Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys
Wednesday, August 6th // Doors 7PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $15 21-year-old Jake Vaadeland from Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, has had an impressive year as a 2025 Juno Award nominee, and making history as the youngest artist to achieve ‘Road Gold’ Certification by selling 25,000 tickets in 12 months across Canada. Along with his band, The Sturgeon River Boys, Vaadeland embarked on a global tour, performing in the U.K., Spain, Denmark, the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada, solidifying his status as a rising star in the music industry. Jake strives to write and play with a focus on storytelling and messages that he hopes his audience can relate to, all packaged in foot stomping, high energy performances. In 2024, the self-taught multi-instrumentalist garnered his first Western Canadian Music Award, showcasing his distinctive fusion of traditional country, 50’s Rockabilly, and Bluegrass. Praised for his electrifying performances, NEXT Magazine hailed his album ‘Retro Man … More and More’ as an ‘instant classic,’ commending its fresh and authentic old-school country vibe. A gifted storyteller, Jake has captivated audiences globally and earned an impressive 9x Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, along with 3x Saskatchewan Music Awards in his home province. Recent collaborations include joining platinum selling Canadian country artist Tebey for the release of their single ‘Wake Me Up’ (The Bluegrass Rendition), a cross Canada tour with country supergroup Hunter Brothers, and a U.S. tour with The Dead South. Along with this, Jake was invited to perform the finale with Noeline Hofman at the Edmonton Folk Festival. Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon River Boys have developed a reputation as one of the hardest working independent bands in the business. True road warriors, they are passionate about taking their music directly to their quickly growing fanbase around the world.
Bryan Kostors & Loren Stillman Trio
Saturday, May 10 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 // $10 // $15- $20 Artist Supporter Ticket Saxophonist and composer, Loren Stillman, has garnered widespread acclaim for his contributions to the realm of modern jazz, earning praise from esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine, Jazziz, Jazz Times, and National Public Radio. Trained under the tutelage of jazz luminaries Lee Konitz, David Liebman, and Ted Nash, Stillman has established himself as an innovative and influential voice in the genre. With an extensive performance history spanning the United States, Europe, and Japan, Stillman’s artistry extends beyond the stage. His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with The Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, Paul Motian Trio 2000+2, Carla Bley, John Abercrombie, and Michael Formanek: Ensemble Kolassus, among others. Bryan Curt Kostors is a composer, performer, producer, teacher, conductor, and media creator. his work explores place and landscape as a compositional force, and uses diverse stylistic voices to create evocative and dynamic music for the concert stage, film, dance, and commercial works. Collaborative music-making and multimedia are a central component of his practice. Bryan’s music has been performed internationally by ensembles such as the Lyris Quartet, the Wuhan Philharmonic, NOW Ensemble, the Mivos Quartet, Hocket, the USC Thornton Symphony Orchestra, and the Downey Symphony Orchestra. His collaborations with choreographer Laurie Sefton have been recently performed in New York, San Fransisco, and in Los Angeles with premieres at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Nate Holden Theatre. He has written scores for award-winning short films and commercials, working collaboratively with filmmaker Danny Corey on numerous projects.
All Ages Dance Party w/ Mic Mercury & DJ Rarity
Friday, June 20 // Pick What You Pay $5-$20 + $3 Pride Fee // Show at 7:30 PM Get ready to kick off Pride Weekend with an explosion of color, rhythm, and community joy at the All Ages Pride Dance Party! Join Mic Mercury and DJ Rarity as they spin an electrifying mix of beats that’ll keep you dancing all night long. Whether you’re 8 or 80, come celebrate your fabulous self on the dance floor with lights, music, and pure Pride energy.Hosted at The ZACC on June 20 at 7:30 p.m., this is a safe, inclusive space for all generations of our community to move, groove, and feel the love. Costumes and sparkle strongly encouraged — let’s light it up!”
The Skyler Mendell Sextet
Sunday, June 1 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 or $20 Artist Supporter The Skyler Mendell Sextet performs captivating, creative, and forward-thinking compositions. They will perform music from their upcoming album, “Purpose,” which revolves around a suite of music dedicated to finding a place in a world that seems to be falling apart.
Glitterfox w/ Miller Campbell
Sunday, June 8 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $15 Change and perspective expand quickly in tight quarters—and no one knows that as well as Solange Igoa and Andrea Walker. It’s true of each of their time as queer kids in need of an escape from conservative towns; of their years living together in a van, traveling the country to play music and busk; of settling down in a studio apartment just prior to the pandemic. And now, partnered with a rhythm section, they’re harnessing the lessons from this closeness and cracking them wide open into a whole new world with their band Glitterfox. The duo first met at a coffee house open mic in Long Beach, California, where Walker had recently relocated after growing up in North Carolina and Virginia. She quickly fell in love with Igoa’s voice, knowing that if their vocals and her guitar came together that would only flourish— and it did, the two now married and having spent more than a decade as a pair. Musically, channeling Walker’s Southern warmth through Southern California indie shine, Glitterfox carves out lithe, nostalgia-fueled anthems powered by the intimacy of their relationship. “A lot of our songs are about serious challenges in our lives,” Walker says. “All the struggles in my life get poured into the music, but always with this silver lining of hope, this drive not to quit before the miracle happens. Making a living as an independent musician is hard, but we’ve always had each other and always made it work.” Igoa and Walker quickly found new roots when they moved out of their van and settled down in Portland, Oregon, in 2018, quickly cementing a reputation for their boundless energy and positivity. Soon they were joined by Eric Stalker, a singer-songwriter who got along with the couple so well that he volunteered to learn bass as a way to join their band. Drummer Blaine Heinonen followed, the quartet now capable of producing grander leaps of musical gravity to crash through the couple’s golden-hued compositions. The group’s soaring intimacy quickly won over Pacific Northwest fans and heroes with Kill Rock Stars label head Slim Moon who jumped at the opportunity to sign them. The band has been steadily growing their following via national touring, capped with and an apparencies at The Newport Folk Festival in 2024. The band will release their new album, “decoder” in August 2025.
