11th & Grant showcases two regional favorites with encore airings
MontanaPBS will feature two Treasure State favorites in upcoming episodes of 11th & Grant with Eric Funk, its signature music series. The encore airings will showcase Bozeman’s own Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs and Paige & the People’s Band.
Tune in for the Bird Dogs at 7pm on Thursday, March 19th to experience the relentlessly energetic bluegrass-Americana band, combining soaring four-part harmony and rock n’ roll drive. This group gets people dancing and singing along to original tunes and covers alike. With a combined 30 years of experience in blues, rock, country, metal, folk and indie bands, the members found their common ground in bluegrass and country music, bringing a truly unique sound to the folk scene.
Laney Lou & the Bird Dogs features the talents of Lena Schiffer (vocals, guitar & percussion), Matt Demarais (vocals, banjo & dobro), Ethan Demarais (bass), Brian Kassay (fiddle, mandolin & harmonica) and Josh Moore (vocals & guitar). Having shared stages with Keb Mo’, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Corb Lund, Jeff Austin, Mark Chesnutt and more, their latest album Sweet Little Lies features singles “Carolina” and “Time or Tears.”
Paige & the People bring their high energy mix of funk, soul and rock to 11th & Grant on the following Thursday, March 26th at 7pm. The horn-powered and vocally charged group has a feeling of ‘70s soul with a modern twist. The band is reminiscent of groups like Cold Blood or Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, but with a more contemporary feel. They pride themselves on playing diverse music from several genres, all infused with a generous dose of soul in every song.
Lead singer Paige Rasmussen is joined by a cast of legendary Montana musicians. Her brother and co-founder, Aaron Rasmussen, provides a rhythmic backbone to this dynamic group as drummer and vocalist. Mike “The Wizard” Kozeil adds electricity and imagination with his extraordinary improvised key solos. Ben Johns brings class and a smoky allure with his warm and commanding saxophone. Orin Gunderson pops the top end with control of his ever-compelling trumpet. Casey George holds down the low end with a robust tone and vivid bass fills. Leah Hueser and Karla Vandersloot fill out the sound with skilled, exciting and sultry vocals, and Dan Bradner brightens the stage with his exceptional and inspired guitar.
The band dresses to impress, giving their performances a sense of occasion, then blast the roof off with their big band, powerhouse sound. Members of Paige & the People have shared the stage with such musical legends as BB King, The Doobie Brothers and Lyle Lovett.
11th & Grant with Eric Funk is the premier outlet for music performance in Montana, seeking out the state’s most acclaimed, accomplished, and pioneering talent. The Emmy®-winning performance series also devotes significant time to each artist’s personal story, insights into their music and their approach to life, ultimately providing a deeper experience than a seat at a concert. Accomplished composer and musician Eric Funk serves as host and artistic director, hand selecting each performer from communities around the state to form a diverse series featuring genres from jazz to classical, country to zydeco, and rock to fusion.
Previous episodes of 11th & Grant are available to stream anytime at www.11thandgrant.com or on the 11th & Grant app. •
