2026

Friday, June 12~John Roberts y Pan Blanco

John Roberts began playing the piano at the age of 5 while living on an isolated ranch in Southeastern Montana. There was no TV, but there was a piano. From age 11-18, in Malta, MT, he was in band (trombone) and choir in the Malta, MT schools. After graduating in 1996 from Montana State University-Billings with a BA in Music Performance, John moved to Los Angeles to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Performance from California Institute of the Arts.

Feeling equally comfortable in orchestral and commercial music realms, he has performed in all 50 of the United States and around the world, including; Mexico, South America, Israel, Cuba, India, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Africa. Notable venues include the Lincoln Center in New York, Pantages Theatre, Kodak Theatre, Roskilde, House of Blues, Blue Note, Apollo and Apollo London. Tours include his own band, John Roberts y Pan Blanco (Afro-Latin Soul), Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca (Congolese/Cuban), Bobby Womack (Soul), Los Pinguos (Argentina), The Temptations, Chaka Khan, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and more. Other performances and recordings include multiple Grammy and Emmy Award Shows, Chris Botti, LA Philharmonic, Feist, Sting, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Fallout Boy, Burt Bacharach, Bill Holman, The Ojays, Jill Scott, Christina Aguilera, The Today Show, NPR, PBS, Disney, and more.

Roberts is a Professor of Low Brass at MSU Billings, teaching Music Theory, Aural Perception, Jazz Ensemble, Commercial Ensemble, World Music courses and more. He is active in the Montana and Los Angeles performing and studio scenes as a bandleader, studio musician and composer/arranger. John is currently recording and composing for his next album, part of which was recorded in Santiago de Cuba and Los Angeles. This record will be a collaboration between Cuban, Congolese, Los Angeles and Montana artists.

Saturday, June 13 ~ Tris Munsick and the Innocents

As a top act in the region, Tris Munsick & the Innocents continue to climb and share their brand of Western country with audiences near and far. They have broken the mold with their unique blend of traditional and modern sounds, and fans resonate deeply with the authenticity ever-present in their music. In the words of recording artist Chancey Williams, “Tris Munsick is the real deal. He can write about and represent cowboy culture because he was born in it, and he lives it. Tris is an artist that is really finding his voice in the American West.”

Constantly on the road, the band has shared the stage with Big and Rich, Lyle Lovett, Blackhawk, the Eli Young Band, Cody Johnson, Casey Donahew, Marty Stuart, and many more as well as performing at the National Finals Rodeo Opening Ceremonies in Las Vegas, NV. In an era that is continually moving towards digital music platforms, Tris Munsick and the Innocents continue to bring their live sound and feel to audiences throughout the American West.

Thrice-nominated for the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards, the band has recorded four studio albums, and their latest release “King of Cowboys” is gaining traction on regional radio and streaming services.

Hailing from the eastern slope of the Big Horn mountains, Tris Munsick & the Innocents shine a brand-new light on modern cowboy music.