Acoustic nights give serious musicians chance to perform live

Terry and Judy Fosbery have no fear of playing their old-style American music in front of an audience.

With Terry on guitar and Judy on fiddle, the married duo plays up to 50 dates a year at Lonesome Dove Guest Ranch west of Kalispell, and for private parties, weddings, reunions and other social events.

They’ve been music students of Christian Johnson for around four years, and are very serious about their music.

And they’re exactly the kind of act Johnson wants to spotlight with his new Thursday-night music event from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the Blue Canyon in Kalispell.

Johnson, a professional musician and teacher and an original member of the Mission Mountain Wood Band, began his acoustic music showcases a few weeks ago after 4 1/2 years of holding weekly open-microphone nights at Red’s Wines & Blues.

He liked giving musicians of all abilities the chance to play for an audience. However, it seemed to be increasingly the case that some musicians were not audience-ready.

He decided the time was right to get a bit more selective.

“I’m not restricting this to professionals or amateurs,” he said of his new endeavor, “but I’m choosing people who are trying to work on their material, who want to learn the craft and improve their capabilities.”

 Johnson is choosing at least six acts every week for the program, which he plans to open with a half hour of his own music with partner Billy Powell. He expects to be calling in favors from other professional musicians and sprinkling the show with “ringers,” musicians who have a guaranteed track record with local audiences.

There is a 7 p.m. “audition” during which time Johnson will gather information from other musicians who might be interested in playing. There’s a slim chance they’ll make it on stage that night; it’s more likely Johnson will be researching their acts for future showcases.

“It’s a loose criteria,” he said. “Show me that you’re working on your music and that you have a plan.”

Last Thursday, the Fosberys followed Johnson and Powell. As local musicians, they’re grateful for every chance to show off their talent and gain new fans.

“It’s a great thing,” Terry Fosbery, a retired teacher, said about the music showcase. “Christian is doing a good job of providing local musicians the chance to play live music, especially at times like right now.”

The Fosberys are the kind of musicians who have impressed Johnson with their work ethic.

“They’ve developed one of the most interesting Montana roots shows there is,” he said of how Terry Fosbery will share a bit of history with the music. “They’re good at it, and they work their butts off to make it entertaining.”

Johnson doesn’t select only those such as the Fosberys, who have essentially become professional musicians, for the stage. After the Fosberys, John Guymon and Jim Pomper played a set of originals written by Guymon, who also has a four-piece band.

Guymon has played off and on with Johnson for a few years, he said, and though he makes his living as a truck driver, he doesn’t just consider music a hobby.

“I write all my own music and I’m very serious about what I write,” he said. “We got invited a few weeks ago, and this week, Christian said to me, ‘You better be there.’”

To be chosen for the showcase most likely means Johnson sees something marketable about an act. He takes a business approach to music, and realizes that artistry alone can’t carry a musician. Experience has taught him what draws patrons to clubs and what clubs can afford, especially as the ranks of bar-goers have decreased substantially due to the economy and the statewide smoking ban.

“I can’t pitch a five-piece band right now,” he said as an example. “I also love my trio, but the duo is what clubs can afford.

“The face of music has just changed all over the state, and no one knows how we’re going to make a living at it,” he said. “There are no places to play for young talent here. There’s no real scene going on.”

Johnson hopes his music showcase will help in changing that. It’s possible the music showcase eventually could offer a performing opportunity for regional acts; he might someday pull together the best of the musicians and create a touring group.

The challenge now, though, is making sure that audiences turn out for the showcase.

“It’s hard to get people off the couch, but once we get them in the door, they’ll probably say, ‘There are a lot of cool things going on here,’” he said. “Live music is not going to flourish unless it’s supported by the community.”

Christian Johnson’s Acoustic Music Showcase runs from 8 to 10:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Blue Canyon Tavern in Kalispell next to the Hilton Garden Inn on U.S. 93 South.

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com