Swamp Ritual, w/ The Gray Goo & Runecaller
Sunday, July 23 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Swamp Ritual’s drum and bass combo listens like a herd of mammoths: crushing, heavy, and definitely something you don’t get every day. The Gray Goo is a musical trio that hails from The Flathead Valley in Northwestern Montana. The Goo takes a unique and proggy take on the psychedelic genres, creating a fantastical journey through realms of Doom Metal, Funk, Psyche Rock, Punk, and even Bluegrass and Disco. From Fuzzed out guitar riffs to atmospheric synthy breaks, and shready bass. The Gray Goo Consumes You. Runecaller is gnarly, riff packed, blackened stoner/sludge from Great Falls. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
**CANCELLED** Crimson Skye w/ Maria Zepeda & Gabrielle Tusberg
**THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED**Saturday, July 22 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Crimson Skye is a California based singer-songwriter that has been writing and producing her own albums since 2014. She loves to take her music on the road and is currently in the midst of a PNW tour. Skye was named Bakersfield’s Artist of the Year at the Bakersfield Music Awards in 2020 as well as Band of the Year in 2021. Skye’s performances over the years have garnered her a multi-generational following, leading to thousands of albums sold. Years ago, Skye coined the term “Raw Music for the People” to encompass the intention behind her music. “I use my music to heal myself and to heal my fellow people.” Maria Zepeda lives to express through creation. Whether that is through song, advocacy, community, or connection, she expresses with a loving passion that encourages others to find their loving passion too. Her larger than life presence invites you to take a closer look at the ways we can live in love for ourselves, each other, and our planet. Gabrielle Tusberg is a singer-songwriter from Portland, OR. She has been writing her own music since high school and enjoys conveying deep emotion with her raw and honest lyrics. She is inspired by female artists like Jewel and Fiona Apple and hopes to come out with a complete album by fall of 2023. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Calamity Cowboy w/ Jules Jensen & Jolene Green
Thursday, July 20 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Calamity Cowboy was created in a petri dish by a mad scientist in 1943. Some might describe their sound as “bootgaze”. Calamity Cowboy forever. 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. Jules Jensen plays acoustic music inspired by Elliott Smith, Pigeon Pit, Flatsound, Plumtree, and most importantly, her friends. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Reddenhollow w/ koby. & Dylan Running Crane
Wednesday, July 19 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket “Reddenhollow songs have a way of wrapping around one’s life. Truly listening to them feels like stepping into a river. The separation between Taylor Moses’s melody, story, and my own heart disappears and before I can articulate or understand it, the songs speak my own story – a witness to my secret grief and to my rising dreams. I would like to turn my body into smoke, mist, rain, light and let these songs take me somewhere sacred. The unique timbre, grit and depth to Taylor’s voice sounds something ancient. Taylor takes us on one journey. The soft moments are so beautifully fragile that they allow me to walk through them while wounded, and suddenly throughout, Taylor’s voice takes us and the loving resolve and almost righteous anger become enough to pull us out of our suffering and onto ever present ground.” – Mimi Gilbert Dylan Running Crane is a singer-songwriter from Browning, Montana, a place that remains the subject of most of her work. Her vibe is country meets rez-folk meets tender and silly. Check out her work with Cry Baby – https://crybabymissoula.bandcamp.com/track/missoula koby. is a local heart-song sorcerer, delivering symbol and 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. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Summer Soirée with the Ed Norton Big Band
Sunday, July 16 // Door at 7 PM // Music at 7:30 PM // $15 General Admission Get your dancing shoes on and spend a summer Sunday with hits from Ed Norton Big Band in The Show Room at the ZACC! The Ed Norton Big Band was founded around 1987 after trombonists Tom Wogsland and Scot Ray performed in the pit Orchestra for Missoula Children’s Theatre’s first production of The 1940’s Radio Hour – and didn’t want to stop. Since then the 18 piece band, made up of Missoula musicians from multiple generations, has been a staple of traditional and modern big band music throughout western Montana. Ed Norton Big Band has a long history of entertaining audiences of all ages from birthday parties, fundraisers, Out to Lunch, Second Sunday Jazz, and First Night. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jupiter Beat w/ New Old Future & Pale People
