Montana Radio Cafe

Well,
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've done no blogging for over a year! Ah well, enough of the past and the associated guilt. I'll just start new!
The past weekend was over the top great! Friday night saw the Montana Radio Cafe music series concert series bring in Mike Dowling. A Grammy award winning guitarist/vocalist/song writer, he packed the house to overflowing at the KM Theater! Great concert is all I have to say.
Thank again to the King and Queen of the KM - Bill and Jana Goodman. They're wonderful people, patron's of art of all kinds, sponsor's of the Montana Radio cafe and owners of one of my favorite places - Red's Wines and Blues.
Saturday morning was Mike Dowling teaching a open tunning and bottle neck guitar workshop at the Noice studio and gallery on main street in Kalispell. What an opportunity! I think about 16 or 17 guitar players took advantage of the chance to learn from the master.
Later that day was the Flathead Blues Society end of the summer party down at Lake Mary Ronan. It ROCKED! Great time and great music for everyone.
The raffle for the Fender Strat was a success too - Gayle - service manager a the local Harley shop won the guitar; thanks to bluesman and superior guitar builder Al Kempton for the Stat.
There, that's the catch up blog. I feel better now, I hope you do too.
By the way, we had a great summer with the Depot Park music series. Thanks so much for all that support music here in the Flathead.
Scott

Man oh man, have the last seven days been great for music!
Starting off Monday July 31rst, I stopped by Red's to hear the "Can't Hardly Play Boys", Marshall Noice and Max Agathar, and had a great time.
Then on Tuesday night it was Andre Floyd and Mood Iguana at Depot Park. Andre and friends rock!
Friday nite Marie the beautiful and I went up to the Whitefish Armory to hear "Three Minutes From Home". Awesome sound, and, of course our son Isaac is the bass player in the band. Then we jetted down to Red's and caught Cocinondo for some truly great latin jazz. I've gotta say, Concinondo is one of my favorites!
THEN, we went to Ceres Bakery on Main Street to hear a young guy from Austin Texas by the name of Jim Keaveny. Jim's style is very Bob Dylan - Woodie Gutherie like and delivered very well. Jim will be in the studio playing live Thursday.
And then came Saturday with the Montana Radio Cafe music series concert with StoryHill.
These guys are AWESOME! Great harmonys and songwriting! Plus, they are just great people!
Then Downstairs for more Jazz at Red's with Nova Combo - Dylan wasn't there, but the horn player that sat in were incredible.
Then last night with Trish,Hans and Phil at Depot Park. Wonderful is all I can say! Catch them at Red's,and in Whitefish and Woods Bay later in the week. I hope to have them in the studio as well!
Things are well here at the Montana Radio Cafe. I'm one content guy, living my dream.
Thanks so much to everyone who helps. I hope I can help you as well by bringing you the music you want to hear.
More, much more later
Blessing to all!
Scott

Well here we are in late July in Montana, and the weather is HOT! It might get to 102 degree's this weekend - time to go to the lake!
Last night we enjoyed another Montana Radio Cafe Music Series concert with Fred Hargrove, Rob Quist and Michael Martin Murphey. Just like last year, the magic was there! We had a overflow crowd for the first show, and a great crowd for the second show as well.
Rob Quist was as good as I've ever seen him - you've got to hear his yet to be recorded song "catch and release"!
Murph as always was wonderful and full of great music and good humor.
Our thanks to Bill and Jana Goodman for the use of the KM Theater, and their sponsorship of the station. They are great people, and Red's is a wonderful place to be.
The next concert is August 5th at the KM Theater with StoryHill, a terrific folk duo from Bozeman. I hope you all can come.
Scott

Hey!
I know, I know it's been way too long between these ramblings, but ... no excuse! I heard Tom Russell on July 4th, and was he tremendous! Here's a picture I took of Tom performing on Bill Montgomery's new stage the other night. Tom was great, and the stage is awesome! Thanks to Tom and Bill and Connie.
All that to lead up to the invitation to hear Tom Russell tomorrow night in concert at the KM Theater in Kalispell. The tickets are just $18.00 and only 96 will be sold.
The music starts at 7:30 pm, and will go until Tom is done. Michael Martin is traveling with Tom, playing guitar and mandolin, plus backup vocals and is wonderful as well.
It's going to be a great night! Hope you can come.
Cheers!
Scott

