Trail Listening Post

It’s fair week in Missoula, which means live music, local food, late sunsets… and of course, Trail Live Sessions from the Trail studio! For this episode, we welcomed River City Rhythm Band —a longtime local favorite with deep roots and some serious chemistry. I’ve known a lot of bands who say they’re collaborative, but these three— Alyssa McQuain, Ty Armourding, and Dan DeLong —really mean it. Fro...

This episode of the Trail Lunchbox welcomes two guests doing critical work to help our community stay healthy and prepared during wildfire season in western Montana. We’re talking all things Wildfire Smoke Ready Week —what it is, why it matters, and how you can take simple, affordable steps to protect yourself, your family, and even your pets when the smoke rolls in. Joining us in the studio: 🔹 A...

On today's Trail Lunchbox , Tommy welcomed two beloved Missoulians deeply connected to the International Choral Festival: Saxon Holbrook , president of the festival and longtime choral singer, and Jürgen Knöller , brewmaster at Bayern Brewing and early festival supporter. They swap stories about the very first festival in 1987, flipping burgers for Carson, seeing Frank Zappa in Germany, and what m...

Originally aired live at 9:13 AM on July 2, 2025 At exactly 9:13 AM on July 2, 2005, Trail 103.3 signed on the air for the very first time. Twenty years later—down to the minute—we cracked the mic together once again to mark that moment. This short, unscripted conversation between Robert Chase, Mike Smith, and Tommy Evans isn’t just a celebration of our radio station’s anniversary, It’s a reflecti...

🎙️ Trail Live Session: Why We Went West (June 26, 2025)   Live from the Trail Lunchbox | Trail 103.3 – Missoula, MT We welcomed the trio version of Why We Went West —Maria Zepeda, Lucas Yatch, and Gabrielle Tusberg—for a beautiful in-studio performance and conversation ahead of their debut at the Zootown Music Festival. 🎶 They perform two original songs live:  • Water • Dreamboat Trail Guide, Mik...

The Trail Listening Post – Trail Lunchbox: Marc Moss (June 25, 2025) On today’s episode of The Trail Listening Post , we bring you a live in-studio conversation from the Trail Lunchbox on Trail 103.3 FM. Host Mike Smith sits down with Marc Moss, the founder and host of Tell Us Something , Missoula’s beloved live storytelling event series. Marc shared the story behind the event's signature theme so...

🎙️ Today on The Trail Lunchbox: A Live Session with James McMurtry & BettySoo    📍 Recorded live in the Trail Studio • Airing June 24, 2025 On today’s Trail Lunchbox, we welcomed a true American songwriting legend back to Trail 103.3 — James McMurtry — this time with his longtime friend and musical collaborator BettySoo riding shotgun. Just hours before their show at the Zootown Arts Communit...

Montana author Philip Burgess joins host Mike Smith in the Trail 103.3 studio alongside longtime friend and creative collaborator Ednor Therriault. Together, they talk about Burgess’s powerful new memoir, The Bunch Quitter — a sweeping, poetic account of a life spent drifting through America during the ’60s and ’70s in pursuit of ultimate freedom. From the windswept badlands of eastern Montana to...

The Trail Lunchbox: New Zealand Day – A Celebration of Sister Cities, Rugby & Community Today's Trail Lunchbox features a live in-studio conversation with Maddy Gilbert from Arts Missoula and Jake Kreilick of Missoula Youth Rugby, hosted by Mike Smith. Listen as they talk about Missoula’s 42-year sister city connection with Palmerston North, New Zealand — from university exchange roots to mode...

Trisha joins Tommy on the Trail Lunchbox for a conversation about Marshall Madness, set to take place on  Sunday, June 1 from 11am–3pm — an epic outdoor bash with group runs, hikes, and rides , brand-new trails , food trucks , Big Sky beer , and hourly raffle prizes ! From bike jousting and a dunk tank to a live set by DJ Ivanoff and a bike skills clinic , this is the ultimate summer kickoff you d...

https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/abundance SHOW DATES|TIMES May 16 @ 7:30pm May 17 @ 2pm May 17 @ 7:30pm Location: Montana Theater University of Montana Campus, PARTV building location note: Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm about abunDANCE from both cast and audience, we moved the show to the Montana Theater! We’re excited to be able to offer more seats, easier parking, and more cast and audie...

Ria Overholt, Community Services Director for Missoula Aging Services stops by the Trail1033 studio to chat with Mike smith about March for Meals and the current state of funding for the meals on wheels program.  March for Meals is an annual month-long fundraising campaign to raise money for Meals on Wheels in Missoula county. Missoula Aging Services (MAS) promotes the independence, dignity and he...

