Announcing: MPAC Showcase Artist Performances at the Mansfield Theater in Great Falls, Montana

17 artists will perform at the Annual Showcase & Conference hosted by the Montana Performing Arts Consortium 

The Montana Performing Arts Consortium (MPAC) announces the artist showcase lineup for its annual conference. Seventeen different artists from throughout North America will each perform at the Mansfield Center for Performing Arts on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Showcases are free and open to the public and start at 9:00AM, 1:15PM, and 4:00PM. Featured artists include internationally touring performers and groups representing all genres including jazz, global music, country, folk, bluegrass, popular music, comedy, family and young audience shows, dance, rock music, and more.

Showcase Performance Schedule: Saturday, October 11, 2025

Showcase 1, 9:00am

John Roberts y Pan Blanco from Montana (Global Music)

Rocky Peter from California (Popular Music)

Clayton Parsons from Montana (Country Music)

Jason Lyle Black from Tennessee (Classical Music)

Lucas Miller from Texas (Singing Zoologist Family/Young Audience)

John Heffron from Michigan (Comedy)

Saint of Soldiers from Montana (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana)

Showcase 2, 1:15pm

Sterling Drake from Montana (Country Music)

Tap Into Soul from Florida (Popular Music / Dance)

Keith Alessi from British Columbia (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana, Storytelling)

Empire Trio (formerly O Sole Trio) from New York (Popular Music)

Luca Stricagnoli from Tennessee (Rock)

Showcase 3, 4:00pm

Larry & Joe from North Carolina (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana)

Matt Baker from Washington (Comedy, Family/Young Audience)

Phoenix from Oregon (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana)

Acoustic Eidolon from Colorado (Global Music)

Decades in Duet from New York (Popular Music)

MPAC’s annual conference is a 3-day event where over 150 performing arts professionals gather to plan performances, network, learn, and develop lasting relationships that extend into communities around the state. Each year, the event is attended by artists, agents, arts advocacy and service organizations, as well as presenting organizations from throughout Montana, from as far as Sidney to Libby and Eureka to Gardiner. The conference features juried showcase performances by 17 different artists from all over North America, a trade-show style exhibit hall, networking events, and professional development workshops. Attending artists represent genres ranging from comedy to classical music and from tap to tribute shows. 

MPAC’s showcases make up the main event of its Artist Showcase & Conference, a business event that connects Montana venues and presenting organizations with performing artists from around the world. It is a unique opportunity for community leaders and concert planners to see live performances and talk to artists and agents in preparation for planning and booking the next season’s performances. Communities throughout Montana rely on this event to bring high caliber performing arts experiences to their stages and schools. 

"We book our entire season from the wonderful showcase artists that perform at the annual MPAC block booking conference,” says Misty Annala, board member of Judith Arts Society in Hobson, Montana. “It gives us a chance to hear the artists perform live, meet them face-to-face, and work with other presenters to block-book tours. We would not have direct access to this level of artistry without the MPAC conference. At a time when the schools in our county are struggling to find music teachers, we are also able to bring artists into the schools to provide a rich experience for the students. Those educational outreach opportunities are highly valued by the students and staff. MPAC is a vital link between our rural communities and the performing arts.” 

Learn more about the showcase artists on our showcase lineup page.

Learn how we select showcase artists through a competitive application process here.

Find Artist Showcase & Conference registration information here.

Download the news release.