These Two BOLD Grads Are Throwing Some of the Biggest Concerts in Boise

The Outlaw Field Summer Concert Series has some of the strongest draw of any concert series in Idaho. Hosted by the Idaho Botanical Garden and CMoore Concerts at the picturesque Old Idaho Penitentiary in East Boise, it has brought to the City of Trees some of the nation’s most popular touring acts like Foreigner, Lord Huron and boygenius. Playing a central role in the success of the series are two Boise State University alumni — Broncos of the Last Decade.

“It’s been a really awesome relationship that we’ve built with the Garden and CMoore Concerts. And now, it’s awesome that we get to make a big statement on campus with Boise State,” said Brigitta Cumiskey (’17).Brigitta Cumiskey

At ExtraMile Arena, Cumiskey manages the ticketing for the Idaho Botanical Garden, but lately, she has been an important figure in the relationship between Boise State and Outlaw Field, and CMoore Concerts, which promotes shows for this venue at the Idaho Botanical Garden. To facilitate that partnership, she reached out to fellow Bronco and CMoore Concerts National Director of Operations and Production Matthew Carlson (’15). Together, they’re using their time, talents and roots at Boise State to throw the biggest concerts in the Treasure Valley.

Though Carlson and Cumiskey’s time at Boise State overlapped, they never met on campus. Originally from Washington, Cumiskey came to Boise State from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon, for a BA in Communications. While at Boise State, she took a job at ExtraMile Arena. Three months after graduation, she was working as a caterer in Washington when she got a call from her old employer. Cumiskey returned to Boise and has been working at ExtraMile Arena ever since.

Boise State was Carlson’s third swing at getting a degree. After attending classes at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and then Palomar College in San Marcos, California, Carlson graduated from Boise State with a BS in Kinesiology. He planned to work in healthcare, but that changed when he met Chris Moore, future owner of CMoore Concerts, while working at the Knitting Factory. Carlson hasn’t looked back, and has been with the promoter for over a decade, overseeing events and venues across the nation.

Carlson and Cumiskey met in the middle working with the Idaho Botanical Garden and Outlaw Field’s Summer Concert Series. As the liaisons to the garden for their respective companies, Cumiskey and Carlson are the handshake between ExtraMile Arena, the Idaho Botanical Garden and CMoore Concerts, and are preparing for a season full of big-name acts like Andrew Bird and Norah Jones.

To advance their partnership and improve the concert experience, Carlson and Cumiskey have begun collaborating with organizers of Boise State’s Broncos of the Last Decade program to solicit volunteers at the concert series, who will help with drink token sales and more in exchange for concert access. Reconnecting with Boise State has helped them foster new connections and staff events.

“The time and commitment from the volunteers is where the change happens,” Carlson said. “At Outlaw Field, when there’s 15 BOLD members out there, they’re the boots on the ground: It’s a hundred degrees out, and they’re selling tokens, wristbanding — that’s where my heart is.”Matthew Carlson

Creating opportunities for volunteerism has done more than strengthen these alumni’s relationship with their alma mater: It showed them the value of staying involved with their cohort. BOLD has helped them put on a better concert experience for their community — and offered them and many others an outlet for professional networking, rekindled friendships and more.

“When you’re around like-minded people who are excited about Boise State, it makes you want to be excited about Boise State, and that’s a great reason to be a part of BOLD,” Cumiskey said. “Really it’s about what the cohort can do for you.” Brigitta Cumiskey

Volunteer with us at Outlaw Field this summer.