Montana Music Event
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years 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)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | July 26, 2018 2:54 PM
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.
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