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Weddings

About

The Dirt Farmers are a foot-stomping grassroots string band that fits any party like an old shoe. They are known for their fun-loving mix of old-school country, bluegrass, blues and rock, with the occasional slip into hip hop and other genres.

The band members are a unique as their song list from stand-out guitarist, Jim Dungan, to Chuck Swenson on banjo and harmonica, they’re pure Montana in the “country cosmopolitan” sense of the word. Along with Nate Fortier on mandolin, Lenka Swenson on fiddle, Chuck Swenson on banjo, and Suzanne Ford on stand-up bass, the Dirt Farmers know how to get down to business and have serious fun. Dirt Farmers Zander, Nate and Chuck also write original tunes that invite you to the flavor and fun of Montana life.

Winners of Bozeman Magazine's "People's Choice" award three years in a row, the Dirt Farmers are located in Bozeman, MT, near Yellowstone Park, Big Sky, Livingston, and many other Montana locals. They also travel to play in other areas in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and other western states. They have played scores of weddings over the years, and are known for being professional, reliable, flexible, and easy to work with. When you hire them, you can rest assured that the evening's entertainment will be as enjoyable as it is memorable.

A great band for a multi-age wedding crowd or other event with something to everyone from grandma to the kids out on the dance floor. As several members are classically trained, they are a great choice for the ceremony music as well.

  • Veteran-owned
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in your wedding reception music package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
Lighting
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Sound/PA System
Travel Expenses

Which of the following are included in your popular wedding package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
Lighting
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Sound/PA System
Travel Expenses

Are you an agency or a band?

Band

How many musicians are in your band(s)?

4 - 6

What genres of music does (do) your band(s) play?

Acoustic
Blues
Classic Rock
Country
Dance
Folk
Gospel
Oldies
Pop
Punk Rock
Rock
Strings
Swing

What music services do you provide?

Instrumentals
Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
MC
Reception Music
Music During Breaks
Rehearsal Dinner Music
Sample Performances
Vocals
Willing to Travel

What items are available?

Lighting
Microphones
Sound/PA System

Reviews of The Dirt Farmers

M
Madison Sent on 06/28/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The Dirt Farmers

We couldn't have asked for a better band for our wedding! From the first contact to the final song of the night, they were absolutely amazing. The communication with Chuck leading up to the event was wonderful, he even worked with us to tailor their song list to our favorites. The band brought so much energy and talent—it truly made the evening unforgettable. HIGHLY recommend hiring The Dirt Farmers as your wedding band!
David
David Sent on 09/25/2024
5 out of 5 rating

September 19

I saw them at my nephew Kevin Stenhouse's wedding at Foster Creek Farm last Thursday. They were great. Nice selection of country music plus some countrified versions of rock standards like Riannon. I particularly liked "Willin'".
J
Jorid Sent on 09/11/2019
5 out of 5 rating

So much fun!!

The dirt farmers are amazing!! They blew me away with their performance at our wedding and kept all of our friends and family dancing and foot stomping all night! They even played 3 encores before the night was over. I would highly, highly recommend these guys if you want your dance floor to be wild and full on your wedding day or for your special event! They play a myriad of covers and genres so all ages can enjoy!
S
Sarah Sent on 05/31/2019
5 out of 5 rating

The Dirt Farmers were awesome!

The Dirt Farmers played at our wedding last summer and they were awesome! They are all extremely talented musicians and their music catered to all of our guests. We had so much fun dancing! Almost a year later, friends and family are still telling us how much they enjoyed the music. My husband and I highly recommend the Dirt Famers!
K
Katherine Sent on 11/15/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We couldn't have been happier with our decision to use the Dirt Farmers at our wedding. They were incredibly fun and easy to work with. They provided a string trio for our ceremony and rocked our reception. The music was fantastic and we danced the night away to classic rock, bluegrass, original music, and even some modern hits! Shawna (the band manager and bassist) was probably the nicest person we worked with out of all the wedding vendors we used. Genuinely sweet and helpful. They even offered to come early and pitch in with any last minute set up. Who does that??? If you want a fun, low stress, all around amazing band for your event or wedding, definitely book the Dirt Farmers. My mom event traveled to see their show in Eugene, OR after the wedding. Fans for life!
A
Amber Sent on 05/31/2016
5 out of 5 rating
The Dirtfarmers did an amazing job for our wedding. They were so friendly and accommodating! They drove all the way to Broadus and then out to our ranch wedding. They also played even later than expected, giving all our friends a chance to dance! My little brother is a guitarist and they backed him up on a song he wrote, without any heads up. We had so much fun and were really, really happy with them!!
B
Brady Sent on 08/10/2015
5 out of 5 rating
The Dirt Farmers are amazing. With an eclectic mix of hard-driving bluegrass, sprinkled with rock alterations.
Kelly, lead vocals and guitar, is stellar - and Hans is quickly becoming a fiddle prodigy.
We have received non-stop comments of "your band was phenomenal" and "who was your amazing band."
Everyone was great to work with, and they even learned a first dance song for our wedding.
Highly recommend for your next wedding or event.
U
User2244007 Sent on 07/27/2015
5 out of 5 rating
I found the Dirt Farmers on social media, having liked what I saw of their videos. Shawna provided a great point of contact; she was very responsive and provided me with all the information I needed from them. On the day of the event they flexibly fit their set up needs around our somewhat chaotic schedule and then started to play! Prior to the wedding, they had learned a special fiddle tune so the guests could attempt some Scottish country dancing. They also played various songs we had requested, as well as wonderful tunes of their own and old classics. It wasn't long before the majority of our 130 guests were out dancing. Everyone agreed that The Dirt Farmers tied everything together just right, playing well into the night. I would recommend them for any event where you need a professional, fun, energetic and highly skilled group of musicians.
U
User2224043 Sent on 07/13/2015
5 out of 5 rating
The Dirt Farmers did an excellent job at my wedding. I am glad I decided on them. They were professional and accommodating.
K
Kate Sent on 07/10/2015
5 out of 5 rating
We had the Dirt Farmers play at a recent fundraiser this summer and they were absolutely phenomenal! They are all accomplished musicians who obviously really enjoy playing together and playing whatever fits the mood of the event. I felt like they read our multi-generational crowd very well and catered their songs perfectly to fit the tone of the event, as well as the mood of the evening. It was a mix of old country, bluegrass, folk, rock, and just plain fun. It wasn't overly bluesy or jam-bandy (something I had wanted to avoid) -- just great familiar tunes and some very pleasing new ones, along with some real entertaining covers (like a Jay-Z jam, played upon request at the end of the night!). There were some real tear-jerkers and true country classics in there as well.

They were set up to play outside, but a sudden thunderstorm forced everyone under cover right as the event started. The band was prepared for just such an event and were able to cover their sound equipment with tarps -- but being the professionals they were, they quickly found another spot to play acoustically and it was really a wonderful, stress-free start to the event.

I must say they were also some of the most courteous, prompt, friendly, and reliable bands I've ever worked with. I organize many events, and work a lot of weddings, so I've seen my fair share of unreliable or grumpy bands. The Dirt Farmers not only played great music, but their lovely demeanor and easy-going attitudes really added to the evening's success. After the event, I received many comments from attendees who gushed about what an amazing band we had found and that they were "true gems."

I would not hesitate to book the Dirt Farmers for a wedding or any sort of other event -- they are an accomplished, versatile, and fun band for really any occasion.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

10

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Big Sky Resort Big Sky Resort Hotel Weddings

Need a band to complete your Montana wedding? The Dirt Farmers have you covered!

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