One Zootown Week--June 12-18, 2011

Summer Carnival

The carnival kicked off the week with jugglers, kids' games and other family entertainment early,

moving on to more adult themes in the evening, including my favorite fire eater

with a soundtrack by Voodoo Horseshoes.

Meanwhile, at the Missoula Winery

The Ed Norton Big Band,

under the direction of this man,

was swinging away in front of a happy crowd.

Jazz Martini

Later, Margi Cates joined the Front Street Jazz Band on stage at the Badlander, during Jazz Martini Night. For those who don't know, Jazz Martini is a weekly, Sunday night event at the Badlander. Bands alternate weeks, and Front Street will be back tonight, Sunday, June 26.

This night was fun for all.

Out to Lunch

Members of Zeppo also had a good time on the Caras Park stage for Out to Lunch on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Anybody visiting Missoula should plan on Wednesday, for lunch, or Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm for dinner. Lots of vendors offer their foodstuffs, and the live music is free at both events. 

Hot Harleys

On Friday night, the annual Harley rally brought a bunch of hot bikes to Caras Park. 

Mudslide Charley was one of the bands providing the music,

and, of course, a good time was had by all.

Christian and the Sinners

Overlapping the excitement in Caras Park was a show at the Top Hat featuring a group new to me, Christian and the Sinners. That's Christian up front, and there are some marvelous musicians backing him up, including Bethany on the cello and Grace Decker on the fiddle. 

More images of every band and event in this post has a set on the flickr archive. Grace also performs with Cash for Junkers, while Bethany seems to be everywhere, but particularly with Wartime Blues and Butter in the archive. 

In the Streets

In Zootown, you can find music everywhere, and some of the travelers playing on the streets are very talented, not to mention varied and diverse in material and style.

Bellatrix--the Hottest Ticket in Town

Bellatrix is a collective project created by some of Zootown's brightest and most energetic artists. Previous editions have taken place in the Palace and the Top Hat. This version played at the Missoula Winery on Friday and Saturday, February 25 and 26, 2011. Sold-out, standing room only crowds made the Missoula Winery the place to be for this event.

They were rewarded with spectacular aerial feats,

striptease,

dancing women,

singers, songwriters, musical numbers, beautiful women, beautiful drag queens,

sword fighting,

and more magical, mystical action. Yes, indeed, this was the place to see and be seen.

All too soon, it was over, and the participants were called to accept their kudos. The smiling lady below, who is also the fiery woman at the top, earned high praise as a guiding light for the spectacular show.

PS: Much more of this show on flickr.

Belated Thanks, Part 1

Cue Joe Cocker (and allow slight lyrical adjustment): 

I get by with tons of help from my friends. 

My ego said I could produce a photo exhibit for the Top Hat, to open on the First Friday in November, and a music program to go with that show on the first Sunday. Wrong. Several things happened after that, including: a computer crash, cancellations, scheduling conflicts, nervous breakdowns #19-21 and an "Elizabeth I'm coming to join you" moment (Does anyone remember Sanford and Son?). 

I thank all the powers that be in the universe for my friends, who came from all directions and saved my scrawny ass. And for that, I want to thank all my friends. There are too many to cover adequately here, and that is why the title includes Part 1. I'm back online, after more than a month, but I still cannot access all my images, and I have piles of catch up. Future episodes will include Kevin Van Dort, music director at the Winery and Brendan Stewart, who installed the big pieces in the Top Hat, and oh so many others.  Here are the folks who appeared in the music program at the 

Missoula Winery and Event Center

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Darah Fogarty

 Meggie McDonald

 Ron Dunbar

 Slowly But Shirley: Kristin Janis, Ciara Keeton

New Hijackers

 Caroline Keys

Travis Yost

Angie Biehl

Today is First Friday a month later. It is time to check where the action is tonight. More choices to make...

More Jazz, Please

Jazz, oh jazz, sweet jazz filled the airwaves of Oregon and Washington, coming from college stations everywhere, particularly Seattle and Portland. This wasn't an hour or two of jazz sandwiched with other genres and NPR news and talk; this was hours of uninterrupted jazz. I do believe I have found a deficiency in my Zootown paradise. 

I must mention two jazz programs on KBGA. Four hours begins at noon on Sundays with the Awful Truth about Jerry Lundegaard, followed by the Outside Edge at 2pm. That's the best block of jazz to be found on local radio. 

There are some promising developments on the live scene. Returning to winter hours, Jazz Martini Night at the Badlander now begins at 7:30 on Sundays, allowing us old fogies a chance to hear some jazz before our early bedtimes. The Missoula Winery is also offering performance by jazz combos at comfortable hours. I recently went there to photograph the Indulge Jazz Quintet. 

The Indulge Jazz Quintet at the Missoula Winery

Ed Stalling

Kevin Van Dort joins the Quintet to belt out a blues number.

A full set of Indulge Jazz Quintet can be found on the Flickr archive. 

Margi and the Smoking Jackets are rehearsing for a more active appearance schedule, which will include a performance at the UC, during the First Night Celebration.