The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

West My Whom? Chouteau County Performing Arts in partnership with First Security Bank present the Canadian group West My Friend on Tuesday March 13th at 7 PM at the Fort Benton Elementary School auditorium. Described as everything from indie-roots to chamber-folk, West My Friend has an acoustic blend of instruments and four-part harmonies that challenges the conventions of popular music.

The band features pure and thrillingly elastic vocals with catchy arrangements of bass, guitar, mandolin, and accordion that draw from jazz, classical, folk, and pop influences. Inspired by artists such as Owen Pallett, Joanna Newsom, Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, and the Punch Brothers, and forged from a sonically adventurous acoustic music scene on Canada's west coast, West My Friend is proving to be a key part of a new generation of grassroots folk music.

With Eden Oliver on guitar, Alex Remple on mandolin, Jeff Poynter on accordion, Nick Mintenko on double bass, and all on vocals, the wealth of musical experience and classical training creates an interesting backdrop for their songwriting. This allows for levels of detail, intricacy, and counterpoint balanced with moments of simplicity. Their diversity in taste and influence and a keen interest in both traditional sounds and innovation, leads to constant exploration of new sounds that places them as a distinctive voice in the landscape between Canadian folk and indie-pop. West My Friend's commitment to creating original indie-roots music, and their dedication to giving their audiences a meaningful and memorable experience, is sure to catch hold of listeners as they regularly tour through Canada, the United States and Europe. Find them on Face Book, listen to them on YouTube and learn more about them on their website Westmyfriend.com.

Admission is by CCPA season ticket or $15 at the door the night of the show. Students currently enrolled in school in Chouteau County get free admission. For more info please call 750-2918 or 622-5677. CCPA concerts are presented in part by grants from The Montana Cultural Trust, The Montana Arts Council, WESTAF, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Montana Performing Arts Consortium, The Lippard-Clawiter Foundation and the Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation.