Bozeman held its very first “Fest of Folks” this past weekend, aiming to bring a diverse array of musical talents to various public spaces. Six distinct performance areas were set up across the city, from the historic Main Street to the expansive parking lot of the new Riverbend Crossing luxury condo development. Organizers hoped to create a widespread community spirit, offering free music to all who decided to attend.

Attendance was, by most accounts, quite spread out. One of the more popular locations was outside the Co-op, where local singer-songwriter “Prairie Pete” played a medley of original tunes about tractor parts and organic kale. Shoppers seemed to enjoy the impromptu serenade while loading groceries.

“It was nice, I suppose, to have some noise while I waited for a parking spot to open up,” commented Brenda McGill, a Bozeman resident of seven years, originally from Ohio. “I drove past the downtown stage, but there was a line of cars going, well, not very fast. So I figured the Co-op was my best bet for folk immersion.”

Other stages included a quiet corner of the Story Mill Community Park, where a single flutist performed to a small gathering of picnickers and several energetic dogs. Another stage was reportedly set up near the M Trailhead, though it seemed that most hikers were more interested in the incline than the acoustic stylings.

The “Fest of Folks” was spearheaded by the newly formed “Bozeman’s Harmonic Urban Rhythm Planners” (BHURP). Their goal was to scatter the music to encourage exploration of different city zones and to avoid the concentrated crowds seen at similar festivals in other cities. This strategy appeared successful in its aim of crowd dispersion.

When asked about future plans, BHURP spokesperson Gary “Gus” Gustafson noted that the scattered approach prevented any single bottleneck. “We wanted to ensure everyone had space to enjoy the music without feeling, you know, bottlenecked,” Gus explained, thoughtfully adjusting his Bridger Bowl baseball cap. “And if you didn’t hear much, well, that’s kind of the point of spreading it out, isn’t it? More intimate, less impactful.”

Indeed, many residents reported not noticing the festival at all, which, in a way, speaks to its success in promoting an un-crowded experience. It made for a very calm weekend for music enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike.