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The Timber Rattlers are an energetic bluegrass quartet from Missoula, MT. They pull inspiration from their traditional roots, but continue to push their boundaries in the realm of acoustic music. Each member has spent extensive time touring and in the studio. From the west coast to parts of Europe.

MEMBERS:

Jesse Brown – A violinist who has genre hopped many bands and instruments. He is most known for his years spent with “The Lil’ Smokies” both touring and writing music. You can also catch him playing with legendary Montana band “Mission Mountain Wood Band”.

Jamie Drysdale – A class act guitarist with on-point bluegrass runs. Naturally entertaining the crowd with his quick, witty humor. He is always writing unique and ear-catching originals. Also known for his touring/songwriting with the Jackson Hole band “The Random Canyon Growlers”

Dillon Johns – A recent graduate of the music program at The University of Montana. He now teaches elementary school music, passing on his extensive knowledge of music to the next generation. You can also catch him playing his groovy bass lines in the band “The Letter B”.

Caleb Dostal – A prodigy in the field of contemporary banjo. Caleb has been playing since he was 11. He first heard the banjo on some old CD’s around the house and fell in love with the sound, and from then on has had an almost inhuman drive to improve his ability and discover more of the possibilities that the banjo holds.

Rachel will be giving a concert and a workshop for all fiddle-players.  Bring your instrument.

Inspired by her Norwegian roots, Rachel has built a career around her love of music, performance, teaching, and Scandinavian tradition. She earned her BA in Music and Norwegian from St. Olaf College in 2007, followed by a master’s degree in Violin Performance and K-12 Teaching Certificate from Central Washington University in 2011. Rachel completed additional studies in both classical and jazz violin at the Music Conservatory of the University of Stavanger, Norway, also using the opportunity to polish her Norwegian language skills. Although violin is her main jam, Rachel is an avid Hardanger Fiddler (the national folk instrument of Norway), an aspiring violist, an enthusiastic conductor, and a novice improv actor!

Rachel’s love of playing music includes her dedication to teaching. She absolutely loves coaching summer camps such as the Seattle Rock Orchestra Summer Intensive, Icicle Creek Summer Symphony, and Pipestone Music Camp. Always inspired to wear many different hats, she also conducts the West Seattle Community Orchestras’ Debut Symphony. The group is a fun, full orchestra that consists of players of all ages (youngest age 8 and oldest 80!) who have 1-3 years of experience playing their instruments.

Fellow Pynins is an award winning contemporary folk duo with a keen and bucolic sense of vocal harmony and song craft. The live performance is a whimsically emotional escapade through the chasms of our, yes, feelings.. Dashed with spontaneous and clever banter, mirth and woe, you will probably cry and quite possibly laugh, a lot. Wielding claw-hammer banjo, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and acoustic guitar the duo sings predominantly original music as well as reworked traditional ballads gathered from their travels.

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.