email protected]).