County Conservation District w/ Jeremy Drake & Billy Kautz + koby.
Wednesday, August 9 // Door at 8 PM // Show at 8:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket County Conservation District is an experimental noise pop act hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. CCD’s music comes from influences that at first arose from rural environments and vintage halloween ephemera. Using synth noise, tapes machines, pedals, and samplers he crafts environments that range from serene to dancey. Koby is a heart-song sorcerer, delivering story through the tender simplicity of guitar and voice. His music ferries listeners down a slow river where each song is a dream materialized through melody, magic made manifest for the enjoyment of forever. Sometimes, he does other things too. Jeremy Drake and Billy Kautz create improvised sonic encounters exploring texture, rhythm, melody, noise and space. Through the use of acoustic and electric instruments augmented by effects, an intricate and multi-layered web of improvised music is created for the listener. Guitarist Jeremy Drake was deep in the Los Angeles experimental music scene from the late 90’s to the late 00’s playing with the likes of Nels Cline, Vinny Golia, Jessica Catron and countless other visionary sound artists and improvisers. Then he started composting. Now as a dad, partner, and Zero Waste consultant, he lives in Missoula and occasionally freaks out his kids with the sounds coming from the basement. Trumpet/cornet player and composer Bill Kautz has worked in a variety of creative music projects in Missoula including work with Cole Bronson, Justin Matousek, Michael Musick, Naomi Siegel, Tricia Opstad, and as a leader/composer for his ensemble crosstalk. He is a co-founder of The FreeSessions with Naomi Siegel, a DJ and producer of KBGA’s Something Else!, a music educator and a proud stay at home dad and husband. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Ocean Lee w/ Gabrielle Tusberg + Jolene Green
Sunday, August 6 // Door at 8 PM // Show at 8:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Ocean Lee is an indie-jazz trio from Bozeman, MT. Guitar and vocalist Kailee Failla has been performing her original music as a singer/songwriter in Bozeman since 2021. She is now playing with the accompaniment of Isaac Winemiller (bass), and Josh Poole (drums), together creating a smooth, groovy vibe that’ll keep you on your toes. 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. Jolene Green, and her neo soul/fusion band Order of the Sunshine Deity, are based out of Missoula, MT. The band has Connor Racicot on keys, Llwyn Clark-Gaynor on drums, Evan Nesbitt on bass, Cameron Kinney on guitar, Cade Chastain on alto sax, Sean Stineford on trombone and Jolene Green on vocals/tenor sax. The band was started by its frontwoman, Jolene, and plays her original music which is a blend of jazz, low-fi, soul, hip hop, and metal. The band members are all former or current top music students at the University of Montana and use their formal training to create a sound that is new, unique, and informed. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Montana Songwriter Showcase w/ Susan Gibson, Tom Catmull, Jenn Adams, & John Floridis
Tuesday, August 22 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $17 Advance // $20 Day of Show What has over 30 albums, a Grammy Nomination, multiple “Best Musician” awards from the Missoula Independent, a USA Songwriter Grand Prize, and a Northwest Emmy Award? The combination of singer songwriters Susan Gibson, Tom Catmull, Jenn Adams, and John Floridis. These four singer songwriters began their careers in Missoula, Montana in the early and mid 1990’s at the dawn of the movement toward independently produced CD’s and recordings. Though they’ve all pursued their paths individually, they’ve frequently shared billing with one another, recorded together and even occasionally played in each other’s bands. Ten years ago they joined each other on stage for the first time, and the show was so well received they’ve made it a yearly event. Susan, Tom, Jenn, and John became friends through meeting at open mics, shared gigs and recording projects in the mid-1990’s and immediately came to respect each other’s work. All but Susan Gibson still live in the Missoula and Bitterroot area. Susan makes a yearly pilgrimage from Austin, Texas back to Montana, revisiting the route that inspired her to write the Dixie Chick’s huge hit single “Wide Open Spaces.” When she does the four friends have made it a now yearly tradition to gather to trade songs old, new, and “in the works”, and share stories of their journeys with music and songwriting spanning over two decades. One of the true highlights of ‘Montana Songwriter Showcase’ is the experience of these artists in a true “listening” environment – as opposed to a festival, club, or tap room. Every nuance of the artist’s singing and every subtlety of their guitar playing comes forward in a setting like this – where the dynamics of a solo performance take on even greater depth. When a musician can use silence and space to enhance their music it is akin to an author suddenly having access to vowels after trying to write without them. www.susangibson.comwww.tomcatmull.comwww.jennadams.comwww.johnfloridis.com For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Montana Songwriter Showcase w/ Susan Gibson, Tom Catmull, Jenn Adams, & John Floridis
