ZACC ROCK CAMP BAND
Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC) puts on a summer camp each year to build self-esteem through music exploration. Regardless of musical experience, campers receive instrument instruction in drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals. They form a band, write an original song and take to the Main Stage at Roots Fest. Following the ZACC Rock Camp Bands, we’ll be welcoming several local young Missoula musicians to the stage - Shea Keene & Lucia Baker and Matthew Knight.
SALLY & GEORGE
Currently residing in Laramie, Wyoming, folk rock duo Sally & George have always resisted society’s push to “grow up,” and together cultivated a life of movement, freedom, adventure, and artistic independence. As married musicians, they found in each other what previous bands failed to provide, a musical home with no boundaries, and their new album takes you on a ride shows their ability to grow and change together. Sally & George is comprised of Shelby Means (former member of the Grammy nominated band Della Mae) and Joel Timmons (of Sol Driven Train).
HOT BUTTERED RUM
Conceived at a mountaintop fireside on a backpacking trip, Hot Buttered Rum has shared its distinct and classic sound from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between. With their roots in the High Sierra of California, they weave their love of bluegrass, folk, jazz and soul into a riveting strain of Americana. Bryan, Erik, James, Jeff, and Nat offer stunning instrumentals and vocal virtuosity! With an affection for Missoula, Hot Buttered Rum made its first Roots showing in 2007 and has returned to Zootown several times, playing both the Wilma Theatre and the Top Hat.
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN
This 5-piece band, based in Charleston, South Carolina, weaves through multiple genres throughout their songs, exploring Afro-caribbean rhythms, funky New Orleans-style brass, American pop, and folk music to create their overall brass-kickin’ roots rock sound. The band incorporates rotating lead vocalists, horns, strings, keyboards, and percussion to shape their unique musical identity. Sol Driven Train, with their growing fan base, have been playing together for nearly 20 years.
SUPER CHIKAN
A native of the Mississippi Delta, James “Super Chikan” Johnson plays the blues on guitars he makes himself, using whatever materials are on hand from gas cans to ceiling fans. This will be Super Chikan’s first visit to Missoula. James, who lives in Clarksdale, MS, has been honored with a plaque on the Clarksdale Walk of Fame along with such notable blues and soul musicians such as Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and Son House.
COWBOY ANDY & THE SALAMANDERS
An awesome all-ages rock band based right in Missoula, The Salamanders, consisting of Cowboy Andy, Antonio Alvarez, Russ Gray, Heather Hunt, Ian Smith and Matthew Bainton, are a positive thinking collaborative of accomplished singers, songwriters and musicians who firmly believe music is a great gateway to creative expression, exercise, wisdom and fun.
THE TIMBER RATTLERS
Making their debut on the Roots Fest stage, this Missoula-grown band pulls inspiration from their traditional roots, but continues to push their boundaries in the realm of acoustic music. The band is made up of Jesse Brown (violin), Jamie Drysdale (guitar), Dillon Johns (bass), and Caleb Dostal (banjo).
GROWLING OLD MEN
The Growling Old Men don't consider themselves old, nor do they growl very much. What they do is play acoustic music on mandolin, guitar, octave mandolin and vocals. Playing an eclectic mix of music including bluegrass, Americana, folk, swing, and original songs, these guys have made fans of their music everywhere they go. This duo is made up of Ben Winship and John Lowell.
RAPIDGRASS
The lineup of Mark Morris, Coleman Smith, Charlie P. Mertens, and Alex Johnstone use classical, gypsy, bluegrass, pop and swing to create what is described as Rapidgrass. The celebration of mountains and whitewater rapids is the inspiration for everything Rapidgrass – Mountain music influenced by an active, outdoor lifestyle. Brought together through music and love for mountains, they define modern, acoustic, Colorado mountain music. With four released albums, Rapidgrass has had the pleasure of bringing mountain music not just in Colorado or Alaska but throughout the lower 48 and even the European Alps.
THE LIL SMOKIES
Missoula’s favorite hometown band returns for their fourth appearance on the Roots Fest stage. As one of the hottest bluegrass bands out there, The Lil Smokies have built a national following through constant touring, performing at Red Rocks, LOCKN’, High Sierra, Telluride, Bourbon & Beyond and more.
