The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Posts Tagged ‘Missoula music scene’

Missoula Favorite Lil’ Smokies to Headline River City Roots Festival

The Lil’ Smokies will be the Saturday night headliner for the 15th annual River City Roots Festival in the streets of Downtown Missoula August 27-28, 2021.... more

Mumford Concert Logistics

The sold-out Mumford & Sons concert at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field the evening of Aug. 11 will draw thousands of fans to Missoula's civic stadium.... more

America’s Most Acclaimed Baroque Musicians to Perform in Montana

They come from all corners of North America, bringing gut-string instruments, virtuoso talent, encyclopedic knowledge of a bygone era and acclaim as the modern masters of their art.... more

Missoula Community Band Presents 2016 Summer Band Concerts

The Missoula City Band announces its summer series for 2016. For well over a hundred years, we have been playing fine band music for the public in our open-air concerts.... more

What’s Happening at the Top Hat: Sept. 4-9

Playing at the Top Hat Lounge this week: Andrea Harsell, Elephant Revival & the Rustics, Ted Ness & the Rusty Nails, Ted Ness & the Rusty Nails, Quartetto Gelato, & more!... more

It’s Summertime in Montana

By TOM BENSEN-Gauging from the thermometer, summer is here. If you love concerts and summertime events, here are some MUST things to do in Missoula and Montana.... more

Kate Voegele Plays at Stage 112 on Feb 20th

Kate Voegele first picked up a guitar at age 15. Influenced by the rock and roll history of the city and her father’s songwriting, she began to pen her own songs from the minute she learned to play her first ... more

Country A Cappela Band, Home Free In Concert March 16

When country a cappella band Home Free was crowned Season 4 Champions of NBC's The Sing-Off, their victory was by no means the beginnings of a career for the five country stars from Minnesota… ... more

9th Annual River City Roots Festival Aug 23-24 in Downtown Missoula

Grammy Award winner Sam Bush headlines the admission-free, 2014 River City Roots Festival Aug. 23-24 in downtown Missoula. Welcome Home UM students! ... more

Lily Gladstone’s Beautiful Future

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Born and raised in Browning, Lily Gladstone returned there last year to work on “Jimmy P.,” a film about a psychologically- puzzling Blackfeet World War II veteran, starring Benicio De... more

Smile Empty Soul Plays the Wilma May 16th

Veteran Rock Group, Smile Empty Soul plays at the Wilma Theatre on Friday, May 16th as part of the Wayne Static (Static-X) headlining "Civil Unrest Tour".... more

Yonder Mountain String Band Plays the Wilma April 11 & 12

Yonder Mountain String Band has always played music by its own set of rules. Bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences, Yonder has pioneered a sound of their own. ... more

Sam Bush to Headline 2014 River City Roots Festival

By LINDA MCCARTHY - Sam Bush, 2009 Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement award winner, will headline the Main Stage at the 2014 River City Roots Festival in Downtown Missoula, Montana.... more

Master Silversmith Haddon Hufford

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Lost wax casting. Synclastic raising. Anticlasting raising. Hollow construction. Haddon Hufford speaks the vernacular of the silversmith with a lexicon centuries old. ... more

Celtic Rock n’ Roll Giants, Gaelic Storm Plays in Missoula Nov 3rd

If you've seen the movie Titanic you've seen the Celtic rock n' roll giants, Gaelic Storm perform--and they're playing Missoula at the Wilma Theater on Sunday Nov 3rd.... more

Lydia Brown and Robin Scott in Concert at MAM Dec. 13th

The Missoula Art Museum is pleased to announce the launch of its Chamber Music Series on December 13, 2013 at 7pm, with pianist, Lydia Brown and violinist Robin Scott at the Missoula Art Museum.... more

Love at First Listen with the Avett Brothers

Every once in a while in life, you stumble upon something that grabs you, shakes you, and is "love at first listen". UM Productions presents the Avett Brothers at the Adams Center, Oct. 20, 2013. ... more

The Local Technique of Missoula Singer Kira Means

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Kira Means is as provincial as a quick trek up Waterworks. She is as local as Brennan’s Wave or a panoramic view of the Clark Fork River. Means is as small-town as Missoula gets.... more

