Magic City Blues Festival in Billings ends its 22-year run

Billings, Montana – After 22 years, the Magic City Blues Festival in Billings is coming to an end.

The annual music festival’s creator, Pam Goodridge, stated on the event’s Facebook page that she was informed by Yellowstone County commissioners that MetraPark, the venue for the previous two years, would not be able to host the event in 2024.

Commissioners, she said, informed her that the venue was unsuitable for the event because her husband, Magic City Blues co-founder Tim Goodridge, works at MetraPark. In 2020, the county recruited Goodridge to work at MetraPark. Goodridge filled the position of interim general manager until Stoney Field, a permanent general manager, was hired in 2023.

On Wednesday night, commissioners for Yellowstone County were not immediately available for comment.

Before relocating to MetraPark in 2021, Magic City Blues had several locations over the years, including South Park and its longtime residence on Montana Avenue. Over the years, the summer festival has attracted well-known performers, such as George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Ziggy Marley, John Fogerty, Steve Miller Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2022.

Usually, the event takes place in August.

Yee-Haw Hee-Haw Western Days is a new event that Pam Goodridge’s family is organizing, but she gave no further information.