SUPERIOR – What has been described as the best folk and Celtic music in Western Montana will be performed this weekend during the Mineral County Performing Arts Council’s annual Spring Gala Concert.

The concert will feature the talents of the New Big Sky Singers. The evening will also have hors d’oeuvres and desserts available for the audience’s enjoyment. Jim Goss, treasurer for MCPAC, did not know what would be served, but said the gala would have a buffet-style selection of dishes along with the cookies and other desserts the group normally provides.

“We try to make it a little bit of a bigger deal in terms of either the stature or the number of artists on stage,” Goss said.

The gala concert will be held in the Superior Elementary School gym at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. The show is by charged admission only and people will need to buy tickets to get in.

According to Goss the ticket sales are mostly to cover the food and any other costs associated with putting on the event. The money will also go toward putting linens on the tables and providing decorations.

“We…give it a little bit of elegance,” Goss said.

He described the event as similar to a cabaret performance. For the first hour of the event, people will have time to mingle, eat and socialize with each other before the show. Later, the lights will be dimmed as the performance starts.

Goss said this was the biggest event of MCPAC’s season. While big-name artists have been brought in during the regular season, the gala is the main event and the halfway point of the performance series.

“It’s a time for us to really show what we’ve got,” Goss said.

He said the concert usually sells itself and there is little problem building interest among the community.

“It’s unlikely we would turn anyone away at the door,” Goss said. “The idea of selling the tickets ahead of time is so that we have an idea of how much food to get.”

He recalled last year there were more people than they were expecting and food was a little tight. While there was enough for everyone, they did not have much left over by the end.

According to their program announcement, the New Big Sky Singers formed in Missoula and have risen in popularity throughout the Northwest. Their members include the talents of Rob Quist, an award winning singer/songwriter, Don Collins, founder of the Missoula Children’s Theater, Gary Funk, a composer and director, and their leader Don MacDonald.

Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased by calling Cathy at Castles Market at 822-4801. They can also be found by contacting Glenn Koepke at 649-2692 or the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce office at 822-4891 on Monday to Wednesday from noon to 4:00 p.m.

More information about MCPAC and their upcoming season can be found at their new website mineralcountyperformingartscouncil.org.