The Mineral County Performing Arts Council is starting the new year with exciting entertainment that comes from The Garden City.

Missoula mainstay Josh Farmer and his band will play in Superior's LDS church 7 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 6. Farmer is a well-regarded and versatile keyboardist who plays a variety of music in several different settings. Attendees will hear a unique blend of jazz, funk, rock and soul music.

MCPAC Treasurer Jim Goss first heard him several years ago when his band was the pit orchestra for a UM performance of "American Idiot," a play based on the music of post-punk-turned-mainstream group Green Day. By happenstance, Goss was later in a Missoula restaurant and Josh Framer was playing background music as a solo.

"I introduced myself to Josh and talked about my association with the Mineral County Performing Arts Council, and how it was interesting to hear his entire band and then as a solo gig where he is providing ambience to diners," Goss reminisced.

What finally sealed the deal was a third visit to Missoula to see Josh play in the weeklong Jazzoula Festival at the Zootown Arts Community Center last spring. This time he was performing on piano in an intimate setting where he could relate to the audience both verbally and musically.

Farmer has a common story of attending UM but dropping out because it wasn’t where he wanted to be. A move to a big city and in this case, New York City where creativity developed into ambition where mentors were discovered, and a girl breaks his heart. Then it’s back to UM after five months at NYU because he missed the fresh air of the Big Sky Country. So many have walked in those shoes and learned that there is no place like Montana.

To book the Josh Farmer Band in Superior, Goss had to find an opening in the MCPAC’s schedule. One developed when a Canadian duo were slated to perform, but one of the musicians tested positive at the border and was denied entry. But the Josh Farmer Band was booked. The mid-winter performance was open, but the musicians had made other commitments.

So, with accolades and glee, MCPAC invites you to their first free performance of 2023 at 117 Moates Lane.