Main Street Bozeman Comes Alive for Start of Annual Concert Series
For the sixth summer in a row, local band The Clintons kicked off the Music on Main concert series, and guitarist and vocalist John McLellan said it's still a fun event for the band.
When McLellan called out, "All right, Clintons, let's go!" before the music started, the band climbed onto the stage at the intersection of Bozeman Avenue and West Main Street and invited the crowd to close in around them.
McLellan said the Bozeman community is what makes the event different from any other in Montana.
"This is our community," he said, gesturing to the packed crowd of women in sundresses and men in button-down plaid shirts, all dancing to the music of the Golden Grenades during a set break. "We get to call this home. A lot of people in the country aren't as lucky as this."
Event coordinator Ellie Staley, of the Downtown Bozeman Association, agreed. She has been helping with Music on Main for six years - ever since The Clintons started playing. She said she was amazed at how the event has grown since her first year helping. She attributed the growth to the event's location change - from Bozeman Avenue to Main Street four years ago.
"I can't believe how many people are here already," she said at 6:45 p.m., before the music even started. "Hopefully it'll keep up like this through the summer."
Staley said one big change to Music on Main this year was the new "No Dogs" rule. "It's just so busy, and dogs make it more difficult to move around," she said.
While a few people got their pets past the volunteers at the borders of the event, Staley wasn't concerned about the dogs' presence.
"It's going to be a slow transition," she said. "Bozeman is a dog town, but I think (Music on Main) will be much better when people know it's a dog-free event."
Overall, the event that provides free music on Main Street has become a summer staple in Bozeman over the last 10 years, and locals like Cindi Hodukavich are glad for the event.
"It's a Bozeman summer thing," she said. "The weather's great, everybody's in a good mood. It's all good."
Hodukavich said she's looking forward to another summer of music downtown. But last night, The Clintons were still the main event.
"This is going to sound kind of cheesy, but this show is all about the freedom of summer," McLellan said before climbing back on stage.
Music on Main begins at 6:30 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. every Thursday until Aug. 18.
Stroy and photos courtesy of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle
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