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As a benefit for Soft Landing Missoula, John Floridis will perform fingerstyle acoustic guitar arrangements of traditional Christmas/Winter melodies, as well as original compositions, material from his two seasonal releases “December’s Quiet Joy” and “The Peaceful Season.” Floridis will also include seasonal vocal tunes, “songs of darkness and light,” both original and by other artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Patty Larkin, Storyhill, Ben Harper and John Gorka in the performance.

The songs feature lyrics speaking to the journey from darkness to light, seasonally, emotionally and spiritually.

Floridis will be joined by award winning percussionist Ed Stalling and the multi-talented Amelia Thornton of Missoula.

100% of proceeds collected at the concert will go to Soft Landing. The concert is sponsored by Clearwater Credit Union of Missoula.

The concerts welcome the audience to escape the frantic stress that too often pervades the holiday season and relax in an intimate listening environment with music to warm the heart and soul.

Floridis is a 25 year Missoula resident and has been recognized as one of the state’s most popular and respected musicians, having performed in a variety of venues, festivals and concert halls in support of his seven independently released CD’s. He has been featured on 11th and Grant with Eric Funk on Montana PBS, his episode winning several Emmy Awards and is also a multiple finalist in the International Acoustic Music Association awards. He is a multiple finalist for the International Acoustic Music Awards in the “Best Instrumental” category. Floridis is the host and producer of Musician’s Spotlight a weekly program on Montana Public Radio which has won back to back awards for Best Non-Commercial Program from the Montana Broadcasters Association.

Floridis will be performing a series of benefit concerts across the state this December with additional dates in Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, two in Whitefish and four concerts in Missoula.

Songwriter Trio show! Three different writers/performers from three different parts of Montana team up to present an amazing show at the Longstaff House in Missoula on Monday, December 9^th! Don’t miss Montana Songwriters Christy Hays, John Dendy and Tom Catmull!

“Like Lucinda Williams in a Carhartt jacket, Christy Hays works rugged metaphors into emotionally charged country folk.” (Austin Chronicle). Christy Hays’ music has folk and country tinges, thoughtfully penned stories and a full band sound that is both driving alt country and moody folk rock. Christy Hays has released two full length albums and two EP’s since 2009.

“If you live in Montana, you might have seen John Dendy playing guitar in a cafe, or club, or bar. A big tall guy with an upright bass or guitar, playing songs that are a little bit out of the ordinary.” Clay Scott (Montana Public Radio)

Tom Catmull is a word enthusiast, for lack of a better term. They are the larger part of what makes his world go round. He’s spent the last twenty five years in his adopted hometown of Missoula, MT presenting words in ways to make them as alluring as possible to people who crave such things (and “ambushing” those who do not.). The tricks useful to achieving this end include infectious melodies, thoughtful arrangements, story telling, some finger picking and a clean shirt.

We’re very excited that Emory Lester will be returning to Longstaff House! Emory is one of this day’s foremost exponents of the acoustic mandolin. The power and attack of his mandolin playing are unmatched, and his sound is infectious.

His landmark mandolin-featured recording projects have placed him among the elite mandolinists of our time. His latest solo recording titled ‘At Dusk’ showcases Emory’s musical creativity, and skill as a mandolinist and multi-instrumentalist. Emory has undeniably inspired and influenced many of today’s current wave of modern day mandolinists, pointing the way with his clean, clear, fast and efficient mandolin techniques.

In addition to the show at 7pm, Emory will be teaching workshops in guitar and mandolin earlier in the day!

If you are interested in the workshops, give a call or contact Emory at: emorylester@outlook.com

Pickled Okra is an entirely different category of American string band. Skirting the edges of many genres, their sound and style is perhaps the child of bluegrass married with funk, reggae, rockabilly and some other surprises.

At the core of it is Todd and Paisley Gray, a charmingly quirky yet well-dressed ol’ married couple. Their intricate harmonies weave together with the high tones of mandolin and the low bellos of the bass. Banjo is often added to the mix and dished out by one of several local masters.

Their musical antics are zany, yet refined and professional.

First and foremost., they are great entertainers.

