It’s fair week in Missoula, which means live music, local food, late sunsets… and of course, Trail Live Sessions from the Trail studio! For this episode, we welcomed River City Rhythm Band —a longtime local favorite with deep roots and some serious chemistry. I’ve known a lot of bands who say they’re collaborative, but these three— Alyssa McQuain, Ty Armourding, and Dan DeLong —really mean it. From sharing pizza at practice to cracking each other up between songs, they’re clearly in this for the...
Aug 06, 2025•17 min•Ep. 269
This episode of the Trail Lunchbox welcomes two guests doing critical work to help our community stay healthy and prepared during wildfire season in western Montana. We’re talking all things Wildfire Smoke Ready Week —what it is, why it matters, and how you can take simple, affordable steps to protect yourself, your family, and even your pets when the smoke rolls in. Joining us in the studio: 🔹 Amy Cilimburg , Executive Director of Climate Smart Missoula Amy has spent the last decade leading Cl...
Jul 17, 2025•17 min•Ep. 263
On today's Trail Lunchbox , Tommy welcomed two beloved Missoulians deeply connected to the International Choral Festival: Saxon Holbrook , president of the festival and longtime choral singer, and Jürgen Knöller , brewmaster at Bayern Brewing and early festival supporter. They swap stories about the very first festival in 1987, flipping burgers for Carson, seeing Frank Zappa in Germany, and what makes Missoula’s global celebration of voices so unique. Saxon walks us through what to expect at thi...
Jul 10, 2025•18 min•Ep. 262
Originally aired live at 9:13 AM on July 2, 2025 At exactly 9:13 AM on July 2, 2005, Trail 103.3 signed on the air for the very first time. Twenty years later—down to the minute—we cracked the mic together once again to mark that moment. This short, unscripted conversation between Robert Chase, Mike Smith, and Tommy Evans isn’t just a celebration of our radio station’s anniversary, It’s a reflection on what Trail 103.3 has become, home for eclectic music, Missoula voices, and authentic community...
Jul 02, 2025•10 min•Ep. 261
🎙️ Trail Live Session: Why We Went West (June 26, 2025) Live from the Trail Lunchbox | Trail 103.3 – Missoula, MT We welcomed the trio version of Why We Went West —Maria Zepeda, Lucas Yatch, and Gabrielle Tusberg—for a beautiful in-studio performance and conversation ahead of their debut at the Zootown Music Festival. 🎶 They perform two original songs live: • Water • Dreamboat Trail Guide, Mike Smith, chats with the group about: • Their evolution from trio to 12-piece for Zootown Fest • The im...
Jul 01, 2025•23 min•Ep. 260
The Trail Listening Post – Trail Lunchbox: Marc Moss (June 25, 2025) On today’s episode of The Trail Listening Post , we bring you a live in-studio conversation from the Trail Lunchbox on Trail 103.3 FM. Host Mike Smith sits down with Marc Moss, the founder and host of Tell Us Something , Missoula’s beloved live storytelling event series. Marc shared the story behind the event's signature theme song, the art on this year’s poster, and why Tell Us Something doesn’t announce its storytellers in ad...
Jun 25, 2025•13 min•Ep. 259
🎙️ Today on The Trail Lunchbox: A Live Session with James McMurtry & BettySoo 📍 Recorded live in the Trail Studio • Airing June 24, 2025 On today’s Trail Lunchbox, we welcomed a true American songwriting legend back to Trail 103.3 — James McMurtry — this time with his longtime friend and musical collaborator BettySoo riding shotgun. Just hours before their show at the Zootown Arts Community Center , they stopped by for a stripped-down, heartfelt live session. James brought his signature st...
Jun 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 258
Montana author Philip Burgess joins host Mike Smith in the Trail 103.3 studio alongside longtime friend and creative collaborator Ednor Therriault. Together, they talk about Burgess’s powerful new memoir, The Bunch Quitter — a sweeping, poetic account of a life spent drifting through America during the ’60s and ’70s in pursuit of ultimate freedom. From the windswept badlands of eastern Montana to sleeping under stars on the Gulf Coast, Burgess reflects on memory, pain, growth, and the cost of in...
Jun 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 257
The Trail Lunchbox: New Zealand Day – A Celebration of Sister Cities, Rugby & Community Today's Trail Lunchbox features a live in-studio conversation with Maddy Gilbert from Arts Missoula and Jake Kreilick of Missoula Youth Rugby, hosted by Mike Smith. Listen as they talk about Missoula’s 42-year sister city connection with Palmerston North, New Zealand — from university exchange roots to modern-day cultural partnerships. The episode dives into the details of this year’s New Zealand Day cele...
Jun 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 256
Trisha joins Tommy on the Trail Lunchbox for a conversation about Marshall Madness, set to take place on Sunday, June 1 from 11am–3pm — an epic outdoor bash with group runs, hikes, and rides , brand-new trails , food trucks , Big Sky beer , and hourly raffle prizes ! From bike jousting and a dunk tank to a live set by DJ Ivanoff and a bike skills clinic , this is the ultimate summer kickoff you don’t want to miss — and yes, there’s even free town shuttles and loaner bikes ! SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 10...