Friday, July 19 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $20 Advance // $25 Day of Show What has over 30 albums, a Grammy Nomination, multiple “Best Musician” awards from the Missoula Independent, a USA Songwriter Grand Prize, and a Northwest Emmy Award? The combination of singer songwriters Susan Gibson, Tom Catmull, Jenn Adams, and John Floridis. These four singer songwriters began their careers in Missoula, Montana in the early and mid 1990’s at the dawn of the movement toward independently produced CD’s and recordings. Though they’ve all pursued their paths individually, they’ve frequently shared billing with one another, recorded together and even occasionally played in each other’s bands. Ten years ago they joined each other on stage for the first time, and the show was so well received they’ve made it a yearly event. Susan, Tom, Jenn, and John became friends through meeting at open mics, shared gigs and recording projects in the mid-1990’s and immediately came to respect each other’s work. All but Susan Gibson still live in the Missoula and Bitterroot area. Susan makes a yearly pilgrimage from Austin, Texas back to Montana, revisiting the route that inspired her to write the Dixie Chick’s huge hit single “Wide Open Spaces.” When she does the four friends have made it a now yearly tradition to gather to trade songs old, new, and “in the works”, and share stories of their journeys with music and songwriting spanning over two decades. One of the true highlights of ‘Montana Songwriter Showcase’ is the experience of these artists in a true “listening” environment – as opposed to a festival, club, or tap room. Every nuance of the artist’s singing and every subtlety of their guitar playing comes forward in a setting like this – where the dynamics of a solo performance take on even greater depth. When a musician can use silence and space to enhance their music it is akin to an author suddenly having access to vowels after trying to write without them. www.susangibson.comwww.tomcatmull.comwww.jennadams.comwww.johnfloridis.com For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Just 4 Frillz ‘Public Display of Affection’ Album Release Party
w/ Kapture, Enzymes, & Mission FallsFriday, August 11 // Door at 7 PM (Music starts immediately) // $15 Just 4 Frillz is a dynamic musical group consisting of talented and happily married Ryan & Kelsi Staninger. After 13 years of playing music together, they focused their efforts into creating a truly special concept album titled Public Display of Affection, that recounts their journey through life and love. The band is beyond excited to share their art with you at the upcoming album release party on August 11th at The ZACC. They will showcase their unique sound and express their passion for music and for each other. With a perfect blend of soulful vocals and catchy beats, Just 4 Frillz is a band that is sure to leave a lasting impression on any audience. Listen to more Just 4 Frillz and stay up to date @ www.just4frillz.com SPOTIFY:https://spoti.fi/3pO7iwj YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2s1_bVHRNpp0y-SY7CJUlw/videos INSTA:https://www.instagram.com/just4frillz/ FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/Just4Frillz For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
How Strange It Is w/ Babytooth & Les Duck
Sunday, July 30 // Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket How Strange It Is organizes collaborative chaos into tight, structured songs indebted to early-aughts classic synth-heavy indie rock along with 2010s bedroom pop and contemporary slowcore. The Portland band released their self-titled EP (bud030) in early 2022. While born from the songs of Jordan Krinsky, each track is embellished and morphed by a variety of collaborators. With a new 4-piece line up, their debut full length album In the Light of the Blistering Moon is out July 14 as a co-release between Bud Tapes and Candlepin Records. The record is highly collaborative and finds Krinsky’s precise, introspective writing intersecting with improvisations and experiments. Babytooth is the full band project of Portland-based singer/songwriter Isabel Zacharias. Annie Fifer (Yellow Room) lends guitar leads by turns distorted and crystal-clear, with Hugh Jepson (Soft Cheese, Moon Shy) behind the drums and Benson Chong (Honeydiu, How Strange It Is) splitting time between bass & keyboards. Fitting into and elaborating on the lineage of Pacific Northwest indie, the songs move between noisy melodic rock & twinkly folk experiments, recalling the scrappy ’90s/early-aughts rock of the region as much as the incisive lyrical focus of acts like Smog and Silver Jews. Les Duck, fka Dint 2, is all about fast cars, slow guitars, Avatar 2 the Way of Water, family, and friendship. Lukas Phelan and Sanders Smith trade songs exploring those very themes, while Nate Biehl rips the pedal steel, and James Rogers tickles the drums. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jessie Thoreson & The Crown Fire w/ Cory Fay
