Welcome to the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival

    For three days in June the streets of Red Lodge, bars, cafes, and parks become a gathering place for songwriters from Montana, Nashville, and around the country. Park benches, bar stools, hotel lobbies, and parks become picking sessions. This is the place displaying songwriting at its highest level in the amazing mountains of Red Lodge, Montana.

    If you have questions about our event, check below in the list of the most frequently asked questions. If you do not find what you’re looking for, use our contact form.

    Red Lodge is located approximately 70 miles from the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park, which takes about 90-120 minutes by car over the beautiful Beartooth Highway. We are 60 miles south of Billings, MT and 65 miles north of Cody, Wyoming. Both Billings and Cody airports have commercial air service. We are a small resort town with a year round population of approximately 2500 people and an elevation of 5600 ft. In June we are on Mountain Daylight time and around the summer solstice the sun will be up by 5:30 ish and won’t set until 9:30 ish. A great time to be here. Daytime temperatures should be in the mid to upper 70s and nighttime temps should be in the 40s, although high 30s that time of the year is not unusual, afternoon thunderstorms are common so layers for warmth and a raincoat may come in handy. Most of your shows are inside but several are outside and two of the late night sessions are outside.

    The festival songwriter lineup in each venue is typically released the week of the event.

    To be admitted to any venue, each person must have either a pass, ticket or wristband. Wristbands for the Rising Star shows are available at the Festival Box Office, Roman Theater, or at the venues. They are $15.00 per day or $25.00 for all three days. If you have a ticket for the Nashville Songwriter Show for that day you automatically receive a wristband. Tickets for the Nashville Shows are available online, at the Box Office or at the Venues prior to the shows. Note some of these shows will be sold out prior to the day of the festival.

    Most shows require either a wristband, a ticket, or a pass. Coffee & brunch at the Songwriter Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday mornings at Cattail Bakery, the show on Saturday, 6/25, at Lions Park, and the Late Night shows do not require a wristband, pass or ticket.

    You may exchange your receipt for tickets, wristbands, or passes at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival headquarters, which are located at the Historic Roman Theater, 120 S Broadway, Red Lodge, MT.

    RLSWF/Historic Roman Theater Box Office

    Box Office & Will Call | 406.690.5988

    120 S Broadway, Red Lodge, MT 59068

    Wednesday, June 19 | 3PM – 6PM
    Thursday, June 20 | 12PM – 6PM
    Friday, June 21 | 12PM – 7PM
    Saturday, June 22 | 12PM – 4PM

    All-Access Passes: Access to all venues throughout the three-day weekend.
    VIP Passes: Access to all venues throughout the three-day weekend.

    Reserved seating at Nashville Songwriter Shows

    Multi-Day Passes: Access to all venues on Friday 6/25 & Saturday 6/26.
    Rising Star Wristband: Access to the Rising Stars shows. Rising Stars Wristbands are $15 per day or $25 for the three-day weekend.
    General Admission Ticket: Access to the Nashville Hits songwriter show on the day of the ticket and a wristband for the Rising Stars shows that same day.

    If the Nashville Hits Songwriter shows on Thursday, 6/24, and Friday, 6/25, are not completely sold out, single show tickets will be sold at the Festival Box Office or at the venue. We will make announcements via our website and social media regarding ticket availability.

    Merchandise will be available at Red Lodge Songwriter Festival Headquarters located at the Historic Roman Theater and at the Nashville Hits Songwriter Shows. Individual songwriters may be selling their CDs in the venues at which they perform.

    There is abundant camping in our area. The Red Lodge KOA is four miles from downtown Red Lodge and a sponsor of our festival. There is also a number of US Forest Service campgrounds in the area.

    Downtown Red Lodge and our venues are located within four blocks of each other, many within the same block. Once you find a place to park you can walk to all the venues. Parking is either on the neighborhood streets near the venues on a first-come, first-served basis or there is also ample parking at the Civic Center located at 215 14th St W, Red Lodge, MT 59068. Please see directional signage.

    No we don’t have a shuttle. All of our venues are within a short walk of each other—four blocks maximum, many within the same block.

    The RLSWF has granted a portion of its proceeds to the Red Lodge Public Schools music department. In 2018, we donated $10,000. Our grant program is open to all public school music departments in Carbon County, Montana. To date the amount awarded by the RLSWF exceeds $40,000. Other past recipients have been Operation Second Chance and Friends of the Beartooths. The RLSWF Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that champions music education through leadership, funding, programs, and education. Your support as a ticket-buyer, partner, sponsor, or volunteer helps us support the community.

    We work to ensure our venues become optimum listening rooms during the shows, so please be respectful of the songwriters and your neighbors by keeping conversation to a minimum. You may be asked to take your conversation outside if your conversation becomes a distraction to those around you.

    These shows are full and crowded—front rows seating is at a premium. We do not permit the saving of seats. Please have all persons in your party enter the venue at the same time. People should not be forced to stand when there are open seats.

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