Hello everyone.
Just a quick note to let everyone know what's been going on.
Yesterday was a hard day.
First, our IP address was changed with out our knowledge, and thus knocked us offline for most of the day. Our apologies for the trouble.
Secondly, the station mascot, Smokey the Wonder Dog passed away after 14 and a half years of faithful service to our family. As it turned out, all the kids are home for a sons wedding and were able to be with him before he died. A sad and hard day for all, but one filled with gratitude for such a fine dog.
Smokey was buried on the back of the farm, with various other pets that have gone on before.
Smokey's singing can still be heard several times a day on the station between songs, and will forever if I can swing the forever thing.
Some good news to tell on this otherwise dreary, rainy day - The Missoulian will be publishing an article in next Sunday's paper. We're really excited about it!
Onward and upward! Thank God life consists of more than just one bad day!
With gratitude from the front porch,
Scott

Well, it's been an incredible week, with the highlights being visits to the front porch by Ericka Luckett and John Floridis on Thursday, and Brenn Hill yesterday.
The concert at the KM Theater by Ericka and John was not that well attended, but for those who got to go, it was stellar!
Brenn Hill is an over the top great Country artist, and played yesterday at "A Country Affair" at the fairgrounds. He is also playing today, along with Gene Gordner, Badwater Bill, and more; I'm definitely going today!

Ok, ok, so I haven't been exactly faithful to the blog! Hey, I've been busy! And besides, our director of front porch operations was gone to Europe. Welcome back Sara! Pictures please.
A great big thank you goes out to the whole Creston Fire Department and QRU for a hugely successful auction. Man, these people work hard! I mean, I've seen snow at the auction before, but never like Saturday night at 10:30!
Thanks for all you do, you all rock!
Be sure and check out the Montana Quarterly article; we're getting lot's of good comments on it.
Stay warm and dry.

Well, they call it rainy Saturday, and the best thing for me to do is hang in front of the fire place, and have a laid back day.
But others are different, including my wife, and may opt into the "action" mode.
A couple of "action" things going on today would include the snowboard racing on the Big Mountain and catching the bluegrass group Left Over Biscuits up at the Symes Hotel in Hot Springs tonight.
Spring, for Montana, is here; with all the unpredictability of unsettled weather that comes with it - snow in one spot, rain in another, sun in another; all in our valley - at the same time!
It's the western way, and it's grand!
Thanks for listening and becoming a part of our community. We hope that no matter what you do today, you enjoy the music we are playing for you.
Be blessed.

More sunshine for the flathead!
At least this morning.
By the way, this morning we are being listened to in England (cheers!), Korea (hello Paul), and Switzerland (hi Sara, yes I will do everything you told me to:), as well as all over the United States!
That's very exciting to me!
Do you think if Katie Couric and Oprah get emails from overseas that it will make a difference?
Maybe!
Push the buttons, folks. Send da emails!
But most of all, enjoy the music, and if you have a chance drop us a line. We love it when you do.
Thanks for listening and telling your friends.
By for now.
With a grateful heart,
Scott

And it's more sunshine for the northwest corner of Montana!
At least for this morning it's lookin' fine!
Just hung yesterday, recovering from a cold that's been going around. Sorry if my voice is a little rough around the edges today.
received a wonderful second birthday gift from two of our listening family yesterday. Chris and Beth Burtch made a beautiful hand made card and custom CD for us! Thanks guys!
A couple of things coming up this week - my buddy Andre Floyd is coming in around 11 on Tuesday to tell us about the Knead Cafe's Last Saturday series, and remember the Creston Auction is coming up April 1rst and 2nd. The Creston auction is the way we know it' s spring around here, even if it snows on us! It's a not to be missed part of northwest Montana culture.
Whatever you do today, we hope you find the joy in it.
Later.

Looks like a we have a beautiful Sunday in store for us!
Last night Marie and I attended the First annual Swingin' on High big band concert and dance fund raiser for the Lighthouse Christian Home for the Developmentally Disabled and had a great time!
The band, Swingin' on High, was absolutely incredible! BJ Lupton of Snappy's leads a group of friends in the band that is all about the era of swing. And swing they did, and did well!
The event was held at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, a beautiful new place where the old Viking Lodge used to be years ago. Marie and I got to see lot's of old friends and by the look of it, it was a huge success! Congratulations to all those that worked so hard to put it on, and great job. Thanks for having us.
As for this blog, people are starting to find it and leave comments! Thanks for the feedback, and the participation, and the letters to Katie and Oprah!
Soon, soon the Montana Radio Cafe will be featured on national television! I can feel it coming!
Hey, I'm telling you- it could happen!
Thanks for your support everyone, thanks for the kind words.
I hope all goes well with you today.