Friday, July 7 // Door at 8 PM // Show at 8:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Jupiter Beat is spacey rock n roll and danceable funk collide – complete with ripping guitar solos, analog and electric drum beats, and two frontmen you won’t soon forget. Pale People is Missoula’s worst-kept secret … An eccentric piano-rock quartet with a varied oeuvre, from soft confessionals to howling rants about the lonely and insane. New Old Future is a four piece garage pop, alt rock, grunge band that has been playing in Missoula for ten years. The members are Logan Heindl on lead guitar, Kyle Campbell on bass, Zach Froehlich on drums, and Bry Froehlich on vox and rhythm guitar. ‘Birds’ is their third studio album. Follow New Old Future @newoldfuture on Instagram or visit newoldfuture.com. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
MAITA w/ Sarah Frazier
Wednesday, August 23 // Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 // $12 Advance // $15 Day of Show There are few things as chilling as attempting to parse the emotional tone of the punctuation in a text message from a partner – a period, a single dot that at once can mean so much. On her latest album with MAITA, Maria Maita-Keppeler digs into that crippling oxymoron of modernity, the constant bombardment of communication paired with utter disconnection. Avaialble via venerable indie label Kill Rock Stars, I Just Want To Be Wild For You grasps passionately for a world that too often seems at a gauzy distance. Splitting time between her mom’s Japanese-speaking home and her father’s English-speaking home, Maita-Keppeler found an expressive avenue out of her childhood shyness through music. The Portland-based singer-songwriter tapped into that grand yet intimate reverence for MAITA’s sophomore album, from the churning twinkle of “Pastel Concrete” to the riotous give-and-take of “Honey, Have I Lost It All?”. In those moments of disconnect, of confusion, of isolation, I Just Want To Be Wild For You thunders ahead, forging unexpected connections along the way. Named Portland’s “Best New Band by the Willamette Week,” MAITA, has gone on to reach national acclaim, opening for the likes of Mirah, Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers, Typhoon, as well as completing a headlining national album release tour culminating in official showcases at Treefort and SXSW, where they were named one of the 101 Essential Acts (Austin Chronicle). “A clear-eyed look at growing up and holding yourself responsible for actively creating the life you want to live instead of just waiting around for it to happen.” — Cyrena Touros, NPR’s All Songs Considered “I Just Want To Be Wild For You is emotional gold.” — BUST “One of the most impressive and shining acts to come out of Portland in quite some time.” — Portland Mercury “The rarified class of artists with the ability to enthrall the listener right from the jump.” — Spin “Sarah Frazier’s unique brand of electronic music is composed of ethereal and melodic vocals, layers of looped instruments, and undeniable pop sensibilities. Her music feels like a journey with songs that swell only to fall away again. Her performance at Humble Burger earlier this year was absolutely breathtaking to watch.” — Nate H Wolf (Modest Music Festival, Moscow, ID) For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Bonny Doon / Summer Tour 2023
Monday, July 10 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter TicketTouring with Anna St. Lousw/ support from ESP Throughout the ten tracks in their new album ‘Let There Be Music’, you can hear the spaciousness Bonny Doon allowed themselves since their 2018 sleeper cult-classic ‘Longwave’. Their latest musical journey is one that has big payoffs for devoted followers and undeniable rewards for anyone just stumbling across the band for the first time. After extensively touring ‘Longwave’ by supporting Band of Horses, Snail Mail and Waxahatchee, Lennox and Colombo were invited by Katie Crutchfield to collaborate on Waxahatchee’s critically acclaimed album ‘Saint Cloud’. “The experience raised the ceiling on our imagination,” Colombo said. Soon after, Colombo and Kmiecik, whose steady percussion and devotion to the songs creates a container for the indelible guitar lines, both entered a time of serious healing, Jake tending to