Writers in the Round
Wednesday, September 9 // Doors at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // $12 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Montana Songwriters Collective presents Writers in the Round, an intimate evening of original songs and the stories behind the music, hosted by Andrea Harsell. Inspired by the classic songwriter-in-the-round format, the evening brings together four Montana artists for a night of songs, storytelling, and creative connection in an intimate listening-room setting. Notably from the Rod Stewart Band (his platinum award winning recordings, touring band, television appearances, and the critically acclaimed MTV “Unplugged And Seated” release with Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones,) and his own original blues/funk/Americana music, Don Teschner is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Solo, in the studio, and accompanying many bands on stage over the years, Don sings and plays violin, mandolin, bass, viola, octave mandolin, harmonica, banjo, bouzouki, 5 string viola, and all sorts of electric, acoustic and slide guitars. Mark Chase is an Americana singer-songwriter based just outside of Missoula, Montana. After nearly 50 years of leading bands across genres ranging from British Invasion to heavy metal, he has traded in the Marshall amplifiers and long hair for the life of an acoustic troubadour. His storied background and deep musical roots deliver a raw, authentic sound that honors his lifelong dedication to the craft. Mark’s highly anticipated new release, Parris, drops this September.
Jeffrey Foucault w/ Riddy Arman
Thursday, September 17 // Doors at 7:00 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $25 ADV // $30 DOS In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power. With a string of critically acclaimed studio albums – “Stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest” (The New Yorker), “Beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection” (Uncut), “Songwriting Brilliance,” (Irish Times) – he’s built a brick-and-mortar international touring career and a devoted following, one that includes luminaries like Van Dyke Parks, Greil Marcus, and Don Henley. In September of 2024 Jeffrey Foucault released THE UNIVERSAL FIRE (Fluff & Gravy, 9/6/24), his first album of entirely new material since 2018. A series of high-voltage performances cut live in one room, the album is both a working wake – Foucault lost his best friend and drummer Billy Conway, to cancer in 2021 – and a meditation on the nature of beauty, artifact, and loss. Augmenting Foucault’s all-star band with members of Calexico and Bon Iver (drummer John Convertino and producer/saxophonist Mike Lewis) THE UNIVERSAL FIRE sets Conway’s death against the massive 2008 fire at the Universal Studios lot in California that destroyed the master recordings of some of our bedrock American music, to interrogate ideas about mortality, legacy, meaning, and calling. Riddy Arman is a Montana-based singer-songwriter whose music is shaped by stark storytelling, solitude, and the emotional weight of life lived on the move. Carried by a voice that feels both weathered and deeply intimate, her songs balance grit with vulnerability, blending stripped down country and folk traditions with unflinching emotional honesty. After gaining widespread attention through her viral Western AF performance, Arman released her debut album through La Honda Records and quickly established herself as one of the most compelling emerging voices in independent country music. Currently touring new material and bringing her deeply intimate live show across the country, Riddy Arman delivers the kind of performance that leaves a room silent in all the right ways.
Kate Stephenson w/ Hayden Everett
Friday, October 16 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 // $15 ADV // $20 DOS It’s kind of unbelievable. A gentle voice, a dagger for a pen. Kate Stephenson has found a way to offer this balance at once. Songs that hurt to relate to, but offer a lifeline if you do. Breaking free of genre’s limitations, Stephenson shares these blistering stories with stunning arrangements that dare to take on different shapes every time. Her unforgettable writing is the through line, finding the right sounds to express it all is her magic. From intimate, acoustic, profound songs like ‘Shoving’ to the full-band-get-up-and-dance ‘Summerfoot’, she can do it all. Living in Nashville, she’s finding her ever-changing sound, moving closer and closer every day. Oh, and she’ll wipe the floor with you at the bowling alley. Hayden Everett is a Seattle-based Americana artist blending folk storytelling with jazz-trained musicianship and expansive, atmospheric production. Hayden writes many of his lyrics on solo backpacking trips, guided by a belief that presence gives art its weight. His debut EP, produced with Jeremy McDonald (Kevin Garrett, Vulfpeck, Beyoncé), earned placements on Grey’s Anatomy and praise from Earmilk, Atwood Magazine, and KCRW. Follow-up releases via Platoon and Nettwerk Music Group featured collaborators like JT Bates (Bonny Light Horseman, Big Red Machine, Taylor Swift, The National), James McAlister (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens), and Jack Van Cleaf (Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan). With over 60 million streams, Hayden has toured with Hazlett, The Paper Kites, Trousdale, and Vacation Manor. His debut full length record, So The Sun Can Pour, was independently released in April of 2026. Hayden recorded the album live with close friends at the cabin in Tahoe, CA that his great grandfather built. It was mixed by Tucker Martine, known for his work with Gregory Alan Isakov, My Morning Jacket, Madison Cunningham, Caamp, Mt. Joy, and more.