It's a foggy day down in the Flathead valley today. But I've no complaints; we've had some stellar sunshine the last few days.
Just hangin' today, and getting ready to MC tonight's benefit for the Lighthouse Christian Home for the Developmentally Disabled. I'll be teaming up with BJ Lupton of Snappy's Sport Senter, as he does most of the work playing in and leading an 18 piece swing band for the dance and dinner at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, a beautiful new place right on the lake in Whitefish!
I'm not sure why they asked me, but I'm honored to help. I hope as many of you locals as can make it, and I'll see you there! I also hope I can enter the raffle for the Bye Bitney painting and win it, but I suppose if I won it and announced myself as the winner, it might not be a good thing.
Ah well, I'll just have to settle for the free food!
Thanks everyone for listening, the encouraging emails, and don't forget to email Oprah and Katie Couric from the homepage so we can get featured on their show!
Blessings!

It's a foggy day down in the Flathead valley today. But I've no complaints; we've had some stellar sunshine the last few days.
Just hangin' today, and getting ready to MC tonight's benefit for the Lighthouse Christian Home for the Developmentally Disabled. I'll be teaming up with BJ Lupton of Snappy's Sport Senter, as he does most of the work playing in and leading an 18 piece swing band for the dance and dinner at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, a beautiful new place right on the lake in Whitefish!
I'm not sure why they asked me, but I'm honored to help. I hope as many of you locals as can make it, and I'll see you there! I also hope I can enter the raffle for the Bye Bitney painting and win it, but I suppose if I won it and announced myself as the winner, it might not be a good thing.
Ah well, I'll just have to settle for the free food!
Thanks everyone for listening, the encouraging emails, and don't forget to email Oprah and Katie Couric from the homepage so we can get featured on their show!
Blessings!

It's a foggy day down in the Flathead valley today. But I've no complaints; we've had some stellar sunshine the last few days.
Just hangin' today, and getting ready to MC tonight's benefit for the Lighthouse Christian Home for the Developmentally Disabled. I'll be teaming up with BJ Lupton of Snappy's Sport Senter, as he does most of the work playing in and leading an 18 piece swing band for the dance and dinner at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, a beautiful new place right on the lake in Whitefish!
I'm not sure why they asked me, but I'm honored to help. I hope as many of you locals as can make it, and I'll see you there! I also hope I can enter the raffle for the Bye Bitney painting and win it, but I suppose if I won it and announced myself as the winner, it might not be a good thing.
Ah well, I'll just have to settle for the free food!
Thanks everyone for listening, the encouraging emails, and don't forget to email Oprah and Katie Couric from the homepage so we can get featured on their show!
Blessings!

Happy St. Patricks Day!
It's an interesting celebration of all things Irish, with the exception of St. Patrick, who was actually an Englishman and former slave of the Irish, who went back to Ireland as a missionary.
And because of that, at least according to one book, the Irish where able to eventually save the world.
Here's to St. Patrick!
As far as Celtic music in the Flathead today, I know that Tra la Gael is playing at the Knead Cafe at 5:30, and at Flanagans in Whitefish later in the evening.
As far as the Montana Radio Cafe goes - we haven't heard any thing yet from Katie Couric or Oprah, but I am emphasizing the "yet". I'm sure once our email campaign get's rolling they'll both come around. And what about Jay, and David and Conan?
Happy's St. Paddy's Day everyone!

As we move into the first day of the third year of being on the air, we begin the campaign to let more people in the world know about the Montana Radio Cafe!
On our homepage, you can read the letter my daughter Vanessa wrote to Katie Couric and Oprah Winfrey two years ago, asking them to do a show on the station. No word.
Now, we have listener's all over the world on the internet, but not nearly enough! We've gotten great press in Montana, but it's time for the little station that could to get some national exposure, don't you agree?
That's where you come in!
If you would hit the email Katie and email Oprah buttons and email one or both of these ladies, I'm sure at some point they will come to their senses and give us a call!
Really, Katie and Oprah probably didn't get the letter, they're assistants did, but no matter, they need to hear from the hundreds of thousands of loyal MRC listener's out there who want the world to hear the music and culture of the Montana Radio Cafe!
So MRC fan's unite! Let the first ladies of television hear from the masses!
Hey, what could possibly go wrong? This could happen! And if it does, it will be a lot of fun!
Here's to you, and the little station that can, the Montana Radio Cafe!