How This City’s Venues Are Keeping the Local Montana Music Scene Alive
In a state better known for wide-open spaces than indie shows, Billings is quietly becoming Montana’s unexpected music capital.
Most people don’t know it yet but Billings has quietly developed a vibrant music scene that defies the city’s sometimes overlooked status in the national music conversation.
While major touring acts might route through Bozeman or Missoula, Billings—Montana’s largest city—has cultivated an independent music scene powered by passionate venue owners, local musicians, and dedicated fans who believe that live music is essential to the city’s cultural fabric.
Here are some can’t-miss music venues you need to add to your itinerary.
The Pub Station: From Food Truck to Music Destination
The Pub Station exemplifies Billings’ musical resurgence, evolving from a food truck operation in 2012 to the city’s premier independent music venue. It now hosts over 200 shows annually across its two performance spaces—a 500-capacity ballroom and a more intimate 180-capacity taproom stage.
Owners Sean and Ann Lynch transformed a former Greyhound bus terminal into a venue with both historical character and the industrial feel that suits its diverse musical offerings. The Pub Station has hosted rising national acts like Tyler Childers and Johnny Blue Skies alongside Montana favorites like Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs and Billings’ own 1090 Club.
The venue regularly pairs local openers with touring artists, providing crucial opportunities for Montana musicians to build their audiences and gain professional experience.
Address: 2502 1st Ave N
Book your Billings getaway on Whimstay here
Kirk’s Grocery: Art, Music, and Community Convergence
While The Pub Station often features established acts, the true experimental edge of Billings’ music scene thrives at Kirk’s Grocery, an unassuming venue on Montana Avenue that doubles as an art gallery, performance space, and community hub.
Founder Shane de Leon transformed the former neighborhood grocery store into an all-ages venue that prioritizes artistic expression over commercial concerns. The small space—capacity approximately 80 people—hosts everything from noise rock and avant-garde electronic music to poetry readings and experimental film screenings.
Kirk’s walls feature rotating art exhibitions, creating a multidisciplinary environment where visual art and music inform each other. Unlike venues dependent on alcohol sales, Kirk’s all-ages policy makes it accessible to younger music fans and performers. High school bands hold release parties here, and touring underground acts appreciate playing to audiences who are there specifically for the music rather than the bar scene.
Address: 2920 Minnesota Ave.
Craft Local: Showcasing Montana’s Homegrown Talent
Craft Local focuses intensely on nurturing homegrown Montana talent. Located in the heart of downtown, this combination bar, art gallery, and performance venue maintains a steadfast commitment to showcasing local artists exclusively.
Craft Local’s intimate setting—capacity around a hundred people—creates the perfect environment for singer-songwriters and acoustic acts that might get lost in larger venues. Its weekly open mic nights serve as informal auditions, with standout performers often invited back for featured shows.
The venue’s “Montana Made” ethos extends beyond music to its bar program, which features exclusively Montana-brewed beers and locally distilled spirits. This comprehensive support of local artisans has created a loyal community that values authentic Montana creativity and provides a crucial platform for artists developing their unique voices.
Address: 2501 Montana Ave.
Thirsty Street Brewing: Where Beer Culture Meets Music Culture
The connection between craft beer and independent music runs deep in many cities, and Billings is no exception. Thirsty Street Brewing Company’s downtown taproom and its Garage location at the old Taproom have become important incubators for local music, offering regular performance opportunities in casual, accessible environments.
The brewery’s weekly “Garage Sessions” have become a staple for acoustic acts looking to reach new audiences, while their larger events showcase full bands. Unlike traditional music venues, the brewery setting attracts patrons who might not ordinarily seek out live music but find themselves becoming fans after experiencing performances.
These brewery venues often serve as entry points to the local music scene, with patrons discovering artists at Thirsty Street before following them to shows at dedicated music venues like The Pub Station or Kirk’s Grocery.
Address: 2123 1st Ave N
Book your Billings getaway on Whimstay here
Why You Need to Experience Billings’ Music Scene
What makes Billings’ music scene so cool is the collaborative spirit between these venues. Rather than viewing each other as competition, they function as complementary parts of a musical ecosystem, with musicians often developing at smaller venues before graduating to larger stages.
For visitors to Montana’s largest city, these indie venues offer something that can’t be found at larger concert halls or tourist attractions—an authentic glimpse into the soul of modern Billings through its music. Whether you’re catching a nationally touring act at The Pub Station, discovering experimental sounds at Kirk’s Grocery, experiencing purely local talent at Craft Local, or enjoying a Montana-brewed beer alongside live music at Thirsty Street, you’ll witness the genuine cultural renaissance that makes Billings a mandatory stop for music lovers exploring the Mountain West.
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