Preserve Montana's Country Music Story

Help Us Tell the Story of Montana’s Country Music Legacy

Hi! The Big Sky Country team would love your help in funding the first leg of our feature film documentary in June. Big Sky Country is a documentary feature film about the music and stories of Montana. Through western music, Montana's musicians have always found a way to tell the stories of the generations who have come before them. In this film we will explore the ways that this generational storytelling honors both the western way of life it draws from, and faces a changing social and artistic landscape in Montana.

The music is the story.

Why This Story Matters

In Montana, the land doesn’t just shape the people, it shapes the music. Country artists here carry stories that have been passed down through generations. The land itself tells stories through the lives of its artists. Their music is more than just sound - it speaks to where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

Filmmaker's Statement

"Country music is something my dad passed down to me, and his father to him. The last time I saw my grandpa before he died, we drove around the family farm and listened to Johnny Cash, just like we always did. When I was 18, I moved from my parents to the big city of Bozeman, MT. All I knew was that I loved music and wanted it to be a part of my life. And lucky for me, I stumbled upon Live from the Divide. This place made me who I am. I met some lifelong friends, expanded my experience of music and most importantly, learned about storytelling." -- Bailey Salwey

About the Film

The film itself will feel like music.

Our visual approach will combine realism and poetry, all shot on black and white 16mm film. We seek to embody the soul of the music and the stories of our subjects in our unique visual language. We will follow our subjects through their homes and businesses, creating a sense of intimacy that isn’t always captured in many talking-head interview documentaries. We will be highlighting the landscapes from which these artist's live and draw on to create art. We will emulate the raw quality of live recordings such as Townes Van Zandt’s recording of “Waiting Around to Die" in Heartworn Highways as our inspiration for live performances.

This all concludes at The Old Salt Festival. Where one of our subjects has brought together a community of artists to celebrate the great history and music of Montana.

Check out OUR WEBSITE for more info about the film including our amazing subjects and filmmaking team ✨

️Where Your Money Goes

We’re aiming to raise $30,000 to cover the essential costs of:

• Travel to and within Montana for the Old Salt Festival. We need to

secure funds by June 12th in order to secure our crew and

equipment.

• Lodging and meals during production

• Equipment rental and technical support

• 16mm Film purchase and processing

• Licensing music for the film

• Post-production (editing, sound, color correction) for this initial Proof

of Concept Film.

Why We Need You

We believe that stories like this deserve to be told—raw, real, and rooted in place. But as indie filmmakers, we can’t do it alone. Your support will bring these voices to life and preserve a piece of Montana’s musical heritage.

Even a small donation brings us closer to our goal, and if you can’t contribute financially, sharing this campaign means the world to us.

Be Part of the Legacy Country music has always been about people helping people—sharing pain, joy, and hope through song. We’re inviting you to be part of that tradition.

Let’s make something beautiful together.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

OUR WEBSITE LINK