Counting Coup returns to Northern Saturday

Billings-based band Counting Coup returns to Montana State University-Northern for their Cultural Diversity Week with a free concert at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The band, whose music has been described as a unique blend of rock, folk, blues and Western, has been to Havre three times in just more than a year, having become a regularly featured band at Northern.

Northern Student Engagement Committee member Grant Olson, said his group is hosting the band, but the Little River Institute and the Office of Diversity are really making the event happen.

Olson, who originally reached out to the band last year to see if they were willing to play at Northern’s 2021 Native American Heritage Week, said last year that the band originally caught his eye at that summer’s Red Ants Pants Music Festival where they dominated the side stage.

At this year’s festival they were on the main stage and Olson said Wednesday that his enthusiasm for their music has only increased since then.

“They’re my favorite Montana band, in fact, they’re one of my favorite bands period right now,” he said.

Counting Coup was originally scheduled to play at Northern a few weeks ago, but the Eagle Creek Fire caused the event to be canceled.

Olson said he and other organizers were worried about how far the fire would spread, and they all wanted to play it safe.

The concert will take place on the quad between Cowan Hall and the Armory Gymnasium on campus.