òòò½ÊÓƵ

With elegance, power and poise, the Mariachi Mariposas wowed the boisterous but respectful throngs Saturday evening at the Original Mineyard during the Montana Folk Festival.òòò½ÊÓƵ

The all-female mariachi group on day two of the festival performed with fiddles, horns and guitars, including a guitarron bass guitar. The crowd responded with gusto to the singers, many of whom sustained a single note long enough to stir cheers.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Theòòò½ÊÓƵMariachi Mariposas came to the festival from Rio Grande Valley, Texas. They followed another Texan, Wayne "The King of Juke Joint Swing" Hancock. He sang about garnering unwanted attention from "Johnny Law," about flatlands boogie and more. Hancock said he is bilingual òòò½ÊÓƵ” able to cuss and talk at the same time.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Day twoòòò½ÊÓƵof the Montana Folk Festival in Uptown Butte hosted large crowds at each of its six stages. Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band stirred vigorous dancing at the Dance Pavilion.òòò½ÊÓƵ

The National Weather Service reported a high of 85 degrees in Butte Saturday. Water misting and refill stations stayed busy.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Elizabeth King, a singer of gospel and sacred soul, played the Granite Street Stage. Backed by a son on bass guitar, by a keyboard player, a drummer, a guitarist, King transported the crowd to an open-air church. She sang about the quest for faith in the darkest of times.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Foròòò½ÊÓƵtheòòò½ÊÓƵcrowds that traveled Uptown Butte's streets this weekend, the Montana Folk Festival seemed to provide a break from division.òòò½ÊÓƵ

If theòòò½ÊÓƵcenter holds and donations pile up, the Montana Folk Festival will return in 2026.

Past surveys suggest most of the 2025 folks will be waiting with bells on.òòò½ÊÓƵ