May 30, 2025•10 min•Ep. 255
https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/abundance SHOW DATES|TIMES May 16 @ 7:30pm May 17 @ 2pm May 17 @ 7:30pm Location: Montana Theater University of Montana Campus, PARTV building location note: Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm about abunDANCE from both cast and audience, we moved the show to the Montana Theater! We’re excited to be able to offer more seats, easier parking, and more cast and audience accessibility by being on campus for this year’s community production! about the show Westside T...
May 15, 2025•14 min•Ep. 254
Ria Overholt, Community Services Director for Missoula Aging Services stops by the Trail1033 studio to chat with Mike smith about March for Meals and the current state of funding for the meals on wheels program. March for Meals is an annual month-long fundraising campaign to raise money for Meals on Wheels in Missoula county. Missoula Aging Services (MAS) promotes the independence, dignity and health of older adults and those who care for them. Last year, more than 123,000 meals were delivered t...
Mar 24, 2025•15 min•Ep. 253
Mike interviews Alix Blair about her film Helen and the Bear. At 70, Helen often acts like an uninhibited teenager, sneaking cigarettes and exploring the bounds of her sexual identity. But at home, she cares for her 96-year-old husband Pete, a once-prominent Republican politician who now depends on her absolutely. Captured in intimate verite by director Alix Blair, HELEN AND THE BEAR is a lyrical portrait of the beautiful and complex relationship between Helen and Pete as they enter the final ch...
Feb 14, 2025•16 min•Ep. 252
Jeff Ament joins Mike Smith to discuss "Our Village", the Missoula Community Pre-Show, and Festivities. Over 30 local nonprofits are participating in the festival, each bringing an interactive, family-friendly activity or sharing a visual display. Activities range from face painting, art projects, and lawn games, to instrument building, bicycle repair demonstrations, photo booths, and various amazing displays. Our Village will be a fun and engaging space for Montana-led nonprofit organizations t...
Aug 14, 2024•46 min•Ep. 251
Our friend Bob Wire is joined by Hudson, Sophie, and Riley to chat and play some songs leading up to their weekend show at Imagine Nation Brewery. Separately, they’ve played shows all around western Montana, and stages as far flung as Napa, California, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. This summer, Missoula honky tonker Bob Wire and his singing/songwriting progeny will be playing a full show together for the first time. Hudson James and Sophie Therriault will team up with Bob at Imagine Nation Brewing ...
Jul 24, 2024•21 min•Ep. 250
Artistic Director of Montana Repertory Theatre, Michael Legg, stops by the Tail1033 studio for a visit with Mike Smith. Inspired by the vibrant local businesses along Missoula's iconic Hip Strip, Hip Strip Hijinks presents a series of five new 10-minute plays written by nationally renowned playwrights. April 25-27 and May 2-4. Patrons will meet up at GILD Brewing and then walk to five nearby establishments, including the lively atmosphere of Betty’s Divine and the eclectic vibes of Ear Candy, to...
Apr 22, 2024•15 min•Ep. 249
IWFF Festival Coordinator Lizzie Archer share s her exciting of the kick-off of the 47th Annual International Wildlife film Festival in Missoula , April 20-25! The WildWalk Parade and WildFest are happening in in Downtown Missoula April 20th. Nature lovers of all ages are invited to join a perennial favorite, the WildWalk, and dress up as their favorite flora or fauna and walk, hop, or crawl toward the X's on North Higgins. The parade culminates with WildFest, a celebration with vendors, food tr...
Apr 18, 2024•14 min•Ep. 248
IWFF Guest Programmer, Livia Composdemenezes drops by the Trail1033 studio to visit with Mike Smith. The 47th Annual IWFF is happening at The Roxy Theater in Missoula, April 20-25. This years festival includes over 70 films, with the mission of promoting awareness, knowledge, and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people, and nature through excellence in film. IWFF was founded by bear biologist, Chuck Jonkel in 1977 at the University of Montana, IWFF is the longest- running film festival of its...
Apr 17, 2024•19 min•Ep. 247
Rhett Miller stopped by to chat with Mike about 30-plus years of the Old 97's, songwriting, the Blackfoot River, and more. He also played a couple of songs from their new album American Primitive. Thanks Rhett!
Apr 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 246
Sarah Calhoun Red Ants Pants Founder, stops by the Trail studio to announce this years' festival lineup. The Red Ants Pants Music Festival is a 100% homegrown, volunteer-driven event based in a community of 900 people with the goal of bringing good folks together to celebrate rural Montana. The festival is a program of the 501(c)(3) Red Ants Pants Foundation. Their mission is to develop and expand leadership roles for women, preserve and support working family farms and ranches, and enrich and p...
