Big Mosquito, w/ Evergreen, Punisher, & Heavyweight
Friday, February 28 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Big Mosquito is a local Missoula ska outfit bringing a mix of authentic ska and high energy, with renditions and covers of such classics as The Skatalites, The Specials, laurel Aitkens, Phyllis Dillon/Freddy McKay, ect. Plus originals and more lively tunes like Murphy’s law’s 1%. Big Mosquito’s goal is to bring authentic ska and love for roots music to the forefront of our rising youth movement in Missoula and beyond. Big Mosquito is made up of Zane Lambert, Cameron Doucette, Evan Wright, Spencer Nelson, Nick Mogensen, Jacob Tirado, Rhett Matthew, and Danny Boatwright. Starting as a jazz combo through the University of Montana, the members of Evergreen decided they all liked each other’s company and wanted to keep playing music together. Rooted in jazz, the band is not afraid to dive into other territory, such as funk, hip hop, and fusion. Groove and improvisation is the name of the game, and Evergreen is here to have a good time playing. Punisher finds beauty in the unexpected—unapologetically exploring grooves that wobble on the edge of collapse before veering into surprising cohesion. Stillman’s saxophone spits and whispers, Doucette’s trombone slides and growls, and Wicks’ drumming creates a humorous, tuneful backbone, crafting a sound that feels full even without a bassist. Whether riffing downtown soul or diving headfirst into dissonant explorations, the group is hell-bent on pushing boundaries with joyful abandon. This is music that dares you to laugh, think, and lose yourself in its unconventional charm. We are Heavyweight. We are from Missoula and all students at the U. Owen Meador on Sax, Evan Nesbitt on Bass, Simon Hickey on Keys, and Danger Gersh on Drums. Our sound blends hip-hop, jazz, pop, and soul into a fun, backbeat oriented jazz. We were inspired by artists such as Nate Smith, Jamiroquai, PJ Morton, D’Angelo, Louis Cole, George Duke and so many others!
Missoula Collective Music Ensemble, Conducted by Naomi Moon Siegel
Monday, January 27 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $5-$25 Sliding Scale Admission Featuring the entire ensemble under conduction/direction by Siegel, these collective improvisations and compositions feature “conduction”, a jazz technique utilized to organize, expand and inspire improvisation in a large group setting. “Conduction” was created by the late Lawrence “Butch” Morris and is now used throughout the world. Siegel learned Conduction from playing in Wayne Horvitz’s ensemble for many years. The first set will be an open rehearsal, and then second set will be a performance utilizing the Conduction techniques practiced in the open rehearsal. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Browning w/ Swarm, The Defect & Blessiddoom
Tuesday, April 8 // Door at 6 PM // Show at 7 PM // $20 Advance // $25 DoS The Browning is an American electronicore band formed in Kansas City, Missouri in 2005. The band’s musical style is characterized by an eclectic blending of electronicore and deathcore. The group currently consists of vocalist Jonny McBee, drummer Cody Stewart, and bassist/guitarist Akeem Bivens. The Defect is an electronic-rock duo founded by The Browning frontman Jonny McBee and debut singer, Moon, in 2023. “Swarm has carved out such a strong and unique sound for himself that if we were to start a new Mount Rushmore for producers, his songs alone would sculpt out his image in the stone.” -YourEDM Blessiddoom began in the fall of 2005 on a mission to shine a light on social norms that often label people, places, and things as being unwanted or ugly in some way but hold their own inner beauty. Showcasing an oxymoron even in the name, that our doom would indeed be blessid. Having come from modest means Blessiddoom aims to be a voice for the shunned, the societal outcasts or the metal head that was always told they would grow out of it. With lyrics that can be seen as quite serious, Blessiddoom does not take themselves too seriously, ultimately just wanting to have the best parties we can while we are still here. “We don’t have a lot of time on this earth, we weren’t meant to spend it this way.”
Youth Lagoon w/ Valley James |Rarely Do I Dream Tour
Friday, March 28 // Doors at 7PM // Show at 8 // $20 Advance // $25 Door
Garon and Me w/ Sierra Cistone & Gabrielle Tusberg
Thursday, January 9 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Garon and Me is an acoustic duo from Missoula Montana. They play a mix of folk, jazz, blues, and funk covers and originals. Sierra Cistone is passionate about telling stories of connections between people and the rest of the natural world. If you haven’t heard Sierra sing, you need to, we promise. Gabrielle Tusberg is a singer songwriter from Portland, OR. Her inspiration comes from female songwriters like Lucinda Williams, Fiona Apple, and Sara Jarosz. Listening to Gabrielle’s songs tells a story about her life experiences, relationships, love lost, love gained, a changed perspective, with wit and charm. Her songs will make you cry and laugh with her deepest thoughts and secrets. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
American Falcon w/ Bacon & Egg and J.A.D.E.
