Music (and crowds) start a comeback beneath the Big Sky
Anna Paige
BILLINGS Glowing blue against the stage lights, fans of Meg Gildehaus beamed with a special kind of delight, childlike almost, as they stood clustered in groups during the musician’s April 3 concert at the Pub Station.
The concert was one in a series of socially-distanced performances that began in March. These concerts marked the first time the stage has been used since the pandemic forced the closure of the nation’s live entertainment venues more than a year ago.
For Pub Station concerts, fans could purchase tickets in groups of four or six, and they were separated from others by metal fencing set in a U-shape. Such barriers, typically erected at the front of the stage to keep the massive crowds at bay, didn’t seem to matter when, after more than a year, a really loud rock concert was pumping through everyone’s bodies.
Snow was rapidly melting around downtown Billings Friday afternoon (2/19) when I wandered by the Pub Station, hoping to catch up with owners Sean Lynch and Ann Kosempa. The ticket box was closed and taproom wasn t open yet (4 p.m.), so I snapped the pic and headed down the street. I had hoped to ask them about live music finally returning to the popular venue, with the announcement of their upcoming Socially Distanced Series.
Just as I was walking away, Sean pulled into the parking lot. Perfect timing. We talked a little bit about the steps they ve been taking to get live shows back on the stage in Billings. It s been a
As the governor s words echoed through the empty room, the couple couldn t hide their concern.Â
The future of their livelihood, as well as the entire touring music industry, is tied to a pandemic that is still raging and has halted live music performances indefinitely.
Governor Steve Bullock speaks to Pub Station owner Sean Lynch at Pub Station in Billings on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. MIKE CLARK Billings Gazette
âItâs been the most stressful six months Iâve had in my whole life, other than maybe owning a restaurant,â Lynch said at the time. The Pub Station, classified as a Phase 3 business, has had its stages closed since March 13.