Cat Clyde & Dean Johnson
Tuesday, November 10 // Doors at 7:00 PM // Show at 8:00 PM // $25 ADV // $30 DOS Cat Clyde’s fourth full-length and first release with Concord Records finds her at a transformative point in her life. Produced by Drew Vandenberg (Faye Webster, S. G. Goodman), Mud Blood Bone meets at a sonic crossroads — the rockabilly grit of Sierra Ferrell melding with the evocative folk rock volatility of Big Thief — as Clyde charts a long journey to reshape the meaning of love in her life. It’s a trudge through the swamp and into vast, cleansing waters that finds Clyde at a critical point of personal evolution—equal parts despair, invocation, discovery, and celebration. Ahead of and throughout her writing sessions for Mud Blood Bone, Clyde looked to her indigenous Métis roots and invoked a deep reverence for nature in efforts to redefine her relationship with love in her life. Learning from the natural world, she took solace in its cyclicality. The new songs exude nomadic independence: penned in her 1973 Boler trailer on a farm in Ontario, on a narrow boat in England, or in transit from one festival to another, letting lyrics stream freely from a jetlagged dream state. The result is uninhibited, raw, pure; it’s the sound of personal truth discovered in real time. With I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, his debut for Saddle Creek, Dean Johnson makes a pact with the listener: He will sing you his truth in the most heartfelt and charming way possible, if you promise to keep an open mind. The title partly stems from the playful way the Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist communes with his audiences at concerts. “I hope you’re not afraid to talk to me after the show,” he’ll say, sweetly, before launching into “Death of the Party,” the album’s seventh song. Centered on the “energy vampire” archetype — the exasperating windbag we’ve all encountered at some point — its lyrics are at once intellectually biting and unmistakably hilarious. His tender voice rings out like the ghost of Roy Orbison or a misfit Everly brother. “Words don’t come easily to me / I notice you don’t have that problem / It sounds to me you cannot stop them,” Johnson sings over acoustic guitar strumming, and gentle bass and drums, like the narrator in a dark comedy whose coming-of-age misadventures have made for an excellent film. Johnson spent years tending bar at Al’s Tavern in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. There, he encountered folks of all stripes; and regulars enthusiastically murmured about his budding musical greatness — There’s the best songwriter in town! Johnson was a kind of local lore, a long-held family secret, before the singer finally broke out in 2023 with his debut album, Nothing For Me Please, at age 50.
John Moreland w/ Georgia Maq
Wednesday, October 14 // Doors at 7:00 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $25 ADV // $30 DOS Georgia Maq became something of a local hero as the leader of revered punk trio Camp Cope, calling out music industry sexism over fearsome indie rock salvos while garnering widespread international acclaim. In late 2019, Maq surprised everyone by releasing her solo debut, Pleaser, a refreshingly bright and catchy missive of electro-pop tunes about heartbreak and love. A suite of singles in ‘Someone Stranger’ with Alice Ivy, ‘Joe Rogan’, ‘tropical lush ice’ and live EP recorded at the Sydney Opera House showcase the breadth of her taste and range. Ever since, Georgia has chased a more genuine form of pop music in her solo career, a vision hat retains all of the glamour and universality but feels unburdened from capitalist underpinnings. Mining the evergreen themes of romantic, sexual and self-love, Georgia Maq’s solo venture was not so much a transformation as it was a revelation. Opening up on her vulnerabilities and heartbreaks, her continued evolution is far beyond the Greek girl from Naarm that first set fire to the rain.