Mike interviews Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear. At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate verite by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical...

Jeff Ament joins Mike Smith to discuss "Our Village", the Missoula Community Pre-Show, and Festivities. Over 30 local nonprofits are participating in the festival, each bringing an interactive, family-friendly activity or sharing a visual display. Activities range from face painting, art projects, and lawn games, to instrument building, bicycle repair demonstrations, photo booths, and various amaz...

Our friend Bob Wire is joined by Hudson, Sophie, and Riley to chat and play some songs leading up to their weekend show at Imagine Nation Brewery. Separately, they’ve played shows all around western Montana, and stages as far flung as Napa, California, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. This summer, Missoula honky tonker Bob Wire and his singing/songwriting progeny will be playing a full show together for...

Artistic Director of Montana Repertory Theatre, Michael Legg, stops by the Tail1033 studio for a visit with Mike Smith.  Inspired by the vibrant local businesses along Missoula's iconic Hip Strip, Hip Strip Hijinks presents a series of five new 10-minute plays written by nationally renowned playwrights. April 25-27 and May 2-4. Patrons will meet up at GILD Brewing and then walk to five nearby esta...

IWFF Festival Coordinator Lizzie Archer share s her exciting of the kick-off of the 47th Annual International Wildlife film Festival in Missoula , April 20-25! The WildWalk Parade and WildFest are happening in  in Downtown Missoula April 20th. Nature lovers of all ages are invited to join a perennial favorite, the WildWalk, and dress up as their favorite flora or fauna and walk, hop, or crawl towa...

IWFF Guest Programmer, Livia Composdemenezes drops by the Trail1033 studio to visit with Mike Smith. The 47th Annual IWFF is happening at The Roxy Theater in Missoula, April 20-25. This years festival includes over 70 films, with the mission of  promoting awareness, knowledge, and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people, and nature through excellence in film. IWFF was founded by bear biologist,...

Rhett Miller stopped by to chat with Mike about 30-plus years of the Old 97's, songwriting, the Blackfoot River, and more. He also played a couple of songs from their new album American Primitive. Thanks Rhett!

Sarah Calhoun Red Ants Pants Founder, stops by the Trail studio to announce this years' festival lineup.  The Red Ants Pants Music Festival is a 100% homegrown, volunteer-driven event based in a community of 900 people with the goal of bringing good folks together to celebrate rural Montana. The festival is a program of the 501(c)(3) Red Ants Pants Foundation. Their mission is to develop and expan...

Arts Missoula  Executive Director Heather Adams stops by for a visit with Mike Smith at the Trail1033 studio. Arts Missoula is proud to present Dancing with Arts Missoula Stars; A Benefit for Arts Missoula. Local Missoula celebrities will be paired up with local professional dancers to bring you this night of guts and glory.   8 teams work for 7 weeks on a routine in a variety of styles, that will...

Cartography Comes Alive is an exciting event series proudly brought to you by Xplorer Maps and hosted by Mandela Leola van Eeden, Lead Storyteller at Xplorer Maps and the charismatic host of The Trail Less Traveled. This FREE event is happening March 20th 5:30pm-7pm at Xplorer Maps in Missoula, MT With over a decade of experience as an expedition lead leader and guide in the Grand Canyon, Mandela...

First Night Spotlight, presented by Arts Missoula as part of Missoula On Main is a longstanding tradition and special event. Each year, area teen talent comes together to perform on a big stage heading into NYE.  This year's winner, Olivia Marble will join us live on the Trail Lunchbox at 12-noon today [2/29/24] for a live performance and conversation about the experience. Listen Live at Trail1033...

Udo Fluck, Director of Arts Missoula Global at Arts Missoula stops by The Trail studio to chat with Mike Smith about all things Germanfest! Arts Missoula GLOBAL presents Germanfest 2023 happening October 7th at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula. This celebration of our sister city connection with Neckargemund, Germany is an authentic German Food & Beer festival with live music, children's activi...

Joel Cummins and Ryan Stasik of Umphrey's McGee stop by the Trail Lunchbox for a visit with Tommy.  In the twenty-four years since eclectic improv-rock band Umphrey’s McGee formed, their sound has been an amalgamation of genres, moods, and tempos, effortlessly flowing from one feeling to the next throughout an album or concert—or sometimes within a singular song. But with time and repetition comes...