Lineup
THE LIL SMOKIES
Even though often called a “newgrass” or jam band, the Lil Smokies’ high-energy acoustic music has evolved into its own distinctive sound on their fourth and latest studio album, Break of the Tide, which finds them emerging from the Covid lockdown stronger than ever.
“Sort of a fusion of lyric-driven folk music, pop harmonies and bluegrass instruments” is the way Montana native and band founder Andy Dunnigan describes the Lil Smokies music, which also evokes contemporary country-folk-rock groups like Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers.
With a nearly five-year gap from their last album, 2020’s Tornillo, the band has added two new members in bassist Jean Luc Davis and banjo player Sam Armstrong Zickefoose to the core trio of dobro player Dunnigan, Seattle-based lead guitarist Matthew Rieger and fiddler Jake Simpson, now dividing his time between Montana and Oklahoma.
The album finds the band expanding beyond the bluegrass genre with a spacious, airy, contemplative set of “more introspective, nuanced” songs which slow down to reflect the wide-open spaces and natural beauty of the state where they first took shape. The first single, “Montana Flower,” according to Simpson, is a love song to a local Whitefish girl, comparing her beauty to the geographical marvels of the area, including Big Mountain.
From their humble beginnings playing the “holy trinity” of Missoula, Whitefish and Bozeman in Montana, the Lil Smokies have toured all over the U.S. and abroad in Iceland, Mexico and Canada, performing at such prestigious venues as Red Rocks and festivals like Telluride, High Sierra, LOCKN’, Freshgrass and FloydFest. The group earned top prize at the Northwest String Summit outside of Portland in 2013 and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado in 2015, which proved the catalyst for more touring success through the end of the decade.
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The Last Revel
The Last Revel is a four-piece folk group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Utilizing their multi-instrumental abilities, members Lee Henke, Ryan Acker, Vincenzio Donatelle and Lauren Anderson bring a full spectrum of modern Americana to life with lush arrangements of four-part vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, and 5-string banjo to consistently support impassioned performances of their honest and heartfelt songwriting. Drawing influence from their salt of the earth Midwest ethos the band’s songs so naturally blend the genres of Folk, Old Time String-Band and Indie Rock to create a sound that echoes the current heartbeat of America. Their latest release, Dovetail, highlights each member's strength as songwriters and collaborators, and further solidifies their musical foundation after a hiatus beginning in 2019. Self-produced and released under the bands own label, Sheep Sheep Records, Dovetail is the band's fifth studio album.
Sterling Drake
Steeped in the traditions of roots music, the journey of songwriter Sterling Drake has taken him from the Big Cypress of south Florida to the mountains of western Montana and everywhere in between. With a penchant for honest storytelling, Sterling weaves his own perspective into the American songbook, often highlighting a strong sense of place through both natural imagery and cultural context. With influences ranging from Willie Nelson to Lead Belly, the wells of inspiration for this young artist are as diverse as American music itself. This year Sterling received the Ameripolitan Award for ‘Male Honky Tonk Artist 2024’ in Austin, TX. Spurred on by a passion for the cowboy lifestyle, in 2024 Sterling is teaming up with nonprofit land conservation and mental health advocacy groups to help address issues impacting the ranching community.
A Brother’s Fountain
A Brother's Fountain is a Colorado-based band with a folk-inspired sound you always wanted to hear but never knew existed. Some categorize them as Indie Folk. Others call them an Americana band. A Brother’s Fountain knows they belong to a genre all its own: Campfire Folk. Songs range from rowdy and anthemic to reflective, laid-back sing-alongs. Keep an ear out to hear their trademark "gang vocals" that invite the listener to throw their voice into the anthem.
This rag-tag crew of best buds and mountain junkies (river guides, rock climbers, backpackers, cyclists, skiers, etc.) started their music journey busking on the street corners of Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado. Their music is inspired by life’s extraordinary gifts - mother nature, authentic friendship, epic adventures, and mysteries that keep us ever-curious.
Wild Horses
Frontman and lead songwriter, Jed LaPlant comes from a family deeply tied into the Minnesota bluegrass community, where storytelling is central to a song. He draws on that background with lyrics that are personal and at times intimate. That intimacy translates to the audience in their live shows, balancing that deep connection with electrifying energy.
Out with their debut album, Runaway, the band has toured the Midwest, the South, and out to the West, gaining a loyal following in nearly every place they’ve played. Their live show is a foot stompin’ and hands wavin’ kind of time with a collective feeling of comradery among those present. For those who have seen them perform, there is intense excitement about what is to come for the Wild Horses.
In 2022, as they were fresh onto the scene of rural Minnesota, their first ticketed show sold out a 700-seat theater. Since then, they have shared the stage with bands like Wilco, Shovels & Rope, Langhorne Slim, Dead Man Winter (Dave Simonett), Charlie Parr, The Lowest Pair, Horseshoes and Handgrenades among many others.
The rootsy Americana rock band delivers music that has meaning, depth and ties to the human connection. Featuring band members from very different musical backgrounds, they have landed on a sound that incorporates heartbreaking vocals, standout harmonies between Jed and Ariana, driving beats and epic jams. Wild Horses taps into their rural American roots with music that sends reverbs down your spine.
At the core, Wild Horses are a band whose mission is to improve the human experience through a shared love of music.
Blake Brightman Band
Introducing the Blake Brightman Band, an electrifying American rock group that synthesizes country music with the gritty essence of southern rock and blues. Born in the south but shaped in the American west, the lead singer’s story is infused in her music with an unparalleled emotional depth. At the core of her musical identity is an unyielding love for rock n’ roll and she herself has carved a unique path between south and west, boasting a sound that echoes the heartbeat of America.
Notably, the Blake Brightman Band has opened for artists like Ryan Bingham, Kenny Feidler and the Cowboy Killers, Ronnie and the Redwoods, and Tylor and the Train Robbers.
Blake’s dedication to the craft does not go unnoticed. The lyrics she writes are windows into her soul, allowing listeners to connect on a deeply personal level, finding solace and strength in her music. As the Blake Brightman Band continues to traverse the musical landscape, they carry with them the timeless spirit of American music and leave an undeniable impression.
Lena Rich
Lena Rich is a rising americana singer/songwriter who resists the confines of genre. Influenced by sounds and artists across the musical spectrum from jazz to bluegrass, Lena’s songwriting is heavily influenced by the natural world, human connection, and moments that stick.
A graduate of Oberlin College & Conservatory, Lena designed her own major, pulling from elements of music composition, poetry, and performance. She double majored in politics and is drawn to the correlation between the arts and politics.
With a rare depth to her songwriting, Lena is known for her strong voice and distinctive writing, in which she pairs thoughtful melodies with poignant lyrics.
As a recipient of the National Parks artist in residency grant in Capitol Reef, Utah, she spent a month living alone in the desert writing and recording. She is currently working on a record with the music from her residency featuring collaborations with Bozeman artists and production from Juniper Sound in NYC.