Website: https://getokra.com/home

New World String Project – Celtic, Nordic and American Folk Traditions

John Weed – Fiddle

Aryeh Frankfurter- Nyckelharpa

Lisa Lynne – Celtic harp, Cittern, Percussion

Stuart Mason – Guitar, Guizouki

New World String Project brings together four mighty players who weave a shimmering sonic tapestry from Celtic, Nordic and American folk traditions. Fiddler John Weed and guitarist Stuart Mason also play together in the long-running Celtic band Molly’s Revenge. And Celtic harp master Lisa Lynne, who gained international renown via recordings and tours with the label Windham Hill, often performs in a duo with NWSP-mate Aryeh Frankfurter, an expert on harp and Swedish nyckelharpa. Together, these intrepid string explorers take audiences on a thrilling, melodically exuberant musical ride. www.NewWorldStringProject.com

Louie Bond (well known Montana country rock guitarist and song writer) first met Hoyt Axton 1988 when Hoyt was in the Bitterroot Valley.  Louie ended up in Hoyt’s back up band and he and Louie started a friendship and song writing collaboration that lasted through the last years of Hoyt’s life. This tribute is to honor Hoyt’s great songs and legacy of music and friendship.  Special guest Eric Wade from New Brunswick will be adding his robust baritone to the Hoyt Tribute Band to share the celebration of Hoyt’s music.

Louie Bond was born in Miami, Oklahoma and began playing guitar in 1965 at age 16.  A prodigy, within a year he had covered the Mel Bay guitar instruction thru grade four and was put to work teaching others by his own teacher, Charlie Norris.  He was soon playing in Charlie’s country band and a teen rock band The Mustangs, and between the two bands was learning top 40 country western and rock covers of the day and was introduced to the guitar music of Jimi Hendrix by another local artist Steve Gaines of future Lynyrd Skynyrd fame.

Louie joined the Navy in 1969, played guitar in boot camp while in the USN Bluejackets Choir and also played in a band sponsored by Naval Aviation “Wings of Music” while attending school at NAS Millington, Tennessee.

Upon leaving the Navy, Louie went to work once again for his former teacher who had relocated Norris Family Music to the Dallas, Texas area and there, at the age of 21, landed professional gigs in house bands playing 5-6 nights a week (Longhorn Ballroom, etc.).  He discovered Montana on a road gig and moved to Missoula in 1974 continuing his house band, journeyman guitarist career.  Touring, Louie opened for and backed up many famous country stars, including Bakersfield artist’s David Frizell, Lawanda Lindsay, Tony Booth, Buck Owens and his son Buddy Allen in the 1970’s as well as Restless Heart, Sawyer Brown, Bobby Bare, Ferlin Husley, Roy Head and Vern Gosdin.

Playing gigs locally in Western Montana at least 5 nights a week continually for many years, Louie played with Dave Knight and the “Country Boogie Boys” 3 nights a week at the Brass Rail in Hamilton while also playing Duelin’ Daltons in Missoula  2 nights a week from 1985-1990.  The band regrouped as a trio (Haywire) retaining the rhythm section (Bill Bonnette-drums, Mike Brandon-bass) and continued the Sun/Mon gig plus various weekend gigs at Duelin Daltons for the next 3 years.  Among others Louie has also played with Monte Monroe and the Headwaters Band in the Bitterroot Valley from 2003-2008 at various clubs-Fort Owen Inn, Eagles in Hamilton, Homestead, Bradley-Os, etc.

In 1988 Louie met and gigged with Hoyt Axton in the Bitterroot Valley and then later reconnected with Hoyt after a recording date in 1998 for a TV ad.  Louie became Hoyt’s personal guitarist helping the retired songwriter/performer write several of his last songs before Hoyt’s passing in 1999.

Louie is still the consummate journeyman guitarist at age 70 playing in local bands, duos and as a solo performer supplementing his guitar career with sound engineer and session work.  In Missoula he is currently playing western swing with Western Union and in a duo with jazz vocalist Kimberlee Carlson.  Wintering in Yuma, AZ for the last several years he plays with the classic country trio Coyote Country.  He is also a gifted singer/song-writer performing and publishing many of his originals including his song “She’ll Get You” that was used in 2018 Netflix Original “Juanita”.

While Louie’s keynote is great versatility (rock, country, acoustic) you’re sure to hear roots in Texas country, swing, and blues schooled from covering the hottest licks from Nashville through the years. In the tradition of famous country guitar players like Hank Garland and James Burton, Louie is one of Montana’s best country/rock/blues guitarist.