Making it in Big Sky: Thad Beaty

By Ellie Boeschenstein EBS CONTRIBUTOR

Thad Beaty, the former guitarist and backup vocalist for the country music band Sugarland, has made his mark in Big Sky. Beaty’s own connections to the music industry have allowed him to bring in world-class musicians for the local community to enjoy. He has helped music lovers connect with musicians in the area, as well as produced shows and recently organized a calendar, Big Sky Music Events, of live music happening daily in Big Sky. Beaty now works as the music and entertainment manager for Lone Mountain Land Company. 

Explore Big Sky spoke with Thad to learn more about the behind the scenes efforts made to create a successful music scene in Big Sky.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Thad, would you first tell me about yourself — what brought you to Big Sky?

Thad Beaty: I grew up outside of Jackson, Mississippi, and moved to Nashville [Tennessee] to try my hand at being a professional musician. I got the gig as a guitarist with Sugarland and actually met my wife (bassist Annie Clements) at that same audition. We’ve toured for so many years; she recently came off eight years as Maren Morris’ bassist. Throughout that journey, we got to know one of the best general managers in the hospitality industry, Mr. Rick Riess, who was always doing fun music installations at the properties he managed nationwide. When he helped open the Montage Big Sky, he contacted my wife and me and asked if we’d be interested in coming up for the first winter season to launch an entertainment program at the Montage resort. After one winter, we were hooked. Four years later, this is home. 

EBS: For those unfamiliar, what exactly is your role in Big Sky and what do you do for work?

TB: I’m the music and entertainment manager for Lone Mountain Land Company; my goal is to focus on the strategic vision over the next 15 years as we consider what types of venues, clubs and various performance spaces would fit into the Big Sky ecosystem. I have a dream of making Big Sky like the Austin of the Rockies. I’m not talking about a high-traffic and wild place like Broadway in Nashville, but a place where the creative spirit is contagious. I want to have visitors come to the Big Sky for music, for a concert, for a wonderful art installation, and they’re just lucky that during the day, they get to ski or go to the national park while they wait for the event that they came for that night. The vision and dream is that when people think of Big Sky, they think of our music and arts in the same breath as our outdoor pursuits. The creative spirit can define us and become infectious.  

Additionally, I perform locally, either solo, alongside my wife Annie, or with Montana artist Amanda Stewart. The three of us have a project we call the Tuesday Night Rodeo Club. At this point, I call myself a retired guitar player, although my wife would argue that I play more guitar now than when I was a full-time touring musician.

I feel more supported in the work I do here in Big Sky than at any other time in my career. It’s a dream come true.

EBS: Who or what were your biggest influences in the music industry, and how have they shaped your approach?

TB: I grew up in the glory days of hair metal, and I’ve now fully embraced my love of unabashed rock guitar. I have so many influences from a musical perspective and read a ton of rock biographies, just immersing myself in the headspace of my heroes. It wasn’t always pretty, but it’s fascinating to understand the combination of tenacity, hard work, and luck that forge any artist’s career. At the end of the day, the biggest touchpoint is relationships: genuine relationships. I’m fortunate to have gotten to work with so many wonderful people here in Big Sky, so critical pieces of things come quickly to this special community. 

EBS: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in establishing a music scene in Big Sky, and how have you overcome them?

TB: Supply and demand are definitely issues. We’re so fortunate to have a community that places a high value on entertainment. At peak season, it can be challenging to meet the needs of visiting corporate groups, wedding parties, etc.… There is also a different level of professionalism expected when dealing with wedding planners, corporate groups, and resort entertainment. A “spit and polish” aspect is a shift from a more casual venue. It’s not for everyone. I’m fortunate to have a great group of artists to call upon, and I am always looking to deepen our bench. 

EBS: Can you share a memorable or rewarding experience from your involvement in Big Sky?

TB: There are so many to share! The birth of our son here in Montana, walking our daughter to preschool, seeing my wife onstage at Wildlands Festival, performing at Music in the Mountains, the list goes on and on. But the biggest thing is just the everyday life we live here. Walking to work, school, and the coffee shop, running into friends and colleagues, and having such a rich quality of life while doing something I’m passionate about is the biggest reward. 

EBS: How has the local community responded to the world-class music events you’ve helped bring to the area?

TB: I’ve received such powerful feedback from friends in this community, particularly surrounding our Songs from the Sky songwriting series. We’ve been able to bring some incredible writers to Big Sky, both to write and to perform. Songwriters tend to be more unassuming than the artists you’ll hear on the radio, and people are often blown away when they see someone on a more “ordinary” life trajectory creating art that genuinely changes lives. At the last event we hosted, Jordan Davis and the Creative Nation team wrote his current single. Big Sky currently has a song on the charts!

EBS: How do you select the musicians and bands that perform, and what criteria is most important to you?

TB: Of course, I’m always looking for top-tier talent—people who are engaging, personable on stage and off, reliable, punctual and professional. A big challenge can be the fluidity of a private event. If there’s a sit-down dinner, maybe it runs a little late, and an artist’s time slot will be moved around. Flexibility is critical because there are so many moving parts between the planners, the guests, and everyone involved. My goal is for everyone to have a wonderful experience and for our artists to be valued for the incredible gifts that they bring to the table. The best events happen when the guests feel a genuine connection with the artist, so I encourage everyone to interface as much as possible, to break down the fourth wall and invite the audience into the performance. That’s when the magic happens. That’s a lot of criteria, I know!

EBS: Do you have any future plans to expand or evolve the music scene in Big Sky? Or do you have any exciting upcoming projects you could tell us about?

TB: Establishing a town-wide music calendar has been impactful. Working with several venues in the Town Center to stagger entertainment so that people don’t have to choose between two great options on a single night has been exciting. I’m always aiming to create consistency in our calendar so people can count on reliable start times for shows and events and plan around a musical experience rather than just happening upon it—although that’s great, too. As I mentioned, we constantly consider what venues the community needs next. Being on the ground floor is exciting as we build a world-class music scene. 

We have a great “Songwriters from the Sky” show in a week or so with the phenomenal Carly Pearce and friends, so I highly encourage everyone to attend. You’ll hear the stories behind some huge hits and be inspired. 

EBS: Is there any business advice you have received that you can share with others?

TB: Treat everyone with respect; there is no hierarchy of humanity. Everyone wants to feel valued, and everyone should feel valued. I strive to bring that spirit to my job every day. Like I said, it’s easy to do this within this remarkable community. I’m grateful to raise my kids here, to do my best to put Big Sky on the map as an entertainment hub, and to share this special place with the folks in the music world!