The Monte Bar & Casino, located at 2824 1st Ave N., is ready to host the next Alive After 5 on Thursday, June 22nd, outdoor from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on N. 29th St. between 1st Ave. N. and Montana Ave. The June 22nd event features local Billings/Red Lodge based band, Wes Urbaniak and the Mountain Folk.
Their name says it all, they play lanigiro (original spelled backwards because ‘original’ is overused) mountain folk music. While their roots are in Mountain folk music, the band crosses genres by swooping and dipping into bluegrass, Americana, pop-folk, beatboxing, and etcetera. The band consists of Wes Urbaniak on lead vocals/guitar, AJ Sheble on Ukulele/vocal harmonies, Phil Griffin on Upright bass/vocal harmonies. Wes writes their lyrics. He also designed and custom built the band’s instruments. Constructed with respect to conservation, the instruments were made with reclaimed wood which alludes to a deep connection and sense of spirit.
“Regulars of The Monte may notice a familiar face on stage on Thursday. A.J. Sheble’s not just a ukulele player and a band member of Wes Urbaniak and the Mountain Folk, he is also a pretty awesome bartender at The Monte.”
Lindsay Richardson, Downtown Billings Alliance
Community Engagement & Events Director
The Monte completed a big remodel project at the end of May 2022, with the help of High Plains Architects and T.W. Clark Construction. In June 2022, The Monte was the recipient of the 2022 Building Improvement, Downtown Spotlight Award. And, now a year later, it’s time to celebrate the first anniversary of their remodel and the positive impact it’s made on its downtown Billings neighborhood. Cori LaFever Thelen, Managing Owner, and her staff worked together to select the band for their much anticipated return to the Alive After 5 series. “We were one of the early host locations of Alive After 5 and I have a lot of memories of working at Alive After 5 with my dad.” Shared Thelen, whose late father, Neal LaFever, purchased the bar & casino in 1985. “We are very excited to be hosting Alive After 5 again this year.” Thelen continues.
Admission
The 2023 Alive After 5 is presented by our team at the Downtown Billings Alliance and Valley Credit Union. The all ages weekly summer concert series takes place outdoors at a different downtown location Thursday evenings from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, June 8 to August 3. Admission for each Alive After 5 is free to the public, however, those 21 and older wishing to consume alcohol must purchase a $2 wristband at one of the Purple DBA tents at the event.
The V.I.P. Area
Each one of the Alive After 5 concerts has a special tented V.I.P. area with seating options, tables, free ice-cold water, and easy access to one of the event bar locations. Only twenty, $10 V.I.P wristbands are available for purchase each week. To purchase a V.I.P. Wristband ahead of time you can call (406-294-5060) or visit the DBA office (116 N. 29th Street) Monday through Wednesday 9am to 4pm. All remaining V.I.P. wristbands will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis each Thursday on-site directly at the week’s Alive After 5 V.I.P. area.
Who Makes Alive After 5 possible?
Alive After 5 is coordinated annually by our team at the downtown Business Improvement District (B.I.D.). Valley Credit Union has been the producing (title) sponsor of the Alive After 5 concert series since 2019. Supporting sponsors include TDS Fiber, MariMint, Alpha Overhead Door, B-Town Vapes & Glass, Hensel Law, Stella’s Kitchen & Bakery, ClockTower Inn, Planet 106.7, Zone 96.3, Classic Hits 105.9, KSKY 94.1, KBEAR 98.1, ESPN 910, and Earth First Aid. Each series sponsorships help cover the booking costs of the many local, regional, and national bands in the line-up.
