Montana Soul, a local Ashland/Rogue valley band, celebrates the release of its first CD "First Light" with a CD release/dance party at The Mobius on Lithia Way in Ashland on Friday, March 28th from 7:30 till late. Opening for Montana Soul at 7:30 PM will be Montana Slim, a newgrass string band from San Francisco (more info on them at the bottom).

Montana Soul started as a duo in 2003 and the current five piece band has been performing in Southern Oregon for over two years. Drawing from American folk and blues, rock and country, bluegrass and gospel, native chants and their own originals, Montana Soul makes good medicine with music to lighten the heart and soothe the soul.

On lead vocals and hand percussion is Anna Christensen... Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards and harmonica is Tom Klinefelter... Lead guitars and harmony vocals is Ken Bendat... Electric Bass guitar is Richard Cole... Ashland drummer is John Foster... Williams drummer is Abe Perea.

The "First Light" CD consists of half original compositions and half band arrangements of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Norah Jones. The album explores Montana Souls' "alternative rhythm and blues" side . The originals run the gamut from a title song about a truck driver having a mystical experience at dawn, to the Native american inspired "Mitakuye Oyasin", to the alt-country "Steamboat" about a special place in the Applegate, to the reggae climate change original "Hot Water"....."First Light" is a redemptive and inspirational journey, and is very much an album that has its own shape and rhythms rather than simply a collection of tracks.

Montana Soul will perform the live version of the new CD with both drummers, and then party on music for the rest of the evening. The evening will also feature the stunning new video "Artists Envisioning the Divine", by local visionary artist Victoria Christian. The DVD is a collection of contemporary art from around the world with original music by local musicians and includes a track from the "First Light" CD

More info and clips of the album available at: http://www.myspace.com/montanasoul

Admission is $12 at the door, or $10 in advance. Refreshments available and children under 13 are free.

Montana Slim is an emerging newgrass string band from San Francisco. Combining diverse musical backgrounds and influences, they have succeeded in creating a sound that's all their own. Built upon invigorating live performances, peppered with dueling melodic fiddle, mandolin and acoustic guitar improvisation, Montana Slim will have the dance floor swinging. Sweet vocal harmonies, reflective lyrical tales, and solid foundational bass rhythms can all be found in Montana Slim's original, youthful interpretation of bluegrass.

The original Montana Slim outfit began in the summer of 2006 with the completion of their debut EP which was produced by Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips. Currently, the band is back in the studio recording their first full length LP. The album is due out in the late spring/early summer of 2008. They will be on tour in the spring to promote the record and will be looking forward to further territories as the year beckons.

Please visit Montana Slim on Myspace at www.myspace.com/montanaslimmusic for more information