Writers in the Round
Wednesday, June 10 // Doors at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // $12 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter Montana Songwriters Collective presents Writers in the Round, an intimate evening of original songs and the stories behind the music, featuring Andrea Harsell, Andre Floyd, Chris Pumphrey, and Lee Rizzo. Inspired by the classic songwriter-in-the-round format, the evening brings together four Montana artists for a night of songs, storytelling, and creative connection in an intimate listening-room setting. Andrea Harsell Andrea Harsell is a Montana singer-songwriter rooted in folk, blues, country, bluegrass, and jazz. Born and raised in Missoula, she has spent decades performing original music across the United States, with appearances in Canada, Hawaii, and Japan. Known for her powerful voice and emotionally honest songwriting, Andrea brings warmth, spontaneity, and deep audience connection to every performance. Her songs are shaped by story, place, resilience, and lived experience. Her work is also featured in the documentary film A Place (Sort Of): The Ultimate Missoula Movie. Learn more at andreaharsell.com. Andre Floyd Andre Floyd is a singer-songwriter originally from Great Falls and a longtime respected member of the Montana music community. His 1998 release Lapis, released on his Tapas Records label, remains the only local release to receive regular commercial airplay on Missoula’s premier rock station, Z-100. A songwriter for more than five decades, Floyd has written over 200 songs and released four studio albums, with a fifth currently in progress. He also helped pioneer Missoula’s recording scene through Tapas Recording Studio, the city’s first commercial computer-based recording studio. Chris Pumphrey Chris Pumphrey grew up surrounded by music and received his first guitar at age ten. He began writing and performing original music in his twenties and has been part of the Missoula music community for more than twenty years. Over the past year, Chris has studied with Grammy-winning songwriters while continuing to deepen his craft. He currently performs with the Chris Pumphrey Band and is preparing to release a collaborative album featuring original songs and contributions from more than two dozen Montana musicians and singers. Lee Rizzo Lee Rizzo is a humanist folk artist, poet, songwriter, and movement performer. Raised in Missoula’s arts community, she spent her youth appearing at open mics and downtown pubs, often sitting in with her dad’s band, Treated and Released. After earning a BA in dance from the University of Montana, Lee performed in a wide range of theatrical and musical productions and released her debut solo album, Moon Light Moon. Her music and lyrics reflect her inner world and illuminate the love present all around. Learn more at leerizzo.com and hear Moon Light Moon on Bandcamp.
LIVE! ON STAGE: JONATHAN RICHMAN featuring TOMMY LARKINS on the drums!
Saturday, October 4 // $25 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 8 PM **Standing Room Only!** “Richman is one of America’s most unique and dynamic songwriters…” – Nashville Scene “Richman didn’t need much else besides a beat to work his magic.” – New York Daily News “Buy tickets early. Buy tickets often. This is just good general life advice, but even more so when you’re talking about Jonathan Richman. Don’t get denied at the door, don’t leave things up to chance: You will regret it.” – Nashville Scene “Rhymes worthy of Ogden Nash.” – The New York Times “Richman has spent decades removing barriers between himself and his audience, cultivating an intimacy that is almost extinct in modern music.”- Nashville Scene “As of a few years ago, I was going to just play theaters, cabarets and such, but we ended up by mistake at the Zebulon in Los Angeles and had such a fine time that those kind of shows have to happen too. So, you might see us nowadays in theaters, cabaret-style places, or the right club or bar. The theaters have the best sound, usually, and under-21s can get in, but in the clubs people can dance and get close in to ya, like we like. We’ll keep trying things.”