Thursday, July 27 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Jessie Thoreson & The Crown Fire is an upbeat folk-rock band based in Seattle that is driven by compelling lyrics and harmonies, soaring fiddle, and engaging percussion. Cory Fay is dirt pop/evil western/glam folk. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Kathryn Claire (US) & Margot Merah (Netherlands) w/ Sierra Cistone
Friday, July 28 // Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Music can bring people together in unexpected ways. That’s certainly the case for Kathryn Claire and Margot Merah. Growing up on opposite sides of the world, you can expect them to never have met. And yet they did, in the fall of 2013, in a small Irish pub in Amsterdam. The musical connection was instant. Their love of songwriting, traditional music, folk and harmony singing not only brought them together: it took them all over the world. After 2 and a half years apart, the two reunited last summer in the Pacific Northwest for a tour featuring original and traditional songs and instrumentals along with their favorite covers. They began writing together on the road, and when they toured again in Europe this past spring, they decided the time had come to create an album of music together. In their live shows and on their upcoming album, Come Close, Come In, these two multi-instrumentalists feature guitar, fiddle, ukulele, bodhran, harmonica, and breathtaking vocal harmonies. Kathryn Claire is based in Portland, OR. She plays violin, guitar and ukulele, has a crystal clear voice and writes songs that are honest, poetic and profound. She weaves together stories and melodies rooted in her classical and traditional musical background. Each song is imbued with an energy and electricity that you can feel, and she has the ability to move seamlessly between genres. Margot Merah is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She is a real ‘storyteller’, exactly what the folk tradition is all about. Margot’s music is comforting, hopeful and melancholic. Her songs tell about life, simple and small, with an eye for detail and the bigger picture. She regularly performs as a solo artist, but prefers to collaborate with other musicians in various projects. Her musicality and sense of harmony and rhythm are perfect for this. Kathryn and Margot are thrilled to be playing the The Show Room at the ZACC for their first time and for Margot to see Montana and the big sky and mountains for her first time! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazz Night w/ Patti Nolan & The Undeniables
Wednesday, July 26 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $12 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Join us at the Show Room at the ZACC for a spirited night of jazz classics and standards performed by Patti Nolan & Friends, with Patti on vocals, Ben Schuberg on piano, Pete Hand on bass, Graeme Pletscher on saxophone, and Ed Stalling on drums. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Redbush w/ Mido Skip & DeLorean Deluxe
Tuesday, July 25 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Redbush is a New Mexico-based rock band whose performances have been hailed as energetic, exciting, and (most importantly) fun! The band plays a compelling mix of 90s influenced alternative flavors, sarcastically described by founding member and principal songwriter JD Korpitz as “a shameless Toadies rip-off band”. A closer look under the hood of this 20 year-old entity reveals far more depth beyond such a label. Redbush features big snarling guitar riffs atop winding well-composed rhythms juxtaposed with catchy melodies and carefully crafted lyrics that venture into the dark characteristic minds of all stripes: funny, caustic, and sardonic. These forlorn ne’er do wells greet most problems with a wink and an invitation to a smoke and PBR (or in this case, Montucky). From the great city of Missoula, Mido Skip started out as a simple idea, formulating into one of the biggest conspiracies to date. It is said that on a full moon you can hear the mad ravings of the nü-emo band from abandoned alleyways. Have you captured a glimpse of this enigmatic event? If you’re lucky enough, it could change how you look at yourself, and the world as you know it. DeLorean Deluxe is a brand new project bringing well crafted compositions and melodies – their upbeat progressive pop-punk sound is not to miss. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
