Side Tracks: Culture in Northwest Montana

On Friday, April 5th, 2024, Izaak Opatz joined us for a lunchtime show on our press floor. From tales of borrowing toiletries to misreading women, Izaak's show weaved us from the good and bad of LA to memories of Radar Ridge in East Glacier. Put best by himself, Izaak's music is "an ungulate in life’s winter pasture, chewing on and metabolizing disappointment, heartbreak, and the ot...

Taylor Inman Zooms in with Missoula-based musician Izaak Opatz. They talk touring, going back to school for a master's in environmental journalism, getting inspiration from a couple of Johns, dreaming of writing songs about friendship, and a cosmic country alien band. Izaak will play on the Daily Inter Lake press floor on April 5th, 2024!  Tickets to the show Read Taylor's Interview Izaa...

Kalispell native Mike Murray joined us with bassist Chris Krager for a show on our press floor. Mike's voice is honest and direct; he embodies the pureness of a classic folk storyteller. His music conveys camaraderie and empathy, drawing inspiration from his family and life experiences growing up in Montana.  Watch the whole show on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/QYexzelNMB0  Learn mo...

Christiane Hinterman has been singing and writing songs since she can remember. Her music is a sweet infusion of birdlike melodies mixed with a deep lyrical love of life and her connection with the natural world. She blends folk, blues, and country genres into a poetic experience of sound. Her songs truly come from the heart, and she shared them with us on February 2nd, 2024, for Press Play.  Watc...

Christiane Hinterman has been singing and writing songs for as long as she can remember but has rarely shared her art with an audience. It’s something that’s changing as she begins to share more of her music and how she engages with the creative process. Hinterman performs on Feb. 2 for the Daily Inter Lake’s Press Play series.  Find out more about Christiane’s music at instagram.com/rootedheartmo...

Flathead Valley music fans would most likely recognize Mike Murray with a guitar in hand. The singer-songwriter stays booked and busy, but he’s also been working on a new album featuring piano, an instrument he’s grown to appreciate over the last few years. Murray talks about this, family, inspiration and production with host Taylor Inman ahead of his Press Play performance at the Daily Inter Lake...

John Dunnigan, Flathead Valley music legend, has played venues in the area for over 40 years. You may have seen him at the Great Northern Bar on a late Thursday evening, but catch him in the bright midday light of the Daily Inter Lake newspaper press floor. On January 5th, 2024, he shared his wit and (some) wisdom at Press Play. Read more here about Dunnigan's past and present: https://bit.ly...

Flathead Valley music legend John Dunnigan has played venues in the area for over 40 years. But, when Thursday night comes around and he’s preparing to play another set at Whitefish’s Great Northern Bar and Grill, he’s just as excited as he’s ever been to see what the crowd will bring.  Daily Inter Lake's Press Play concerts are a subscriber-only benefit and support our Newspaper in Education...

John Floridis, Missoula based guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer has released nine recordings mixing bluesy, folk-rock vocal tunes with adventurous solo acoustic guitar compositions. For over 25 years, John has been the producer and host of Montana Public Radio’s weekly feature Musician’s Spotlight. Read more here: https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/nov/23/john-floridis-december-benefit-s...

John Floridis, Missoula based guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer has released nine recordings mixing bluesy, folk-rock vocal tunes with adventurous solo acoustic guitar compositions. For over 25 years John has been the producer and host of Montana Public Radio’s weekly feature Musician’s Spotlight. Daily Inter Lake's Press Play concerts are a subscriber-only benefit and support our New...

Billy Billie is a group from the Flathead Valley bringing a mix of genres that they like to call "electrified folk". The duo, made up of Sarah Williams on electric guitar and vocals and Vinnie Rannazzisi on cajon, began playing locally in February 2023. They work to curate their set of originals, covers, and spoken word to compliment their stripped down sound. Daily Inter Lake's Pre...

Billy Billie is a group from the Flathead Valley bringing a mix of genres that they like to call "electrified folk". The duo, made up of Sarah Williams on electric guitar and vocals and Vinnie Rannazzisi on cajon, began playing locally in February 2023. They work to curate their set of originals, covers, and spoken word to compliment their stripped down sound. Read more here: https://dai...

The band Tin Finley can trace its beginnings to the Tin Angel restaurant in Nashville. Members of the band say a seed was planted there that later cultivated in Montana, where the trio now blends harmonies and creative passions for music. Whitefish musician Annette Strean was pursuing her career and working at the Tin Angel when she met her future husband, Kirk Cornelius, during his meet-up with a...

Singer-songwriter Kelly Diane performs for Daily Inter Lake subscribers and staff in our new series Press Play.  Diane’s lifelong passion for music stems from her rebellious Amish grandfather who decided to pick up a guitar, despite his church’s disapproval. She primarily writes and plays folk or Americana music, her instruments of choice are the keyboard and accordion. As a full-time musician, sh...

Press Play by the Daily Inter Lake is a lunch concert series held in our newspaper warehouse, showcasing Northwest Montana's musical talent. Join us for an hour of original songs, connecting you to the heart of Flathead Valley's music scene. Catch exclusive artist interviews before the show starts! Daily Inter Lake's Press Play concerts are a subscriber-only benefit and support our...