On Friday, November 18th, the Bozeman Folklore Society (BFS) will once again join forces with Bozeman City Parks and Recreation to present a concert in the lovely and historic Story Mansion. This time, it’s the genuine Montana homegrown classic country sounds of The High Country Cowboys. The doors will open at 7pm, and the music will commence at 7:30pm.
The Story Mansion is located at 811 South Willson Avenue in Bozeman. Admission to the High Country Cowboys concert will sell at the door for $20. Advance ticket purchases are available for $15 at Cactus Records, 29 West Main Street, or at www.cactusrecords.net/. For more information, call Bob Wall at (406) 587-7846, or Rik James at (406) 586-4123. Please visit www.bozemanfolklore.org/ for all BFS concert and dance information. Born and raised in Montana, where the cowboy spirit is still alive, the three brothers—John, Joe, and Marty—realized a desire to bring back the good old western music from the days of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and the silver screen cowboys. For eight years, they’ve been working on their harmony trying to simulate the sound and appearance of the Western Music groups of that time. They played for the first time for a public audience in 2013, and have since been playing regularly at the Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge. With two guitars, an upright bass, and three part western harmony, their traditional sound has been compared to The Sons of the Pioneers and Marty Robbins. They are now currently members of the Western Music association. Earlier this year, the group gained an even bigger following and new fans when they performed to an appreciative crowd at the prestigious Billings landmark, The Alberta Bair Theatre, introduced by hall of fame radio host Lonnie Bell. The November 18th concert will be their first performance in Bozeman. The Story Mansion seems a perfict fit for this home grown western music! In a concert review last year by Ed Kemmick in The Last Best News, he had plenty of good things to say about the group, and shared some comments from the audience, which were full of high praise and awe. “The Kosel brothers, raised in a family of 12 children on Red Lodge Creek between Luther and Red Lodge, play old-time cowboy and country-western music with a sincerity and authenticity that are a wonder to behold. Their harmonies are superb, their arrangements spare but compelling, and though they are all in their 20s, you could close your eyes and swear you were hearing any of a number of singers who made their mark generations before the brothers were born.” “Your chin hits the table when you hear them,” said Louise Jenkins, sitting with her husband, Jim. Vicki Quick, with her husband, Sam, said “I get goose bumps sometimes because they harmonize so well.” The group members are also craftsmen and artists apart from their music. Joe is a luthier, building guitars. John sells original western paintings, and Marty makes a living saddle-making. And although not in the music group, sister Joan gets a mention for her award-winning woodcarving. The Bozeman Folklore Society ’s concert series is unique in our area.
BFS is an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, enjoying and sharing the music, dance, arts, crafts, and skills of traditional cultures. BFS is an associate group of the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). They invite you to join and become involved with their effort to continue to present live music and promote dancing in our community. Volunteers are needed, as well as your support to continue to share the love for all the richness in the folk traditions. Visit www.bozemanfolklore.org/ for further information. As an underwriting supporter of radio KGLT-FM, BFS invites community members to listen to KGLT and other listener supported radio for more news about BFS sponsored events. •