Saturday, January 18 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter As bands and venues come and go, some things reign eternal, like Missoula’s dread AMERICAN FALCON. Since their early days as LAZERWOLFS, the band have been in the local rock trenches for nearly a quarter century, unleashing a steady and blistering brand of stonerrock-influenced hard rock. Plan to stay up late, and bring ear plugs. Mom says to start the day with a healthy breakfast. If you’re lacking the federally mandated allowance of rock ‘n’ roll vitamins such as soaring vocals, noodling guitars and choruses extolling the virtues of rocking, then a serving of Bacon & Egg awaits, piping hot. Bacon & Egg hail from Missoula, MT and are prepared to blow you away. J.A.D.E. is a high-energy band hailing from the mountains of small-town Western Montana. Their wide variety of influences shines brightly in their songs. This unique, not quite rock, not exactly pop sound with an edgy punk rock twist is addictive. They send driving rhythms, interwoven melodies, and powerful vocals straight through your ears deep into your heart and soul. When on stage they are focused on bringing a sound that inspires everyone to get on their feet and dance like the universe depends on it. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
.repetend w/ Desert Fantasy & Red Onion Purple
Thursday, January 9 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter .repetend utilizes extended range tunings, driving bass and guitar riffs, complex meters, dynamic tonalities and progressive, driving percussion for a total math rock experience. Brush up on your algebra and see if you can count along. Desert Fantasy features all original compositions and presents an eclectic mix of acoustic instruments: percussion, vibraphone, marimba, and drumset, blended with electronics: analog synths, drum machines, and live processing. Desert Fantasy sounds like old video game music that combines elements of math rock while blending traditional world percussion. Red Onion Purple began as a musical duo featuring Sean Burress (guitar) and Bethany Joyce (cello) in 2013. After a few years of experimenting with their sound and adding different members, the group coalesced into the spellbinding force that it is today with the addition of Joshua Chai (drums) and Cole Grant (bass). The ethos of the band is one of constant experimentation; treating each song as a separate world to traverse, going a little deeper with each iteration. Red Onion Purple’s sound is accessible, yet hard to pin down; at times upbeat and whimsical, other times melancholy and mysterious. They play a mixture of original songs, jazz standards, and covers. Their first full length album, ‘Frightening Sights’, was released in May of 2022. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Vittima w/ Places Called Home & ESP
Friday, January 3 // Doors at 8PM // Show at 8:30PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Vittima is an Anaconda based rock band that is FDA approved to prevent and cure all diseases! With the blend of classic and modern rock, we are a group that can satisfy all your rock n’ roll needs! We have Chris Illston smacking the sticks, Matthew Skiles on the metal cables and screaming, and Caleb Zenahlik shredding the six string and singing. We’ve been performing together since 2019, and will be coming out with our debut album soon (if it’s not already out)! Every show comes with high energy and good times! Come for the rock n’ roll, stay because someone stole your wallet! Places Called Home is an original concept created and led by Brandon Sturgell (rhythm guitar/lead vocals). After years of writing and recording, Brandon has always sought to bring his art to the stage and has assembled a team to do just that with supporting musicians: Jeremy Baldwin (drums), Preston Dabbs (lead guitar) and Peter Miller (bass). Melodic and inspiring while raw and vulnerable, Places Called Home invokes a fresh take on flavors that span from Midwest emo, post Alt punk, and indie folk that will take you to the places you never left and make you feel right at home. Erin Szalda-Petree is a musician from Missoula, MT. In 2020, under the name ESP, Erin created her first studio album ‘Backyard’, a collage of personal mementos from her teenage years up until the present. Other Missoula musicians, Christopher Baumann (producer), Joe Kirk, Duncan Szalda-Petree, and Noelle Huser performed on ‘Backyard’. Erin grew up listening to folk music and later found influence in pop-punk, and indie-folk songwriters. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Timber Rattlers w/ Blue Point, & Aidan Duffield and Rex Koenig Duet
Saturday, January 11 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Blue Point is a five piece Bluegrass Band from beautiful Missoula, MT. They specialize in traditional Bluegrass and Old TIme music, as well as Folk and Americana with a modern twist. Blue Point’s performances are wildly energetic and heartfelt and just might make you leave your seat to dance, or hold the ones you care about a little tighter. Their repertoire includes everything from classic songs, that everyone can sing to, and originals that stem from those deep places within the human condition that we all know and feel. The Timber Rattlers are an energetic bluegrass band from Missoula, MT. They pull inspiration from their traditional roots, but continue to push their boundaries in the realm of acoustic music. Aidan Duffield and Rex Koenig play Irish and Appalachian fiddle and Old Timey tunes. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Public Serpents w/ Pay No Mind & Big Mosquito
Tuesday, December 3 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 Advance // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Public Serpents are a six piece ska-core band from New Jersey, USA, fronted by Skwert Gunn, the drummer in New York seminal squat punk band Choking Victim.Since Public Serpents first entered the scene in 2008 with their debut album “The Feeding Of The Fortune 5000,” they’ve appeared on splits with bands UpperDowner and recent Fat Wreck Chords signee Escape From The Zoo, receiving critical acclaim in the worldwide crack-rock-steady scene. Public Serpents has toured and shared stages with incredible acts like Escape From The Zoo, Days and Daze, The Suicide Machines, Catbite, Rancid, Voodoo Glow Skills, Hot Water Music, The Menzingers, and so many more, and has played renowned festival stages across the globe including Podparou Festival (Czech Republic), SBÄM Festival (Austria), Brakrock Festival (Belgium), Rebellion Festival and Boomtown Fair (England). Following their second upcoming release on SBÄM Records (Austria), the band has plans to return to the studio in September 2024 to write and release a third full length album on an undetermined record label. Big Mosquito is a local Missoula ska outfit bringing a mix of authentic ska and high energy, with renditions and covers of such classics as The Skatalites, The Specials, laurel Aitkens, Phyllis Dillon/Freddy McKay, ect. Plus originals and more lively tunes like Murphy’s law’s 1%. Big Mosquito’s goal is to bring authentic ska and love for roots music to the forefront of our rising youth movement in Missoula and beyond. Big Mosquito is made up of Zane Lambert, Maxum and Cameron Doucette, Evan Wright, Spencer Nelson, Nick Morgensen, Jacob Tirado, and Danny Boatwright. Pay No Mind is a skate punk band with hardcore and thrash influences consisting of former members of Stoned to Death and Super Sport (Great Falls). They have taken Missoula by storm opening for touring bands and supporting the local music scene. Two of their members are students at the U of M and have played shows on campus and supported headliner acts throughout town.
