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.

Dodgy Mountain Men Torch the Palace

The Dodgy Mountain Men are a bluegrass outfit with a tabla player providing the percussion. That certainly isn't a standard band formation, but this fun loving group makes it work. On Saturday, January 29, 2011, they launched into a free-wheeling set, which ignited the crowd, which fed the band, which led to one of those energy tornadoes which lift venues right off the ground. When it was over, many participants had to drink considerable amounts in order to recover.

There's a set on flickr with more shots of these guys, and a set for Voodoo Horseshoes who released their CD, Flight of the Platypus, at this event.  Horseshoes also turned in a rip-snorting set on this night.

I  bring this up now, because the Dodgy Mountain Men will be playing the Badlander's Live and Local evening on Tuesday, February 15, tomorrow, as I write this. Peoples is also on the bill.

Since the Badlander music will start at the usual late hour, one could easily enjoy the open mike program at Brooks and Browns (in the Holiday Inn at the river end of Pattee St), 7-10pm Tuesday, and then cruise to the Badlander for even more good home-made music.

Voodoo Horseshoes

Prowling Zootown Music Again

My heart had taken flight, during the days in wilderness, on the coast and by the rivers. Reconnecting to my home town took some time. I tiptoed into the Sunrise Saloon to hear Cash for Junkers, and they hooked me right up.

I love people happy in their work, and I love good music. Nailed the twofer on this night, Thursday, August 26, 2010.

It was great to return to the Saturday markets, and find Hot House Tomatoes performing under the bridge at the Clark Fork Market.

The final weekend of August belonged to the Roots Fest, although only the headliner, Robert Earl Keen, could lure me back downtown Saturday.

Broken Valley Roadshow inspired me to spend more time at Roots, as they opened the second day.

Tom Catmull and the Clerics were up second on Sunday.

Susan, 7X a grandmother, now homeless, busking on Higgins

And then came Hempfest on Saturday, September 11, 2010 

with Not Quite Punk

Secret Powers

and Voodoo Horseshoes highlighting a strong line up. 

The big event was followed by the Hempfest After Party at the Top Hat, where Miller Creek performed.

Headliners, Lubriphonic, produced an extravagant sound, deep, strong and tight. 

Hundreds of photos have gone on the Flickr archive in recent days, as I work to catch up from vacation hang over. There's new stuff coming soon. I want to cover more jazz like the Indulge Jazz Quintet, which has a Flickr set of their recent Missoula Winery appearance. 

LYME Fest--Day One

"You're either on the bus, or you're not."  --Merry Pranksters

Capt'n Trips kept the shuttles running from Missoula to Rock Creek for the Love Your Mother Earth Festival, and a $10 pass granted unlimited access for all three days.

The first sign I saw upon arrival, was not promising, but further down the path things looked better.

Electronic DJs had a beautiful pulpit to operate from, and the sound was scheduled from afternoon until 8am.

My first goal was to catch the Voodoo Horseshoes at the Ramble Stage. Let's see around the bar to back east corner, and what do you know... Here we go baby. This party is about to roll. 

The walk from the campground stage to the main stage and back provided this old man plenty of exercise. The first hike back to the campground was to see my friends, Slowly but Shirley. 

I'm headed for the main stage to check out Sister Monk, when I hear enticing sounds from the Ramble Stage. Who? Humanlab. Never heard of 'em, but definitely worth hearing. Regular readers know I love it, when the music takes an infectious fun turn. 

Sister Monk is on stage, as the sun disappears down the river. Oh boy, more of that fun stuff, I was just talking about, tied to some powerful drumming from this folksy trio. Note: Sister Monk will play the Hat this Wednesday, June 16, and Equaleyes is also on the bill. See you there. 

Molten glass was being shaped late into the night. The next day, a sign warned stoners not to stare at the flame too long. 

It's almost midnight, Miller Creek is on stage, fire jugglers are twirling flame, as Kitchenpoet turns towards home and bed. Much more to follow. Two more days to be reported right here soon, and soon there will be matching sets on the Flickr archive.