The Reason We Fall / EP Release Concert: Azure Larkwood w/ Nyon & Ravi Marsolek
Thursday, April 11 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter In celebration of the release of their brand-new EP, The Reason We Fall, Azure Larkwood has brought together an ensemble of Missoula’s best, with openers Ravi and Nyon Marsolek. Hear songs from the EP in a new light and be the first to hear selections from their unreleased follow-up EP, Father Watches News. Azure Larkwood is an award-winning poet, musician, and performing artist born and raised in the heart of the Missoula Valley. From brooding piano ballads to eclectic folk tunes, Azure’s bare, confessional music is laden with the deeply personal color of a small-town singer-songwriter. Shaped by the folk, flora, and fauna of their mountain home, Azure’s sharp, stirring lyrics poetically articulate the intolerable love, debilitating grief, and existential longing of the holistic human experience. Their newly released EP, The Reason We Fall, is a cathartic dissemination of regret and forgiveness; a love letter to the bittersweet memory of youth. Nyon & Ravi Marsolek are two up-and-coming Missoula area musicians each exploring their own unique musical style and artistic expression. They’ve been creating and performing music since they were very young and have a large repertoire of original songs and compositions written over the last decade. Multi-instrumentalists both, Nyon and Ravi were raised in an environment of music-making, rhythm workshops, and numerous road trips with the world fusion group, Drum Brothers. Since 2021, they have been performing and touring with the band, contributing greatly to the group’s new sound with bass, electric guitar, percussion, and vocals. Inspired by many artists in the singer-songwriter tradition, they bring to the stage a wide set of influences ranging from Joni Mitchell, CSNY and Jeff Buckley, to Phoebe Bridgers and The Tallest Man on Earth. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
‘The Reason We Fall’ EP Release Fundraiser Concert
Sunday, January 7 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10-$30 Sliding ScaleIn celebration of the impending release of Azure Larkwood’s debut EP, “The Reason We Fall” – join local musicians Maria Zepeda, Britt Arnesen, and Azure Larkwood for an evening of songs and stories to help send their new EP out into the world with a bang! Be the first to see the new music video for Azure’s first incoming single from the EP, “Broken In”, and stick around after the show for a chance to ask any burning questions about the writing, production, or distribution process.Azure Larkwood is an award-winning poet, musician, and performing artist born and raised in the heart of the Missoula Valley. From brooding piano ballads to orchestral folk tunes, Azure’s bare, confessional music is laden with the deeply personal color of a small-town singer-songwriter. Shaped by the folk, flora, and fauna of their mountain home, Azure’s sharp, stirring lyrics poetically articulate the intolerable love, debilitating grief, and existential longing of the holistic human experience. Azure’s critically acclaimed work as an independent composer, lyricist, and performing artist has been presented in theaters, clubs, and galleries across Montana. To learn more, visit https://azurelarkwood.com. Maria Zepeda lives to express through creation. Through song, advocacy, community, or connection, their larger than life expression invites you to take a closer look at the ways we can live in love with ourselves, each other, and our planet. To learn more, visit https://www.mariazepedamusic.com. Missoula multi-instrumentalist and producer Britt Arnesen is known as a great sideman, but also writes and performs her own music. In addition to her well-known bluegrass stylings, Britt also enjoys composing sea shanties, punk tunes, and even sometimes in the French language. To Learn More, Visit https://youtube.com/brittarnesen. All tickets are general admission. Artists are supported at the a the price level purchased, with 70% of box office sales paid directly to the performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Wright Sisters & Sierra Cistone
Wednesday, January 3 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15-$20 Artist Supporter The Wright Sisters have been performing living room concerts as a duo since they could both walk. With roots in musical theatre, Bella and Evie grew interested in songwriting. Self-taught on guitar and piano, the sisters enjoy remixing or arranging songs, usually packed with harmonies. They are excited to be able be performing with one another (outside of the living room) with a set of their new, original music.Sierra Cistone is passionate about telling stories of connections between people and the rest of the natural world. If you haven’t heard Sierra sing, you need to, we promise. All tickets are general admission. Artist Supporter Tickets are a way for patrons to provide more financial support to performers. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.