Montana Music Event

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 8 months AGO

Ocean Park Standoff frontman Ethan Thompson sings to a sold out crowd Wednesday night during the Montana Music Event at the O’Shaughnessy Center downtown. Vocalist and singer-songwriter Thompson returned home to Whitefish for the benefit concert for the North Valley Music School where be began. The alt-pop band Ocean Park Standoff is known for its breakout single “Good News.” (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Ocean Park Standoff, known for their breakout single “Good News” plays to a sold out crowd Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center downtown for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School. Frontman for the band is Ethan Thompson, a native of Whitefish and alumni of the music school. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Samantha Ronson plays the keyboard during Ocean Park Standoff’s performance Wednesday night during the Montana Music Event at the O’Shaughnessy Center. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Ocean Park Standoff frontman Ethan Thompson warms up the crowd Wednesday night during the Montana Music Event at the O’Shaughnessy Center. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Audience members watch Ocean Park Standoff perform Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Gimmic member Eric Holdhusen plays the trumpet during the band’s performance Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Gimmic member Port Nugent plays during the band’s performance Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Local band Gimmic member Matthew Perez plays the bass during the band’s performance Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Local band Gimmic opened the Montana Music Event Wednesday night at the O’Shaughnessy Center. Gimmic is a jazz fusion band made up of four recent graduates of local high schools. The event is a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School and featured Ocean Park Standoff. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Ocean Park Standoff, known for their breakout single Good News plays to a sold out crowd Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center downtown for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School. Frontman for the band is Ethan Thompson, a native of Whitefish and alumni of the music school. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Samantha Ronson plays the keyboard during Ocean Park Standoffs performance Wednesday night during the Montana Music Event at the OShaughnessy Center. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Ocean Park Standoff frontman Ethan Thompson warms up the crowd Wednesday night during the Montana Music Event at the OShaughnessy Center. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Audience members watch Ocean Park Standoff perform Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

Gimmic member Eric Holdhusen plays the trumpet during the bands performance Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Gimmic member Port Nugent plays during the bands performance Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Local band Gimmic member Matthew Perez plays the bass during the bands performance Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center for the Montana Music Event, a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School.

Local band Gimmic opened the Montana Music Event Wednesday night at the OShaughnessy Center. Gimmic is a jazz fusion band made up of four recent graduates of local high schools. The event is a benefit concert to support the North Valley Music School and featured Ocean Park Standoff. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)

The third annual Montana Music Event Wednesday evening featured the band Ocean Park Standoff known for its breakout single “Good News.”

Musician and singer Ethan Thompson returned to Whitefish, as part of the band, playing to a sold out crowd at the O’Shaughnessy Center. The event is a benefit for the North Valley Music School, where Thompson began playing music.

Ocean Park Standoff also includes Pete Nappi and Samantha Ronson. The trio first joined forces as Ocean Park Standoff in 2016.

Local jazz fusion band Gimmic opened the evening. Gimmic includes four recent graduates of local high schools: Willie Baltz of Columbia Falls, and Eric Holdhusen, Port Nugent and Matthew Perez of Whitefish.