**CANCELED** ESP + Motorhome + Norwell – Benefit for Blue Mountain Clinic
This performance has been canceled due to unexpected flooding and lack of running water at the ZACC. Friday, January 13 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // Choose Your Ticket Price ($10-$30) // Proceeds Benefit Blue Mountain Clinic Locals ESP, Motorhome, and Norwell play a showcase benefit for Missoula’s Blue Mountain Clinic. Proceeds will support Blue Mountain Clinic’s mission of service to the community and access to abortion care. They describe their aims as providing “…patient-centered, family practice and primary care services to the local community through a choice based perspective…” “Blue Mountain Clinic strives to provide feminist based approaches to health care, education, and advocacy in the region… [and] on the local level to improve policies that have a negative impact on patients’ economic and political access to health care” (https://www.bluemountainclinic.org/, accessed 12/5/2022). For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
**CANCELED** Rob Travolta + Panic Boner + Scuba Steve & the Sharks
This performance has been canceled due to unexpected flooding and lack of running water at the ZACC. Thursday, January 12 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Rob Travolta is the ideal soundtrack for road trips through space and time. Drummer / beat producer Cole Bronson creates dynamic shifts within bassist Rob Cave’s bass lines. Fresh from releasing their new record “Landscapes and Soundscapes” Rob Travolta’s aim is to create thought provoking / heart-felt compositions that keep you on your toes. Panic Boner is Missoula’s premier kamikaze cowboy noise project founded by Dusty Shriver. Influences include racketcore and hard glamgaze. Past collaborators who perform live with Panic Boner include members of PowerPlant, Thee Noise Complaints, and Supersport. Panic Boner’s current line-up is a self-induced improvisational duo – with local painter and main SQUISH head honcho Tricia Opstad who currently performs with stompgrind and yelps – and Dusty, who explores drums, percussion under the influence of psycho magic. They have virtually no entertainment value and are here for anyone who loves the vibe in vibe out experience. Scuba Steve & the Sharks rode a tidal sound wave over the prairie all the way from Billings just to fill your ears with joy. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
CALIS, Lil Jane, YOUNG POS, A-MAR, Vinny Calibre, 40 Vi$ta, Teoflamezz
Wednesday, January 11 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // Free Admission Lil’ Jane Records & the ZACC present an under 20 y/o aspiring group of rap performers based our of Missoula, Montana – makin’ modern style trap and tryin’ to make a name for themselves. Featuring – Caleb Liszak aka CALIS, Keegan Cowan aka Lil Jane, Axel Smetanka aka YOUNG POS, Aidan Margolis aka A-MAR, Calvin Mason aka Vinny Calibre, Seth Pro aka 40 Vi$ta, and Mateo aka Teoflamezz. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Holiday Ball with Ed Norton Big Band
Sunday, December 18 // Door at 7 PM // Music & Dancing begins at 7:30 PM // $15 Get into the holiday spirit with an Ed Norton Big Band Holiday Ball! 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/.
Benefit Concert for The Poverello Center w/ John Floridis, Jennifer Slayden, & Ed Stalling
Thursday, December 15 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // Pick Your Ticket Price $10-$50 // Box Office Proceeds Benefit the Poverello Center Missoula guitarist and singer-songwriter John Floridis, along with percussionist Ed Stalling and cellist Jennifer Slayden, will be performing at the ZACC to benefit the Poverello Center in Missoula. The trio will play material from Floridis’ two seasonal releases ‘December’s Quiet Joy’ and ‘The Peaceful Season’ both of which feature his fingerstyle acoustic guitar arrangements of traditional Christmas/winter melodies, as well as original compositions. The trio also includes seasonal vocal tunes, both original and by other artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Patty Larkin, Ben Harper, and John Gorka in the performance. The songs feature lyrics speaking to the journey from darkness to light, seasonally, emotionally, and spiritually. This concert is one of four benefit concerts scheduled by Floridis throughout the week in Missoula, each focusing on a different nonprofit and highlighting different musicians. The concerts welcome the audience to escape the frantic stress that too often pervades the holiday season and relax in an intimate listening environment with music to warm the heart and soul. Floridis is a 25 year Missoula resident and has been recognized as one of the state’s most popular and respected musicians, having performed in a variety of venues, festivals, and concert halls in support of his eight independently released albums. He will be releasing a ninth recording, ‘Thankful’ in early 2023. Floridis has been featured in an Emmy Award winning episode on ‘11th and Grant’ on Montana PBS and is also the host and producer of ‘Musician’s Spotlight’ on Montana Public Radio and ‘Live From Home’ as well, on Montana PBS. This performance is sponsored by Main Street Realty. https://www.mainstreetmissoula.com/ For more information about the concerts and John Floridis visit www.johnfloridis.com. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
All is Bright: A Night of New Music – w/ Dylan Running Crane, Austin Britton, & Miss A & the Caravan Band
Sunday, December 11 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Austin Britton cut his teeth musically in the Omaha, NE music scene that produced the likes of Bright Eyes and Simon Joyner. Austin now calls Missoula home and has been playing around town for a couple of years. He has a sound based in robust lyricism and melody. His debut album ‘A Light for the Next Hour’ is on all streaming platforms. Miss A & the Caravan Band is a Missoula based American Folk group led by singer-songwriter Alana D. Damron, aka Miss A & Miss Alaneous on Spotify and iTunes. Miss A was born in Havre, MT but raised in the deep south as a vagabond preacher’s daughter, has traveled the world, and finally found home in the western mountains of Montana. Like a caravan of sojourners who travel together to help each other survive the journey, Miss A has gathered a group of her musical friends to help make her spirited road-tripping tunes for anyone who wants to come along for the ride. The sound of Miss A and the Caravan Band is inspired by Needtobreathe, The Civil Wars, and John Mayer’s 2 Montana Projects. You can find Miss A’s original songs wherever you stream music and join the Caravan Crew at a music venue near you soon! 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. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
New Old Future – ‘Birds’ Album Release Party! w/ Selling for Free & ESP
Sunday, March 12 (rescheduled from Saturday, December 10) // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket 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. Selling for Free is a two piece independent band based in Missoula. Fronted by guitarist and singer Robert Hylbom, and backed up by Caleb Tutty on drums. The band combines elements of post-punk, folk, and pop, into songs that are carefree and danceable, with witty observational lyrics and cultural commentary. ESP is an indie-rock band from Missoula, comprised of Erin Szalda-Petree, Noelle Huser, Duncan Szalda-Petree, Christopher Baumann, and Joe Kirk. 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/.
