Bozeman Magazine

Halloween is a holiday observed in many countries the week of October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints’ Day and is dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the hard departed. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. Some go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow’s Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. Other academics believe Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow’s Day. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and then through American influence Halloween had spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century.

Bourbon (515 W Aspen St, Bozeman) will be this year's location for the inaugural Cocktails & Costumes Halloween Party. The Ornery Jacks and Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown will both play a full set of music, and the dance floor will be packed with spooky ghosts and goblins doing the Monster Mash. If you haven’t been there yet, Bourbon takes you to that place in your heart where your friends and family live. It’s the backyard of your Uncle who used to live down South and picked up some sort of barbecue magic that no one else can ever seem to learn. It’s the memories of camping up Brackett Creek in high school with a bit more class and much better booze. It’s the music and the food and the laughter when the sun’s just setting after floating the Madison. It’s the deep happiness of a day spent with the whole family and the bit of rowdiness that happens once the kids have been sent to bed. And thanks to Bourbon, it’s always there and there’s someone else doing the cleanup.

When your drink comes you’ll know that you’re in a place where a good cocktail is appreciated but not over-complicated, and where it’s not just a beer you’re drinking—it’s the right beer, in the right place, in the right company, with the right food on the way. When dinner is served you’ll taste the fun and the love, the memories of a Montana lifetime and of road trips through Alabama and Tennessee in every bite.

Growing up a few miles south of the Canadian border in rural North Dakota, Matt Wallin (and His Nervous Breakdown) tell stories about the trials and hardships of rural farm life and oil boom towns to starting a family and following your own path, wherever that leads you. Their album Ravens’ songs paint visual pictures, with writing that reflect the character of Mike Cooley, Corb Lund, Waylon Jennings and Vic Chestnutt. Songs you can see when you hear them.

The Bozeman-based Irish Alt-rock group The Ornery Jacks have been playing in Bozeman for the past five years (more like fifteen years if you count their old band, The BoozeHounds). Comprised of drums, two lead guitars, bass, and a newly added accordion, The Ornery Jacks are Bozeman’s only Irish pub band. Perfect for a rowdy night of dancing, The Ornery Jacks are known to always put on a rocking show for everyone in attendance.

These spooky local bands have had the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Reckless Kelly, Jerry Joseph, Corb Lund, and Hayes Carll to name a few, as well as preforming at the Sweet Pea Festival, Vigilante Music Festival, Prairie-Palooza and Yellowstone Harvest Festival, and Moods of the Madison Festival.

Get your tickets early as space is limited and this event is likely to sell out in advance. Come early and get a BBQ base so you can dance all night long.  https://www.sellout.io/event?id=S1wvf04b6I