Upcoming Shows
John: Grammy Award-winning musician John Reischman has been a foundational mandolinist, composer, bandleader, and musical educator in bluegrass and North American roots and folk music since emerging from the vibrant “new acoustic” bluegrass music scene of the Bay Area in the 1980s. A member of the groundbreaking Tony Rice Unit, Reischman’s mastery of bluegrass, old-time, swing, and multiple Latin American musical styles, coupled with an Old Master’s sense of tone, taste, and musicality, has brought him a global reputation as one of the finest mandolinists of his era.
Bruce is returning to Longstaff House for an evening of fiddle and banjo, songs and stories witty banter as only he can do.
There will also be a fiddle workshop sponsored and paid for by The Montana Oldtime Fiddlers at 3:00pm on June 1st. Bruce is the master and this should not be missed.
“… wonderfully inspiring… the music was magical…”
“You will learn things you didn’t know about birds… Eye opening and uplifting.”
Part new music ensemble, part American roots string band, and part historical music excavators, the conservatory punks of the Plectrum Five combine the improvisatory timbral explorations of their urban experimental orientation with the Rocky Mountain folk twang of their collective family trees (with a touch of Balkan flair, and whatever else might be lingering in our ancestral pasts). When you hear the Plectrum, you might imagine a covered wagon lilting harshly over the rocks and boulders of the Bozeman Trail, the metal utensils clanging like the resonator, bouzouki and banjo, kids in the back crying like the cello, all in a plodding rhythm that promises you’ll get there soon. You might be reminded of a time in the past when the only music you heard came from living, breathing people playing wooden instruments, who asked you to sing and dance along. This might evoke a deep knowing that survival, joy, and collective music-making, are, somehow, intertwined.
The Plectrum Five is fronted by artistic director Kaley Lane Eaton (vocals, banjo, other th(str)ings as needed), with Rian Souleles (Greek bouzouki), Tom Baker (guitar, resonator guitar), Mariah Larsen/Lady Zade (cello), Jon Butler (bass and vocals), and Kayce Guthmiller (viola and vocals). Yes, there are six people in the core band of the Plectrum Five. And sometimes, there are even more – when we expand beyond this, inviting global traditions to make something greater than the sum of our parts, we become the Ineffable String Band. Limitless and unable to be captured or articulated, we celebrate the ephemeral nature of music, something so fragile and fleeting and yet strong enough to become the connective tissue of humanity.
A fixture of the American roots scene, Koskinen has earned praise from Rolling Stone Country for his “authentic voice and vivid storytelling,” while No Depression has called him “one of the best songwriters in the Midwest.” His music draws comparisons to artists like John Prine and Steve Earle, yet his sound remains uniquely grounded in the landscapes and working-class stories of the Upper Midwest. Critics frequently point to the emotional honesty and craftsmanship of his writing-songs that feel lived-in, reflective, and deeply human.
On stage, the Erik Koskinen Band brings those songs to life with muscular musicianship and a warm, road-tested chemistry. The result is a performance that moves easily between intimate storytelling and electrified roots rock, creating a show that is both powerful and deeply personal.
Martha Scanlan is a ranch hand and singer-songwriter who is working to show the importance of preserving agricultural life and landscape through her highly original song project, Tongue River Stories. She grew up in the upper Midwest, went to college in Montana then moved back to Tennessee to play old-time music. After playing music at a friend’s wedding on a family ranch in southeast Montana, Martha couldn’t get the place out of her head and ended up moving to the ranch and working there. She still tours the country as a professional folk singer.
I have been hoping for years to get Susan Gibson…..
At a Glance:– Latest release: The Hard Stuff (Fall 2019)
– Six studio albums and one live album released (see Discography)
– Songwriter of CMA Single of the Year for “Wide Open Spaces” released by the Dixie Chicks
– BMI Writer of the Year 1999
– 2009 West Texas Music Hall of Fame: Entertainer of the Year
– Touring nationally since 1999
Susan Gibson knows all about blessings. Roundabout 28 years ago, she wrote herself a wish that grew up and went off on its own to become one of the biggest country songs of all time. Smiling at its success from afar, Gibson went on to happily live her own best life, free to hit the open road with a van full of happy dogs and a heart full of songs to share with attentive audiences across the country — and all the room in the world to “make the big mistakes” that a wide-eyed dreamer kinda gal could ever ask for.
