40 Watt Sun w/ Serpentant & ALTTTAR
Monday, June 30 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8:00 PM // $18 ADV // $20 DOS 40 Watt Sun is the musical project of British singer, guitarist and songwriter Patrick Walker. The project was formed in the wake of the dissolution of his previous band Warning, one of the most important, highly regarded and influential bands to emerge from the ‘90s doom metal scene. Initially formed as a three-piece, 40 Watt Sun is now the singular project of Patrick Walker as its centre and sole stable member, alongside a group of revolving musicians. Hank Shteamer of Rolling Stone magazine has described the band’s music as “a poetic, gradually unfolding dirge rock.” 40 Watt Sun has recorded four albums. Their debut, The Inside Room, was named by Pitchfork Magazine as the fourth best metal album of 2011. Their second album, Wider than the Sky, was featured by Rolling Stone Magazine among its “20 Best Metal Albums of 2016”. The band’s third album, Perfect Light, was included by Pitchfork in its “The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022” feature. 40 Watt Sun’s fourth album, Little Weight, was released September 2024. Of it, Treble wrote “Few artists write music like Patrick Walker… His innate talent and creativity have made his musical efforts in 40 Watt Sun a model of consistency and exceptional musicianship. Little Weight contains some of the best songs he has ever written.” Serpentent is the mercurial musical and performance project of interdisciplinary musician and visual artist, Anne K. O’Neill. Drawing from a vast array of influences ranging from darkwave to folk to neoclassical, ambient, and prog — O’Neill sonically and visually encapsulates the vast scope and ranges of the human experience. Her albums are built around guitar and piano compositions carefully crafted so that they can be both layered with more instrumentation with a rotating cast of guest musicians, such as on her records, as well as performed on their own, as when O’Neill embarks upon her solo tours. This is an artist gracefully weaving together a broad range of themes and soundscapes with a stunning degree of soul that is both haunting and moving. Born from the ashes of a broken heart, ALTTTAR emerged to spin tales of woe and joy. Returning to Billings, MT in 2023, Casey Lee began laying the foundations of the doom-country band, with dark gothic overtones and dark, low vocals. ALTTTAR is an idea – the acceptance of both light and dark, yin and yang, faith and doubt.Musically, the project is based on disparate sources: 90’s and modern alternative country, sacred music, and a dash of Type O Negative. One should not expect to find hope in this project, but an exposure of the dark river underneath the surface.
Pile w/ NNAMDÏ
Tuesday, September 2 // Door at 7:00 PM // Show at 8:00 PM // $20 ADV // $25 DOS
The Wildwoods w/ Rancher
Sunday, August 3 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $20 ADV // $25 DOS In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods, a folk/Americana trio led by Noah and Chloe Gose, alongside bassist Andrew Vaggalis, deliver a musical journey through the soul of American roots. With accolades ranging from international songwriting competitions to standing ovations at festivals like Summerfest and FreshGrass, their latest release, “Foxfield Saint John” (2023), solidifies them as a force in the folk scene. Rancher makes rock and roll music in Missoula, Montana. Rancher is made up of Shane Coburn, David Friedlander, and Russ Rabut. Rancher loves Indie music and Country and Boogie and has a cool, laid-back sound.
Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys w/ The River Ramblers & Wailing Aaron Jennings & The First Rodeo
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. Wailing Aaron Jennings & The First Rodeo bring a rollickin, rolling and swinging hillbilly sound. Combining elements of Western Swing, Classic Country, and good old Rock and Roll. Playing a combination of original music and unique interpretations of timeless hits, and topped off with “Wailing’s” wild yodeling: The First Rodeo are a dance band for fans of Americana no matter how you define it. Prepare yourself for fancy fiddling, flying fingers, a tear in your beer, and a smile in your heart. The River Ramblers are Grassroots Bluegrass revival out of Missoula, bringing a classic sound and soaring harmonies with powerful instrumentals, bringing you to a time where connection and music are one.
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
