Event

Wes Urbaniak and Mountain Folk

This all-original trio heralds from the Billings, MT, area. They play mountain folk music influenced by folk, bluegrass, alt-pop, and the Americana-esque singer/songwriterparadigm. This genre is full of hard stops, absolute dynamics, and mauling measures of
lyrical flow.

Wes Urbaniak has been a songwriter and musician for a bucket of years. Together with the harmonies of Mat Regele (upright bass) and A.J. Sheble (string), Urbaniaks guitar and vocals pull the audience through a story, at times along the lyrics of a life lived and lessons learned, other times with the intricate and speedy guitar playing, and definitely during the times that the beat picks up to a bluegrass and rollicking rise.

Along with the signature musical style, another aspect of the band belongs with the instruments that the guys play. They were designed and built by Urbaniak, a luthier, when he is not performing. His instruments are built on the premise of reusing and conserving wood, and making the imperfect perfect. The wood is sourced from old schoolhouses, mills, pianos, locally-felled trees that people donate, and scrap pieces set aside at wood stores. They highlight the beautiful flaws of knots and irregular
growth. Playing the same notes as traditional instruments, they wear fantastically different clothes and have a deeper sense of spirit. April 2020 marks the full release of Urbaniaks ninth album, The Long Walk.