News 3


	Friday, November 7, 1997


	Volume 85, Issue 4


	Flathead High gears up for RockFest ‘97

		by Jack Long

	The music of Kalispell’s youth has come to life in the past three years. With the birth of the multiband shows, Flathead Rocks and RockFest and inexpensive ticket prices of around $6, these shows have been an accessible place for the bands to showcase their music locally. “I’m really excited for RockFest,” said junior Luke Van Helden. “It should be really huge.” RockFest is run by the local CARE group, which handles the admissions, concessions, and booking of the bands. “Last year it was a very successful event,” said RockFest coordinator Jeff Buscher. “We came very close to breaking even.” This years RockFest line-up features many familiar names, but one band is absent from the ‘97 show — Utter. The popular group disbanded when the members graduated last spring. RockFest will take place in the Kalispell Junior High School gym starting at 6 p.m Saturday, Nov. 15. Each band will perform 45 minute sets, with the exception of the final performers who will have an hour-long time slot. This year’s lineup includes performances by the Toadstone Millionaires, Area 51, Hara Kiri, and The Habit. Order of play has yet to be determined.


	Senior Joel Fetveit and Mike Ulvila practice for the upcoming RockFest. They will perform in their band, Toadstone Millionares

• Hara Kiri:

Hara Kiri returns to the RockFest stage for its second year. The band consists of juniors keyboardist Thor Erickson, bassist Jason Sherman and guitarist/lead singer Nate Bech. Hara Kiri’s drummer Jason Curtis left the band to be an exchange student in Italy, so the drummer vacancy was filled by Russ Mottram in September. The band will primarily play their own songs, but may throw in a couple of their covers such as “All Along The Watchtower,” a Bob Dylan song or Phish’s “Sample In A Jar.” They plan working in at least two or three new songs that they’ve created since their last show in Lakeside on Aug. 29.

“We’re going to play a bunch of shows and we have a lot more people into our music this year,” said Sherman. “We’re pumped to play this year.”

• Area 51:

This upcoming trio consists of Flathead High sophomores Jon Skinner and drummer Matt Christensen, along with freshman bassist Dan Reeves. Area 51 will feature an all-original set, which, according to the singer and guitarist Skinner, will include a “bunch of new stuff.” The group has been together for nearly a year and recently put on a solo show in Lakeside. Skinner says that band has been practicing heavily and is looking forward to the upcoming shows.

• The Habit:

The Habit, which consists of former Flathead High students, is the oldest group playing this year’s RockFest. RockFest will serve as a farewell show, as the band hopes to tour the Northwestern states through December. The Habit has been active lately, with shows at Depot Park and the production of their first CD called “Solveig.” The disc was recorded locally at Jones Music Studio. Lead guitarist/lead vocalist Paul Wisher, bassist Tom VanDyke, and drummer Jared Denney formed the band more than a year ago.

• Toadstone Millionaires:

Junior Mike Ulvila returns to the RockFest stage with younger brother, eighth grader Derek Ulvila. Joining the Ulvilas will be seniors Joel Fetveit (bass) and Kris Nelson (guitar/vocals). Nelson and Fetveit have played together for nearly two years under the name Ethanol, but will join the Ulvilas under the name Toadstone Millionaires to play this year.

“Mike asked us and we wanted to play,” said Nelson. “Plus, Mike is a really good musician.”

“Ethanol is completely different,” said Nelson. “We play all originals and songs we’ve written; we’re only going to play like three of our (own) songs at RockFest.”

The Toadstone Millionaires will be strong vocally, with three of the four band members belonging to the Flathead High Concert Choir. Said Nelson. “We’ll be one of the best vocal bands there.”


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