Lee Rizzo featuring Jordan Demander, & Gabrielle Tusberg
Friday, December 9 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Lee Rizzo is a humanist folk artist whose music shares raw reflections of the inner and outer world. She serves love. Lee is accompanied by longtime musical companion Jordan Demander. 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. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Tuskerz + Wildlands + Calamity Cowboy
Thursday, December 8 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Tuskerz is a synth metal pop 3 piece out of Missoula. They play their music so that you can explore middle earth, save Arakis, and dance a jig or mosh. It’s Tuskers Time. Wildlands is an aspiring three piece Indie Pop band based out of Missoula. The band’s goal is to create and perform electrifying pop music for all to enjoy. It was formed by singer/songwriter Benjamin Medina Caplis while he was in Highschool. Benjamin played in many different bands in highschool but felt left out of the creative process. He decided to create his own project and named it Wildlands. Wildlands grew when Benjamin went to the UM School of Music and met bassist Josh Streit and Drummer Dylan Vandeberg. After gaining two new members Wildlands officially started gigging in the Missoula/Montana Area. The power of songwriting and the chemistry between the members creates an infectious atmosphere full of excitement, heartbreak and blissful ignorance. Wildlands is here to inspire and let the good times roll. “A knight in shining armor could never love a cowboy like me.” – Calamity Cowboy For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Tenci w/ Bluest & But I’m a Cheerleader
Saturday, April 22 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $12 Advance // $15 Day of Showw/ Bluest & But I’m a Cheerleader Swollen River, A Well Overflowing is Tenci’s second album, coming after their 2020 debut My Heart Is An Open Field, which introduced Jess Shoman’s experimentations to the world. With guidance of the push and pull of intuitive guitar and vocal edges, Tenci is a band that plays with time. Shoman admits that their first album dealt with letting go of painful life experiences, resulting in emptiness. In this recent collection of wiser years and distance from that former grief zone, Tenci carries an opposite feeling, a celebration of self-rejuvenation. A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing shows Shoman steering their inventive folk style further and wilder, spilling over with 12 fable-like songs. In a combination of milk, coins, glass, contained water, and light, each song forms a spell to “fill my heart back up,” Shoman says, “by reframing complex feelings by turning my head sideways and seeing them in a different way.” From the close-knit Chicago scene, Shoman is joined by Curtis Oren on saxophone and guitar (Curt Oren), Izzy Reidy on bass (Izzy True), and Joseph Farago on drums (Joey Nebulous). In the past couple years, they’ve been playing shows together at home in Chicago, on their tours around the country, and recording this album with Abby Black, adding fuller instrumentation and natural harmony of friends. While the themes of Tenci shuffle around a serious pool of thought and trying to understand life’s wrongings, their live set often interludes with goofy light-heartedness. Anyone who knows the band members of Tenci knows they are the funniest people on earth. And their playful coordination and dynamics of loose drums and bass, huffing sax, and vocal waterfalls leaves us warmer than before. The songs on A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing bundle together like weavings of twigs to create that fire, a burning message to keep going and going. Bluest is an indie rock band out of Missoula MT, orchestrated by the longings and hauntings of Noelle Huser. Her songs are chalked full of adolescent nostalgia and sweetness, soured by the biting existential dread of figuring out who you are in it all. With pleas of empathetic anger a la diary-scrawled lyrics, she pays homage to her 90s/00s angst pop and country influences Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow. Bluest’s chilling debut album Cold Sweat, sifts through dreams and nightmares to find solace in serenading ghosts. It is emboldened with a hunger to return from dissociation back into the body, finding oneself in the present, feet on the ground, blood boiling, head in the clouds and heart on the sleeve. Cold Sweat will be released May 5th 2023 through Anything Bagel, their first single “Talk Soon” is out on all streaming platforms 3/31. But I’m a Cheerleader (Missoula, MT) wants you to scream, cry, trans your gender, and sing along to their twee-punk wailings. You don’t have to, if you don’t want to, though. You can just pick one. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
