Adult Animation: Smetanka premieres new film tonight; don’t bring the kids

It’s a little bit late notice, but then this one probably isn’t for everyone. At the Top Hat this evening, local filmmaker and writer Andy Smetanka will present a short program of films, highlighted by the second-ever public screening of his animated ode to Missoula, “City in Shadows,” and the public premiere of another film, “The Miller’s Daughter.”

The first of those was produced during a month-long residency at the Missoula Art Museum this past spring, and features music by locals Gibson Hartwell, Lisena Brown, Hermina Harold, June West, and Smetanka.

The second one…well, that’s a little bit of a different story. [Read More...]

Musical menagerie: Live owls to attend “Chickadee Symphony” concert at UM

Earlier this week I wrote a preview of a fascinating performance that will take place tonight (Thursday) at the University of Montana. The UM Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform composer Craig Naylor’s “Chickadee Symphony,” which drew its inspiration from real biological research done on the vocalizations of chickadees — including, notably, research done [...]