‘Throwing Down’ With Nick Dunbar of Mountain Standard Time

By EVAN CLARK - The 5-piece bluegrass/progressive rock band, Mountain Standard Time, of Nederland, CO, will be performing at the Top Hat Lounge on Aug14th in Missoula. ... more

Claire Lynch Headlines at Ruby Jewel Jamboree in Missoula, April 5th

By MARK VOSBURGH - Nationally acclaimed International Bluegrass Music Association artist, Claire Lynch headlines the Ruby Jewel Jamboree in Missoula, April 5th at Ruby's Reserve Street Inn.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week April 1

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. Monday Night Movie at the Top Hat, Spoken Word Poetry Club, GPS Navigation Basics at REI, Kevin Van Dort Blues, & First Friday.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. The Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band with Lake Street Dive, The Big Lebowski, Tom Catmull, Pint Night for the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter, and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. The Dinner Show at the Top Hat, Chug for Charity (Draught Works) for Casa of Missoula. Open Mic Night & more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, The Acousticals, Malarkey, The Comedy of Brian Regan, Open Mic Night & more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Bluegrass and Bobcats, Greensky Bluegrass, Ryan Montbleau Band, Open Mic Night & more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's cheese-making at the Good Food Store, a Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Children's Museum & more!... more

Missoula Bluegrass Picker Bill Neaves Profiled in National Flatpicking Guitar Magazine

By MARK VOSBURGH - As the editor of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Dan Miller knows talent when he hears it. Here's what he had to say about our own local talent, Bill Neaves in January's issue.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week it's the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Live music, Open Mic Night and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week it's the Flavors of Mardi Gras, Missoula Maulers, Leftover Salmon, Valentine's Day with Tom Catmull and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. Russ Nasset, Hump Night Bingo, Kraptastic Karaoke, lots of live music, and more!... more

That Old-Time Sound: Chad Fadely, Montana Mandolin Master

By MARK VOSBURGH - When Chad Fadely was 15, his dad picked up his fiddle and returned to playing old-time music. Predictably, for a teenager, Chad "absolutely hated" it.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week it's a Run Wild Missoula Beer Run, Cooking Classes at the Good Food Store, lots of live music, and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, Missoula Moves to Amend Rally, Cooking Classes at the Good Food Store, Open Mic and so much more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's cheese-making at the Good Food Store, a Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Children's Museum & more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the Flavors of India at the Good Food Store, Open Mic at Sean Kelly's, and loads of live, local music!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the First Friday, Films of Compassion, Kraptastic Karaoke, Dan Debuque, Open Mic and more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the Draught Works Christmas Steamer, Zappa Plays Zappa, free kids' holiday haircuts, and more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's "Love is a Dog from Nebraska", "Britchy", Musician Showcase, Missoula Marathon Holiday Party & more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's First Friday gallery night, Missoula Area Dubstep Monday, UM Jazz Holiday Swing benefit, and more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the Thanksgiving Beer Run, the Montana Musicians Showcase, and loads of live blues, jazz, and more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the Turkey Day 8K and 3K road races, the Community Hockey Cup Benefit, loads of live music & more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's lots of live music, discussions with the Clark Fork Coalition on cleanup of Smurfit-Stone, and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Music galore! Josh Farmer, Cash for Junkers, Musician showcase at Monk's and more!... more

Missoula’s Iconic Top Hat Set to Undergo Major Renovation After Sale

By KELLEN BECK - Although emotions around the sale of the Top Hat in Missoula are high, its former owner has confidence in the new owner and hopes for a bright future.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's a pumpkin carving contest at Tamarack, Badlander Halloween Party, Festival of the Dead, and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Reel Big Fish at the Wilma, Sex & Politics Trivia at Bayern, a double-header film premiere, and more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Rusted Root at the Top Hat, jazz by Pearl Django & Stellarondo, comedy night at The Palace, and more!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Lots of Live Music, Open Mic Night at Sean Kelly's, and a fundraiser for the Loyola Sacred Heart Foundation. ... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's the Festival of the Book, the Reel Rock 7 Film Tour, lunch with Tracy Lopez at the Iron Horse & more.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula. This week, it's Lady Griz volleyball, Home Resource's annual building contest, Chug for Charity, and more.... more