complications of his Crohn’s disease and Bobby to a brain injury and undiagnosed Lyme disease. While these detours of doctors’ appointments and experimental care were taking place, the members of Bonny Doon were also playing on Waxahatachee’s ‘Saint Cloud’ tour. These obstacles and commitments drew out the making of ‘Let There Be Music’ for several additional years, and in the process, redefined the record as an achievement in perseverance for the band. Over time Bonny Doon has shifted from being a Detroit band to an outfit spread between California and Michigan, and now Michigan and New York. Despite the new challenge of distance, members Bill Lennox (guitar and vocals), Bobby Colombo (guitar and vocals), and Jake Kmiecik (drums) leaned on their friendship to sustain the collaboration, which has blossomed more than ever on their third album. While many songwriters work in solitude, the back and forth magic of Colombo and Lennox’s process is what gives Bonny Doon their unique voice. The two write and compose each song together, planning writing retreats throughout the year – to gather ideas, edit songs, and give each other feedback, continuing to dedicate themselves to the collaborative effort of being a songwriting team. On this album we get a glimpse into the pure joy of Bonny Doon. ‘Let There Be Music’ serves as less of one conceptual story, and each song as their own individual offerings of putting words to the ordinary experience of being alive. The band is at their most dynamic and the songwriting deftly explores new terrain. The album is brimming with small truths – both profound and mundane, comforting and difficult – and we are invited to revel in them all. https://bonnydoontheband.com/ ESP is an indie-rock band from Missoula, MT. ESP released their debut album “Backyard” in December 2020. Erin Szalda-Petree’s songs are a collection of personal moments from her life, exploring themes of embarrassment, everyday life, and familial relationships. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Synthesis Nights featuring Snow School, Auntie E, & Queenager
Friday, June 30 // Door at 8 PM // Show at 8:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Snowschool is the dance music project of Helena-based Josh Stumberg. Snowschool is meant to get you up and on your feet, ready to dance the night away. Heavy hitting bass mixed with choppy vocals and heady chords all amount to a show worth bobbing your head to. Josh found electronic music outside of Montana, and has decided to try and bring some new, alternative music back home. You can find Snowschool on all the streaming platforms, and can follow Josh on social media to see what he is up to. Let’s dance! Queenager is the combination of glitchy, punchy synth tones mixed with vocoded lyrical beauty that pierces listeners straight to the heart. The project was started in January 2020, and through the pandemic the duo Sarah Frazier and Bryan Kostors hunkered down together on a sexy synth wave mission. With the release of their debut album “Easy” in June 2021, Queenager is on the path to leading crowds to dancing bliss and leading the charge on making Montana a place for letting loose. If you don’t already know what a party’s like with DJ Auntie E, you wanna find out. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Desolation Horse + Bart Budwig + Sarah Frazier
Wednesday, June 28 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Desolation Horse makes kinda sweet, crunchy, guitar-driven music rooted in pop in a way that takes the listener somewhere much weirder and wilder than they may immediately realize. These are confidently eclectic songs, dusty, lived-in, and melody driven. Alternately based out of Idaho and Oregon, the band has put out two full length albums since 2020, with their next effort due for release on American Standard Time in 2023. Sometimes when Bart Budwig sings, I forget what we’re talking about. I’m sure he knows though. I trust him. He sounds like John Prine, plays like Hoyt Axton, and looks like well … Bart Budwig. He’s a cosmic country lawn gnome. He’s cherubic, cheery, and an old soul. Songs spring from the dreams of his noonday naps, and punch the keys of his typewriter above the OK Theater in Enterprise, Oregon. When words won’t take, he calls ’em in with a bugle of his trumpet, or a strum of soothing guitar. “Sarah Frazier’s unique brand of electronic music is composed of ethereal and melodic vocals, layered of looped instruments, and undeniable pop sensibilities. Her music feels like a journey with songs that swell only to fall away again.” – Nate H Wolf (Moscow, ID) For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
