Concert and Winter Gala celebrate a decade of guitar excellence
The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation begins fundraising for its upcoming 10th season with two extraordinary nights of music.
First up is a concert in Whitefish Tuesday, Dec. 4, featuring acclaimed indie folk-pop singer songwriter Brett Dennen, joined by Montana native, composer/pianist Philip Aaberg.
The following night, Wednesday, Dec. 5, a Winter Gala party featuring the artists will be held at The Nest on Swan River in Ferndale.
Dec. 4 concert
Self-proclaimed “Wild Child” guitarist and singer-songwriter Brett Dennen will join Montana-based composer and pianist Philip Aaberg in a special fundraising concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. A pre-show party will be held at Abruzzo restaurant, with a post-show party at the Firebrand Hotel. Meet the artists, bid on auction items and enjoy more music.
Dennen played to a full house at the 2015 Crown Guitar Festival in Bigfork, bringing the crowd to its feet with his infectious one-of-a-kind voice, barefoot dancing and let’s-get-happy attitude. The singer says his early inspiration came from Paul Simon and his songwriting style has been compared to Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, Jack Johnson, James Taylor and Wynonna Judd. His song “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)” was the theme for the TV show “About a Boy” and he has six full studio albums and five live discs and EPs.
Pianist Philip Aaberg is well-known to Montana audiences for his compositions that evoke the spaciousness and beauty of the Western landscape. Now based in his hometown of Chester, Aaberg is classically trained, holding a music degree from Harvard. After graduating, Aaberg moved to California to make pop and rock records, eventually joining the Elvin Bishop Group in 1973, and touring for four years. He later joined with Peter Gabriel and recorded with the Doobie Brothers, Kenny Rogers and Vince Gill.
Aaberg began composing his own music, signed with Windham Hill and released a solo album, “High Plains,” bringing elements of blues, bluegrass, rock and new music to his meditative compositions.
VIP tickets for the Dec. 4 concert are $100, which includes a meet and greet with wine and food at Abruzzo and VIP seating that can include seats on the stage. Preferred seating is $75 and includes a drink ticket for the after-party at the Firebrand. General admission seats are $50. Student tickets are $10 with a student ID. Purchase tickets online at www. crownguitarfest.org. All seats are $10 more at the door the day of show.
Dec. 5 Winter Gala
A Winter Gala party featuring live music by Dennen and Aaberg, dancing, food and fine wine and beer will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at The Nest on Swan River, a new venue situated on a wide bend of the Swan River in Ferndale.
A very limited number of tickets for the Winter Gala are $100 each and can be purchased online at www.crownguitarfest.org or by calling 855-855-5900. A special package price of $150 that includes both the Dec. 4 concert and Dec. 5 party is also available on the website while they last.
With both the concert and gala, 70 percent of all donations will go toward the foundation’s scholarship fund, providing local musicians and students with the opportunity to attend, learn and perform at the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival each year.
A silent auction will also be held each evening. Auction items are available to view on the Crown website now through 9 p.m. Dec. 4. For more information about the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation visit www.crownguitarfest.org or call 855-855-5900.