Rob Quist with his children Halladay and Guthrie
Rob Quist Presents The Christmas Gathering of Friends
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Rob Quist with his children Halladay and Guthrie |
Two decades have come and gone since Rob Quist and the Montana Band took the stage for the very first "Gathering of Friends," setting feet a- stomping and hands a-clapping. And though names and faces have changed over the years, much remains the same: There is still an electric ripple of excitement that moves through the crowd as the bass throbs an opening note. And the format remains largely the same, drawing not only upon the talents of numerous professional musicians, but also upon the gifts of family, friends and community members. In short, "Gathering of Friends" has become a cherished annual tradition in the Flathead, having featured such varied guests over the years as The Flathead Bravettes basketball team and the Glacier Children's Chorale. This year's show, on December 28th at the Outlaw Inn,was among the best ever. |
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Along with an array of past favorites, there were some
special new faces: Mike Ulvila, local and regional winner of the True
Value Jimmy Dean Country Showdown, shared his award-winning, original
music. Other local talents making appearances were fiddler Gabe Jostrom
and Christian artist Amanda Caldwell, who has recently released her first
CD. Some popular names from past shows were on the ticket: Christian Johnson,
stellar lead guitar player for the Mission Mountain Wood Band, Great Northern
and presently of Loose Caboose. Other former Great Northern "hall-of-famers"
present for the evening were Steve Sellers and Chris Krager. The cast
of the present Great Northern will include long-time drummer and mainstay
of the group, Eston Way III, while Randy Roberts provides a unique bass
dimension with fiddle and vocals. Also lending his rich musical talents
was David Griffith on the keyboard, sax, & pedal steel. Griffith has
been instrumental in producing CDs for both Roberts and Caldwell, released
earlier this year. On the slate for a repeat performance are Quist's son
and daughter, Guthrie and Halladay. Guthrie Quist, presently attending
Pepperdine on a music scholarship, presented several vocal numbers. A
member of the State Championship Bravette basketball team, Halladay Quist
joined in on a family sing.
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The Christmas Gathering of Friends culminates a year of satisfying personal achievement for Quist. He has completed a second performance-by-invitation at the American Fair in Kumamoto, Japan, and been invited back for an unprecedented third tour. Along with Pam South, rising Montana opera star, he has been selected individually as a member of New Big Sky Singers to participate in the first annual Gala Benefit for UM School of Fine Arts, which will take place in March at the Missoula ChildrenŐs Theater. Quist was also featured in the Montana Outdoors film "No Need for a Saturday Night," reading a piece of original cowboy poetry, while a busy travel itinerary included openers for Willie Nelson, Terrie Clarke and Credence Clearwater Revisited. Still on the agenda is an exciting new production with Jack Gladstone. Quist and Gladstone will tour together for the first time since their enormously-successful "Western Harmony" show of nearly a decade ago. Their latest undertaking, with bookings at national and international venues, examines the Lewis and Clark expedition from the perspective of the Lewis/Blackfoot confrontation on the Marias River, with its continuing ramifications. Gathering of Friends for the year 2000 was co-hosted by the Outlaw Inn and KOFI's affiliate on the FM, Kickin' Country 104. |
| As someone who attended this show I can tell you that a great time was had by all. The music was a joy and a magical atmosphere did indeed fill the air, especially when all the musicians took the stage for the finale of the first set. At some point in the future, the Journal will provide readers with a schedule of Rob's dates for 2001. - Jim Jackson |
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