All that said, though, Gibson is not a lives-in-la-la-land kinda dreamer. Blessed as she’s been, the award-winning songwriter also knows all too well that in the real world, sometimes there’s just no avoiding “the hard stuff.” Mind, not the kind she consciously swore off way back on Valentine’s Day, 2010; after nine years of humble sobriety, it’s easy enough, relatively speaking, for her to resist the temptation of a bottle of wine at a friend’s table or politely decline the occasional unasked-for drink sent to the stage by a fan. But positive life choices and willpower alone offer no proof or protection against the kind of knock-you-on-your-butt shots that life itself can serve up on the regular. The best you can do, she’s learned, is take each hit as it comes, get back up again, and try to find your wits and center of gravity before the next wallop lands. Because as sure as hearts break, van transmissions fail, and loved ones (both two- and four-legged) pass on, you can always count on another one coming.
The Flinns are a Texas-based, husband-and-wife duo bringing a modern spark to the classic Americana-country sound. Led by the sharp songwriting of Max Flinn—praised by American Songwriter for a “self-awareness” and storytelling that “makes you sit down to listen”—and Brittney’s rich harmonies and dynamic range, The Flinns have a seamless vocal chemistry that pulls audiences into a world of authentic storytelling and sharp-witted duets.
While much of the industry chases viral moments, The Flinns have built their reputation on the road, prioritizing the raw intimacy of a live performance over digital trends. This commitment to the stage has made them a staple across the U.S., opening for Americana heavyweights including Robert Earl Keen, Radney Foster, and Ryan Bingham. Their momentum is further backed by a partnership with Turtlebox, who supported the release of their standout single, “I’m Still Holding On.”
On stage, the duo takes audiences on a journey through the heart of the genre, blending poignant originals with crowd-favorite homages to iconic pairings like John Prine & Iris DeMent and Johnny Cash & June Carter. It is authentic, Texas-made Americana—a must-see for anyone who believes in the power of a song well-told.
Yahoo, Matt is coming back. This is good, hard-core, country rock.
Matt Axton
Matt Axton is a gifted singer/songwriter. Granted, that’s a claim made by many artists that inhabit the world of Americana these days, but in Matt’s case, it’s more than a mere boast. The ability to make music is firmly infused in his genes, courtesy of a family history that implanted that ability in him early on.
While he modestly describes his sound as a “humble slice of Americana,” it’s clear that it possesses so much more. With a style that encompasses country, folk, roots, rock, R&B, and pure pop proficiency, he defies easy categorization. With a rich reservoir of original tunes — over 300 in fact — and three well received albums (Blue Sky Rain, Matthew C. Axton and Badmoon), he’s established himself as a prolific and proficient singer, songwriter and guitarist, both on his own and at the helm of his various ensembles.
Even a small sampling of his musical output proves the point. His “Blue Sky Rain” is both stirring and seductive, an easy amble that belies its description of the topsy turvy travails that accompany the entanglements of relationships. “Born of Chains” is flush with steadfast determination, a rugged, relentless bluesy-rocker that conveys clear conviction and a desire to overcome whatever obstacles are tossed in his way. On the other hand, “Everything” is an homage to romance, desire and faithfulness shared with some upbeat bluegrass banter. Here again, Matt demonstrates his remarkable fluidity and a decidedly affable attitude.
Notably, he also keeps good company. Matt has recorded original material with Steve Ferrone (drummer for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) and Hal Cragin (bassist for Iggy Pop), and shared sessions at the legendary East West Studios in Hollywood where Tom Petty recorded much of his work. The songs include: “Last Search”, a Southern rock-style anthem; “Born of Chains,” which shares a sparse and dark singer/songwriter vibe; the Americana style “What a Day”; the soulful strains of “Soul to Sell” and “The Big South”, a blues groove reminiscent ZZ Top.
He has collaborated on projects such as “Abbey Road Reimaged – A Tribute to the Beatles” where Aaron Badgley of Spill Magazine called Axton’s cover of ‘Octopus’ Garden’ “pure genius.”
Axton tours nationally playing large festivals and iconic institutions as well as opening up for acts like Midland, Paul Cauthen, Jim Lauderdale, and Nikki Lane. The verve and versatility underscore the fact that Matt is a master of many motifs.
