Brian & Rook Crouse (@rook_pb_crouse) playing the El Tenamoa Restaurant (@eltenampa1993) in Meridian. They describe their shows as a time-travel magic carpet ride. With a description like that, I was excited to be here. The first set included the Beatles, Eagles, Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, and this snippet of Tom Petty. They play the same restaurant but in Boise Friday at 6.

Starting this week, Canyon County has a new way to give budding musicians a stage to try out their stuff, and get some love. On Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm, come out to Mesquite Creek Outfitters (@mesquitecreekidaho) in downtown Caldwell, for an open mic hosted by Nathan Board (@nathan.board.90).

In addition to getting a stage, it’s also an opportunity to network with other local musicians, which is key to helping you get established. Then, non-musicians like me, get to hear up-and-coming musicians with the possible opportunity to watch them grow.

In the video clip, Nathan and friends do some Merle Haggard.

Thanks to the Idaho Jazz Society, Bar 365 (@riversidehotelboise) presents a great variety of musicians on Mondays. This week it’s
Rob Harding & Steve Prager with their dueling guitars.

When it opens in the spring, Monday Jazz will move to The Sand Bar. Check it out. It’s s nice change of pace.

Leta Harris Neustaedter (@boiseleta) is a musician, social worker, arts educator, and community organizer based in Boise Idaho. She played Bar 365 (@riversidehotelboise) Sunday afternoon. And, no background vocals from her companion. ;-)

Good Time Charlie (@goodtimecharliemusic) brings traditional and modern Country music to his audiences. He took his show of originals and covers to Kindred Vineyards (@kindredvineyards) Sunday afternoon.

Wes Schlag (@WesSchlag) is a singer/songwriter of cosmic conniptions from the Boise, Idaho. I listened to his “These Are The Days” album earlier today and found it to be smart and eclectic, so I was excited to hear him live. This was his first time at Maddie’s (@maddieswineandwhiskey). I’m sure it won’t be his last.

Mike Barriatua (@mikebarriatua) on vocals and Curt Goninon on keys are jazzing things up at Bar 365. Every Monday The Riverside Hotel (@riversidehotelboise) presents an evening of Jazz. We heard everything from B.B. King to Frank Sinatra to Bobby Caldwell to Van Morrison. That’s a good night of music in my book.

Jen and Johnny (@jpisano and @johnnypisano) playing The Riverside Hotel’s (@riversidehotelboise) Bar 365 on Sunday. This father and daughter duo played a lovely mix of bluegrass, folk and pop to a full room. Watch the video for a snippet of a Johnny original.

Ryan Wissinger (@idaho_wrecks) at The Riverside Hotel’s Bar 365 (@riversidehotelboise). He covers a tremendous range of songs (over 650 songs in his current repetoire) in a variety of genres and spanning six decades of influences. He plays a large array of venues as well, from small weddings to huge festivals, so it’s a real treat to see him in this intimate place.

While you were watching the Super Bowl, I was enjoying the acoustic duo Cunningham & Moss (https://www.facebook.com/CunninghamandMoss/) at The Riverside Hotel’s Bar 365. Don Cunningham has been a fixture in the Southern Idaho music scene for over 40 years bouncing back-and-forth between acoustic and electric combos. David Moss (@mossdcmusic), originally from Pocatello, Idaho, has been performing in the Boise area for the past 17 years.