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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.

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 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.

Here are some links to his work. He has an excellent band here with top Montana musicians, and a wonderful solo show:

https://youtu.be/_SQp8y9534Q

https://youtu.be/mrwgIaSa95w

Rod points him out at his solo here:
https://youtu.be/EzGWo9osFsg

Here’s his Reverbnation and Spotify:
https://www.reverbnation.com/donteschner?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jtFHyKCCQhQrfq1YdGeRK?si=7iQV3IDFQjKCe_pyWV44Pw

Claudia Russell is an outstanding singer and songwriter who has shared stages with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Loudon Wainwright III, Steve Forbert, Tish Hinojosa, Kris Kristoffersen, Willie Nelson, Darryl Purpose, Peter Rowan, Rosalie Sorrels and Bill Staines, among many others.  When the planets align, she is sometimes pleased to count Carl Byron (piano accordion), and Eric Lewis (dobro, guitar, mandolin) and Tom Tally (viola) in her band. She is also thrilled to perform in the occasional pop up band Paper Birds with Katie Dahl and Rich Higdon.

Boston’s WUMB FM named Claudia the Best New Artist of 2000, the East Bay Express named her Best Musician in 2006, and she has twice been selected as a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition. Claudia was a 2004 finalist in the Sisters Folk Festival Songwriters contest in Bend Oregon and the 2002 KRCL Songwriting contest in Salt Lake City.

Claudia has performed for thousands as cast member in several productions at American Folklore Theater in Door County WI, including “Old Friends,” “Goodnight, Irene,” “Fish and Whistle,” and “Sometimes a Song.”

Besides writing evocative songs, Claudia is known for her vocal talent. She is an expressive and versatile singer, as at home on a soulful ballad as a Buddy Holly style romp.  But music is in the ear of the listener. So have a listen and hear for yourself!

Bruce Kaplan is a renaissance man. Which is a polite way of saying he’s still not quit sure of what he wants to be when he grows up. He’s been a writer, magazine editor, entrepreneur, graphic designer, marketing consultant, teacher, potter, concert producer, sound engineer, non-profit organizer, and most notably, a performing musician.

As a musician, Kaplan has worked with many talented singer/songwriters, most notably his wife and current musical partner, Claudia Russell. He is known for deftly accompanying on mandolin and electric guitar, providing melodic counter point and atmosphere that aspires to elevate each song just a little higher. The word tasteful is oft heard, while flashy is not. On stage he is noted for the witty off-the-cuff remark.