By Mick Holien
It’s a reunion of sorts but entirely new and it’s comin right here to the banks of the Flathead River at the Regatta Shoreline Amphitheater.
The Mission Mountain Wood Band is coming back to Polson for the first time in a decade in the midst of the summer Aug 12 to rekindle your memories of Aber Day.
I couldn’t be more excited especially with the history surrounding Aber Day.
During the seventies the concert featured a bevy of high-end acts like Jimmie Buffet and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
It was the hot times for W2WB as they scheduled extended road trips across the country to often return first to Deer Creek east of Missoula then to the long-gone rodeo grounds up Miller Creek to blow the shows away.
And they’ve got more of their Not Gone Long music and much more that forces crowds to dance near the front of the expansive stage and outlandish sound system.
The angelic voice of Andrea Harsell and Luna Roja kicks it all off at 3 p.m. and Montana’s own Sam Riddle brings his band and takes a break from Las Vegas where his high-energy show has been packing them in.
Sam is the son of Mission Mountain bassist Steve Riddle and the Polson affair marks the first time they will share the same bill.
The Riddle summer home is within sound distance of the new stage setup.
Partnering with Anderson Broadcasting Charitable Foundation for the show are the University of Montana Alumni Association and Missoula Liquid Assets Corporation, who started the whole fundraiser concert in 1972 to raise money for the UM library.
Proceeds from the Polson concert will be distributed to local non-profits.
There will be lots of vendors on site, parking is free and a bus route will transport patrons from a variety of locations.
Learn more about the history of the concert at www.aberdaykegger.com
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, life preservers and kids if you like for this family-friendly show that I guarantee is bound to blow off your socks.
Tickets will be available through www.grizalum.com starting May 1
