Jim McHugh says this year's Mount Helena Music Festival is the strongest line-up from top to bottom in all of its eight years.

McHugh, director of Downtown Helena Inc., says the event is well-received by Helena residents and has built a good reputation with the musicians.

"People like the aspect of it all happening at one place. They sit down on a blanket or lawn chair and stay the whole day," McHugh said. "People just have to move and turn rather than relocate from one side of downtown to another (to hear all the music)."

Headlining the festival this year is Monte Montgomery, an acoustic guitar player listed by Guitar Player magazine as one of the 50 best guitar players of all time.

This is Montgomery's debut in Montana, and he is excited to perform under the Big Sky.

"I can't wait," he said Thursday morning.

Montgomery, a singer and songwriter, says there are a lot of music flavors blended in his sound. He is compared to John Mayer for his pop sensibility and Stevie Ray Vaughan for his approach to the guitar.

"I've been inspired by so many different players," he said.

Montgomery lived in Alabama until he moved to Texas at the age of 12. His mother, a folk singer and guitar player, was his original influence and only teacher.

"She showed me my first chords," he said.

Beyond that, he is self-taught by ear.

"What I've learned I learned using my ears," he said. "I've never had any formal training."

Montgomery plays flavors of reggae, folk, country, rock, pop and blues on a beat-up acoustic Alvarez guitar.

"Most people that haven't seen us before don't know what to say (afterwards)," he said, adding that he creates some unique sounds with his acoustic guitar.

"If you weren't looking you might think I'm playing an electric guitar," he said.

Montgomery's latest release "Monte Montgomery at WorkPlay" is a performance recorded live at WorkPlay Theater in Birmingham, Ala.

Montgomery is scheduled to take the stage Saturday at 9 p.m.

Festivities begin Friday at noon at Women's Park with a food court, beer garden and plenty of activities for the kids. Vendors are selling jewelry, pottery, toys, soaps, candles and an array of other gifts and goods.

A colorful list of musical artists is scheduled to hit the two nonstop stages beginning Friday night.

Kicking off the entertainment is Tom Catmull and the Clerics from Missoula with acoustic rock original songs and cover music. The stellar string sounds of Tony Furtado, followed by Ryan Shup and the Rubberband, wrap up the evening.

Events continue on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. with music throughout the day by Joan Zen, the Shuffle Bums, Jimi Austin, The Mother Truckers, Big James and the Chicago Playboys and Jimmy Thackery.

Tickets are $18 for the weekend, $12 for a day pass, children ages 8 to 14 are $6 and kids under 7 are free when accompanied by a paid adult. No coolers or pets are allowed.

For more information go www.downtownhelena.com or call 447-1535.

Helena Music Festival

Friday

- Tom Catmull and the Clerics 6 p.m.

- Tony Furtado Band 7:30 p.m.

- Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband 9 p.m.

Saturday

- Shuffle Bums 1:30 p.m.

- Jimi Austin 3 p.m.

- Mother Truckers 4:30 p.m.

- Big James and the Chicago Playboys 6 p.m.

- Jimmy Thackery 7:30 p.m.

- Monte Montgomery 9 p.m.