John Floridis to perform benefit concert

John Floridis will perform a Winter Benefit Concert for Neighbors In Need at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Whitefish United Methodist Church, 1150 Wisconsin Ave.

Floridis, a Missoula guitarist and singer-songwriter, will be performing a series of benefit concerts across the state this December with dates in Whitefish, Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman and three concerts in Missoula. The concerts will benefit the organizations Neighbors in Need, Family Promise, The Poverello Center, The Missoula Food Bank and The Warming Center. For all concerts, 100 percent of proceeds will be donated to the local group, so generous free-will donations are strongly encouraged.

Floridis will be performing material from his two seasonal releases “December’s Quiet Joy” and “The Peaceful Season,” both of which feature his fingerstyle acoustic guitar arrangements of traditional Christmas/winter melodies, as well as original compositions. Floridis also includes seasonal vocal tunes, both original and by other artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Patty Larkin, Ben Harper and John Gorka in the performance. The songs feature lyrics speaking to the journey from darkness to light: Seasonally, emotionally and spiritually.

The concerts welcome the audience to escape the frantic stress that too often pervades the holiday season and relax in an intimate listening environment with music to warm the heart and soul.

Floridis is a 20-year Missoula resident and has been recognized as one of the state’s most popular and respected musicians, having performed in a variety of venues, festivals and concert halls in support of his eight independently released albums. Floridis has been featured on an Emmy Award-winning episode of “11th and Grant with Eric Funk” on MontanaPBS and is also the host and producer of the award-winning weekly program “Musician’s Spotlight” on Montana Public Radio.

For more information about the concerts and Floridis, visit http://www.johnfloridis.com.

The Whitefish concert is sponsored by Tim Murphy-State Farm and The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.