KBGA Staff Show w/ Contraband, Aspen Nord, Malcolm Contreras and Soup D’jour, & The Sasha Bell Band
Wednesday, May 21 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 or $20 Artist Supporter Contraband is a country cover band made up of members from KBGA’s staff, made exclusively for this event! Aspen Nord is a singer/songwriter from Missoula, MT, mixing folk, pop, and indie vibes with just her guitar and voice. She grew up playing music with her dad and writes songs about life, love, and the weird little moments in between. Aspen has played around Missoula and is excited to bring her tunes to the ZACC Show Room stage this May. Malcolm and his band are a 4 piece consisting of Lane Ulberg, Llwyn Clark-Gaynor, and Cooper Godfried. These fellas put on a spectacular spectacle, only seen about once every two months that ranges from indie rock to shoegaze to ambient music, folk, and bedroom pop. Known for her work with New York baroque ensemble Ladybug Transistor and Elephant 6 psych pop group, The Essex Green, Sasha Bell is a multi-faceted performer and musician most heralded for her sweetly melodic vocals and lithe instrumentation. She currently lives in Missoula. MT with band members John Fleming, Bryan Ramirez, Chris Bacon and Colin Johnson.
Gaytheist w/ Itchy Kitty & Serpentina
Wednesday, May 28 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8:00 PM // $15 Gaytheist is a 3-piece noisy rock band based out of Portland, OR. Circa 2011 to present. Songwriter/guitarist Jason Rivera and bassist Tim Hoff have been friends since high school. Rounded out by the ridiculously explosive drumming of Nick Parks (Great Falls, High on Fire), Gaytheist’ music is filled with huge loud riffs played a million miles a minute with sincere crooning blathering over the top of it all. It’s a little different from everything else. Their latest release, “THE MUSTACHE STAYS” was released on Feb 21, 2025 via Hex Records. Itchy Kitty is a band from Spokane, Wa. They specialize in a hyperkinetic blend of punk traditionalism and a sort of mangled glam rock pageantry. Their music careens from whiplash inducing riffage to flash delirium freak outs. They’re fast, they’re loud, they’re the hardest working band in showbusiness™. Serpentina is a new Missoula rawk band. Big drums, big fuzz, big guitars, big vocals. No big deal. Punk-metal-other-stuff influenced if you need to split hairs
Run4Kids Comedy Fundraiser
Wednesday, May 7 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8:00 PM // $25 Run4Kids is a fundraising effort associated with the Missoula Marathon. Each year the Run4Kids Team raises funds to ensure kids in care with Youth Homes have the help, care, and support they need to heal and become healthy.
Laura Hickli w/ Syrinx Effect
Thursday, May 29 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Laura Hickli (Mohkínstsis/Calgary) is an internationally touring progressive art pop songstress known for her tightly arranged dreamy soundscapes, exquisite vocals, evocative lyrics, and emotionally powerful performances. The classically trained pianist was homeschooled in a conspiracy-laden religious household where she honed her ability to reflect deeply felt emotions through dynamic, textured, and technical songwriting and production.Hickli’s highly-anticipated upcoming album, ‘stranger to myself’ tells her compelling story of survival and human resilience after a serious motor vehicle accident on her 2023 tour left her with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. Released through Ba Da Bing Records (Sharon Van Etten, Hawksley Workman), this lush, genre-spanning record showcases Hickli’s captivating songwriting, vivid production, and even intimate clips from her exposure therapy sessions.Recipient of numerous Top Album of the Year awards, nominations, glowing accolades for her growing collection of impactful works, live and recorded spotlights on CBC, BBC, and an expansive tour this summer, Hickli offers a fresh and inviting look at what life can be, while carrying the foundations of her spellbindingly intimate, yet explosive brand of dark process-music. An acoustic-electric duo with expansive possibilities, Syrinx Effect plays their own brand of interstellar folk punk jazz. They blend dreamy ambient loops, catchy pop riffs and sampled drum sounds, all the while paying homage to their experimental roots. Naomi plays trombone with guitar pedals and Kate plays soprano saxophone with laptop and other toys.
Dylan Running Crane, “Wailing” Aaron Jennings, Judith Gap, and Stiff Jeans
Thursday, May 8 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Judith Gap plays original dark folk and Americana in Missoula. Started in 2014 with Bill Saylor on violin and mandolin and D.L. Johnson on guitar and vocals, they expanded to a trio with Dead Ed on bass banjo. Everyone sings, because there’s nothing quite like a night of harmonizing with the boys! 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 A third-generation Montanan who had the good luck or bad timing to be born in Texas, Wailing Aaron Jennings is a singer and songwriter living in Missoula. Inspired by a book of songs and poetry written by his great-grandfather, a singing cowboy in the 1920’s, and the words “Yodel Here”, this young punk unplugged his guitar and started hooting and hollering in the mountains, valleys, and tunnels. Jennings’s songs champion the traditions of Honky Tonk and Western Swing while giving a knowing wink and a nod to the modern world. Every song is a story whether it’s a rambling waltzing exposition, a dance tune punctuated with acrobatic yodels, or a rockin’ boogie woogie – the ghosts of the past are jumping, shouting and dancing right along with Wailing Aaron Jennings (and YOU!). Fresh off their world tour, Stiff Jeans needs no introduction. Their covers of your favorite 90s alternative songs will take you to heaven tonight, tomorrow, and always.