Apr 08, 2024•17 min•Ep. 245
Arts Missoula Executive Director Heather Adams stops by for a visit with Mike Smith at the Trail1033 studio. Arts Missoula is proud to present Dancing with Arts Missoula Stars; A Benefit for Arts Missoula. Local Missoula celebrities will be paired up with local professional dancers to bring you this night of guts and glory. 8 teams work for 7 weeks on a routine in a variety of styles, that will knock your socks off. Teams will have the ability to raise funds for Arts Missoula through donations m...
Mar 22, 2024•12 min•Ep. 244
Cartography Comes Alive is an exciting event series proudly brought to you by Xplorer Maps and hosted by Mandela Leola van Eeden, Lead Storyteller at Xplorer Maps and the charismatic host of The Trail Less Traveled. This FREE event is happening March 20th 5:30pm-7pm at Xplorer Maps in Missoula, MT With over a decade of experience as an expedition lead leader and guide in the Grand Canyon, Mandela has a unique perspective on the wonders of this majestic landscape. In a remarkable feat in 2020, Ma...
Mar 19, 2024•21 min•Ep. 243
First Night Spotlight, presented by Arts Missoula as part of Missoula On Main is a longstanding tradition and special event. Each year, area teen talent comes together to perform on a big stage heading into NYE. This year's winner, Olivia Marble will join us live on the Trail Lunchbox at 12-noon today [2/29/24] for a live performance and conversation about the experience. Listen Live at Trail1033.com and send us your words of encouragement to pass along to Olivia by texting the studio line at 40...
Feb 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 242
Udo Fluck, Director of Arts Missoula Global at Arts Missoula stops by The Trail studio to chat with Mike Smith about all things Germanfest! Arts Missoula GLOBAL presents Germanfest 2023 happening October 7th at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula. This celebration of our sister city connection with Neckargemund, Germany is an authentic German Food & Beer festival with live music, children's activities, a Germanfest market, a Sister City display and MORE! New in 2023: Germanfest Games! Stein Hold...
Oct 03, 2023•19 min•Ep. 241
Joel Cummins and Ryan Stasik of Umphrey's McGee stop by the Trail Lunchbox for a visit with Tommy. In the twenty-four years since eclectic improv-rock band Umphrey’s McGee formed, their sound has been an amalgamation of genres, moods, and tempos, effortlessly flowing from one feeling to the next throughout an album or concert—or sometimes within a singular song. But with time and repetition comes wisdom and maturity, both personally and musically, and in the case of the band’s new album Asking F...
Sep 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 240
Mike Smith welcomes Julia Tai, Music Director of Missoula Symphony to The Lunchbox . The new season for Missoula Symphony kicks off with "Struggle & Triumph" September 23rd & 24th at the Dennison Theatre in Missoula. This will be an evening of power, emotion, and triumph, featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha Overture, which draws inspiration from the 1855 poem The Song of Hiawatha by American Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The Hiawatha Overture also draws inspiration from the s...
Sep 13, 2023•13 min•Ep. 239
Abby Huseth, Deputy Director of Climate Smart Missoula stops by the Lunchbox to chat with Tommy about their upcoming event. The 5th Annual Climate & Energy Expo is a FREE, family friendly event happening at Caras Park in Downtown Missoula Saturday, September 23rd 10am to 2pm. This event will feature local solar installers, climate and sustainability organizations and businesses, an electric bike & car show, creative engagement and activation opportunities, kids activities, and more. This...
Sep 07, 2023•10 min•Ep. 238
Montana Area Music Association (MAMA) co-founder Maria Zepeda stops by the Lunchbox to visit with Tommy about the 4th Annual Miles of Music happening September 10th on the University of Montana campus in Missoula. · MAMA’s mission is to empower musicians through education, collaboration, and performance opportunities in efforts to strengthen the greater Montana music community. Miles of Music is a dynamic celebration of art & music featuring over 20 local instrumentalists, songwriters and mu...
Sep 06, 2023•9 min•Ep. 237
Michael Legg, Artistic Director of the Montana Repertory Theatre and Rep actor Stephen Blotzke stop by the Trail lunchbox for a visit with host Mike Smith. Established in 1967 and currently celebrating its 57th season, The Rep serves as the resident professional theatre for the University of Montana. Performances of the season opener The Odyssey will take place at The Zootown Community Arts Center (ZACC) in Missoula September 1 at 7:00pm and September 2 at 2:00pm. The Odyssey follows the journey...
Aug 22, 2023•15 min•Ep. 236
Mike Smith is joined in the Trail1033 studio with Jason Mandala, Farm to School Director with Garden City Harvest. The annual garden party is freshest party of the summer, happening Thursday August 17th at The PEAS farm in Missoula. Presented by the Good Food Store this event will include an all-local meal, grown with love right here in Missoula with a menu prepared by Silk Road and Missoula-made beverages from Imagine Nation Brewing and Western Cider. Music will be provided Cowboy Andy and the ...
Aug 02, 2023•12 min•Ep. 235
