Montana's troubadour to perform in Havre

A renowned performer will be in Havre this week, as the Hi-Line Arts Council sponsors Jack Gladstone's performance in Montana State University-Northern's Little Theater.

Gladstone said he will be providing his own music for the public to enjoy.

"I am pleased and eager to perform for Havre schools as well as for a public presentation. My set list will contain original compositions and narratives grounded in over 40 years of inquiry, recording and performances across North America," Gladstone said. "Special emphasis will be on our northwestern mountains and plains of Montana. Once upon a time, I was christened 'Montana's Troubadour' by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. I embrace this title and faithfully honor its sanctity within every performance and recording I deliver."

Grant Olson, a member of the arts council and the artistic director for Montana Actors' Theatre Director, is assisting in the preparations for this show.

"As a group, (the arts council is) looking to fill in the gap that was created with the loss of the Community Concert and Northern Showcase associations that were instrumental for bringing touring performance art to Havre and the Hi-Line for many years," Olson said, "We work with other area organizations including the Downtown Havre, Montana Actors' Theatre, Havre (Area) Chamber of Commerce, Havre Public Schools, Hill County Community Foundation and many others to fulfill our mission."

The show begins at 8 p.m. and the doors and backstage lounge will be open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. This performance was created in collaboration with the Little River Institute at MSU-Northern, along with the support of the Montana Actors' Theatre. The performance is also supported by AmericInn of Havre and the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. 

"He is an amazing performer that we are very excited to help bring back to Havre," Olson added.

Gladstone has many titles, some of them being a poet, a teacher, a storyteller, and even a Rose Bowl champion - he was part of the 1978 winning University of Washington Huskies. He is a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation and has been an inductee into the Montana Music Hall of Fame. Gladstone has released 15 critically acclaimed albums, and is a winner of the C.M. Russell Heritage award, as well as the Robin W. Winks award.

The show is a Hi-Line Arts Council Production, which has previously produced Phil Aaberg Christmas concerts, as well as the Montana Chamber Music Society Concert out at Montana Style Events last year. They are also the group that helped organize the Havre Montana Mural on the back of the Elks and host the Art Alley Spring Celebration event every year.