Singer-songwriter Mike Murray performs Nov. 2 for Mission Valley Live.
Grammy-nominated Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Ronan Performing Arts Center. He replaces bluesman Spencer Bohren, who cancelled his Mission Valley Live performance, slated for Nov. 16, due to health issues.
Murray released his fourth studio album, Difficult Days, in 2018 – three years and 500 shows after his his third studio album, Tumbleweed, appeared in June 2015. Several songs from the 2015 recording earned him first place in the Northwest Artist Syndicate’s Singer/Songwriter Showdown.
Of Difficult Days, Lively Times reviewer Mariss McTucker wrote, “On his fourth album, Kalispell’s Mike Murray delves deep into what it means to be human, exposing our warts and worries, our doubts and regrets…
Murray’s terrific mid-baritone range allows him to swoop and dive from low notes to falsetto on original pop, rock, country and folk pieces. His burnished voice is heightened by a quivery, grainy honesty: he’s hopeful, even elated, on some tunes, and depressed on others. He swaddles them all in great guitar solos and sailing choruses.”
Murray crafted the album while recovering from a vocal polyp, which forced him to quit singing, or even speaking for a spell. The result is an honest, deeply personal collection.
“People who know me, they say ‘This is the most ‘you’ thing you’ve done,’” Murray told the Flathead Beacon. “It came very naturally.”
Murray performs regularly in Montana, and over the years, he’s toured internationally, performed at SXSW (Austin, TX), Red Ants Pants Music Festival (White Sulphur Springs), The Crown Guitar Festival (Bigfork), Live From The Divide (Bozeman), and toured coast to coast. He was also featured on Montana Public Radio’s “Musician’s Spotlight.”
Flex tickets for the previously scheduled Nov. 16 concert will be honored. Tickets are also available at the door; call 406-887-2739 or visit missionvalleylive.com.