“Matt’s powerful songwriting and vocals, along with his natural rapport with the audience, was the highlight of the 4th of July celebration where we hired him to play for the 3,500 people at Donner Lake,” said Ben Martin, executive director of the Tahoe Truckee School of Music and Tahoe Music Professionals booking service.
Harmony singing is so key to roots-folk music and Two Crows have nailed that perfectly. What differentiates them within their genre are uniquely arranged original songs that allow their voices to blend and bend around the stories within their often-poignant lyrics. This is acoustic folk music at its best. Cory’s light-hearted, funny, between-song banter made the show even better. A few people in the audience drove more than a hundred miles to come see this duo. Not one of them regretted it.
| Clive Carroll’s unique tone, versatility, and unmistakeable voice as a composer, have seen him become one of the world’s premier acoustic guitar players and “…arguably the most accomplished fingerstylist in the world today…” (Total Guitar Magazine). Clive made his musical debut at age two as a banjo-strumming cowboy singing nursery rhymes. His parents had a passion for Irish, American country, and old-time music, and it wasn’t long before he was playing in the family band on a homemade banjo. By his early teens, guitar in hand, Clive was traversing the worlds of soul, pop, funk and traditional Irish music, balancing his affinity for Slayer with the etudes of Tárrega. This breadth of musical curiosity was to become one of his strengths; even as a child Clive was as comfortable accompanying a group of folk singers as he was jamming along to Nirvana or performing on banjo and guitar in the orchestral pits for musicals. |
Tours across Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and China, have seen Clive garner praise for his breathtaking, genre-bending live performances. Lauded guitarist Tommy Emmanuel has brought Clive on tour across three continents, and he also appears on Emmanuel’s album “Accomplice One”, flanked on the track listing by the likes of Rodney Crowell and Mark Knopfler. Clive has also toured and collaborated with guitar greats such as John Williams, D’Gary, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Xuefei Yang, and Ralph Towner.
In addition to Clive’s four solo albums—“Sixth Sense”, “The Red Guitar” (which Tommy Emmanuel cites as one of his desert island discs), “Life in Colour”, and “The Furthest Tree”—he has written music for television and film. He notably collaborated with John Renbourn to score the film “Driving Lessons”, which features Julie Walters and Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame.
2023 saw the release of monumental project, “The Abbot – Clive Carroll plays the music of John Renbourn”, a double-album of solo works alongside ensemble interpretations, featuring 21 guest musicians and a medieval ensemble. “The Abbot” was described by Now Spinning Magazine as “…a gateway to a world of intricate, melodic, and beautiful music. It’s akin to having someone paint vibrant tapestries in your living room—a rich, immersive experience”.
Saint of Soldiers is a five-piece Americana band from Northwest Montana, forging a sound that is at once driving, haunting, and angelic. Named after St. Ignatius in the Mission Valley—home to the group’s founding members and named for the patron saint of soldiers—the band draws on their roots in rural Montana to bridge the past into the present. Through their relatable, poetic storytelling and by recording songs in historic locations, they connect a modern perspective with the lives and experiences of those who came before. Their music draws from indie folk, rock, Midwest emo, and bluegrass, creating a unique blend that is both reflective and exhilarating.
Their debut singles launched with a series of immersive music videos and live session recordings, each set at historic Montana landmarks including the Philipsburg Opera House Theatre, the Conrad Mansion, and Paradise Elementary School. Every performance invites new audiences to experience these spaces in fresh ways while reflecting on the culture that came before. Their upcoming debut album is also set to showcase unique and historic landmarks across Montana from a fresh perspective, continuing their mission of blending music with the state’s rich cultural heritage.
On stage, Saint of Soldiers has shared bills with touring acts including Hannah Juanita, The Droptines, Luca Stricagnoli, and The Spine Stealers, and served as Logjam’s Official Afterparty for The Brothers Comatose at the Top Hat in Missoula, MT. These performances have cemented their presence in the regional music scene while bridging Montana’s musical past and present. They were also selected as an artist for the 2025 Montana Performing Arts Consortium Showcase, sharing their distinctive sound with audiences across the region.
Beyond performing, the band champions creativity and growth in their community, supporting music education in underserved areas across Montana. In 2025, they scored the Montana PBS documentary Journey to the Sun, chronicling Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, and earned sponsorships with Rattlesnake Cables and Ear Trumpet Labs Microphones. Saint of Soldiers is more than a band—they are storytellers, collaborators, and ambassadors for the state, inviting audiences to experience its history and spiri