The Frosty Badger - Treasure Valley Events Venue - Weddings, Music, Art, Community

The Moody Jews
2024-05-18 18:30 - 22:00 (America/Boise) | The Frosty Badger, 505 Northwest 1st Street, Ontario, OR 97914, Ontario, OR, 97914, US
The Moody Jews of Boise play klezmer (Eastern European), Jewish-American jazz, Sephardic (Middle Eastern and Spanish) and Israeli tunes.

The Moody Jews of Boise play klezmer (Eastern European), Jewish-American jazz, Sephardic (Middle Eastern and Spanish) and Israeli tunes. Combining the versatile jazz violin talent of Oliver Thompson, the emotive clarinet of Rhiannon Terry, the energetic and improvisational piano virtuoso skills of Danny Beal, Grant Green’s flexible, intuitive, and multicultural-influenced percussion, and Elana Salzman’s soaring vocals infused with a rich cultural history, the band strives to pay homage to the traditional while creating something new through a combination of adept improvisation and carefully crafted arrangements.

Over the past several years, the Moody Jews of Boise have brought their distinctive sound to festivals and venues in the Treasure Valley area and beyond. From music festivals such as Treefort and Northwest Folklife, to small-town Oktoberfest celebrations, to communities in Las Vegas, to a collaboration with the Serenata Orchestra featuring full orchestral arrangements of their music, they are making their mark on the region, introducing audiences to the richness of klezmer while simultaneously showing it in a brand new light.

Eilen Jewell
2024-08-18 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
Hailed as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices” by American Songwriter.

Hailed as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices” by American Songwriter, Jewell built her career the old fashioned way, touring relentlessly with the kind of undeniable live show that converts the uninitiated into instant acolytes. Over the course of nearly two decades on the road, the Idaho native has crisscrossed the US, Europe, and Australia countless times, playing an endless series of headline and festival dates in addition to sharing bills with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Rolling Stone lauded Jewell’s “clever writing,” while NPR declared that she has a “sweet and clear voice with a killer instinct lurking beneath the shiny surface,” and The Washington Post mused that “if Neko Case, Madeleine Peyroux and Billie Holiday had a baby girl who grew up to front a rockabilly band, she’d probably sound a lot like Eilen Jewell.”
With Get Behind The Wheel, her ninth studio album, Jewell does precisely that, planting herself firmly in the driver’s seat as she picks up the pieces and finds new purpose and meaning in the process. Co-produced by multi-instrumental wizard Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Hayes Carll), the collection pushes Jewell’s trademark blend of vintage roots-noir into more psychedelic territory, with spacious, cinematic arrangements complementing her revelatory explorations of grief, loss, resilience, and redemption. The band’s performances are truly electrifying here, blending elements of early rock and rockabilly with old school country and soul, and Jewell’s delivery is timeless to match, her voice effortlessly moving from unguarded intimacy to icy cool and back, sometimes within the very same song. The result is Jewell’s boldest album yet, a powerful work of artistic alchemy that transforms heartache into genuine creative rebirth.
Eddyville will be openinging the show seamlessly blending traditional rock, country and folk influences into something that is both timeless and modern.

David Francey
2024-09-23 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
“Francey’s clear, simple songs speak volumes. After a decade in music, David Francey is known as one of Canada’s finest tunesmiths.

David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked.
A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never imagined earning a living from his music. But when he was in his 40s, his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public. The reaction was instant. His first album Torn Screen Door came out in 1999 and was a hit in Canada.
Since then, David has released thirteen albums, won four Juno Awards and has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer.
Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award as well as taking home the Grand Prize in both the International Acoustic Music Award and in the Folk category for the John Lennon Songwriting Award.
“David’s straightforward songs tell honest stories of real people and real places. Poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music. His songs and stories are a direct connection for audiences seeking depth and meaning in the day-to-day.” Shelter Valley Folk Festival
David Francey was born in Ayrshire, Scotland where he got his first taste of the working life as a paperboy. At age 10 he was devouring the newspapers he delivered, establishing a life-long interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.
He was twelve when his family immigrated to Toronto. He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. Dad and sister Muriel sang melody, while mother and David sang harmonies.
His attachment to Canada grew with travel. He hitched across the country three times, then thumbed his way to the Yukon. This attachment surfaces in his songs of rail lines, farms, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He grew to understand the people while working in Toronto train yards, the Yukon bush, and as a carpenter in the Eastern Townships. These experiences colour his first CD, Torn Screen Door, with songs like Hard Steel Mill, Gypsy Boys, and Working Poor and his second, Far End of Summer, with Highway, Flowers of Saskatchewan and February Morning Drive.
In concert David is a singer and a storyteller. His wry humour and astute observations combined with his openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following.
David lives with his wife, artist Beth Girdler in the quiet but charming Lanark Highlands in southern Ontario. They are visited often by their son Colin, daughters Amy and Julia and grandkids Tristan, Alice and Millicent.

Hillfolk Noir
2024-10-19 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
Grooving. Raucous. Genre-bending. And always a ton of fun.

Built on more than 15 years of tradition, today’s Hillfolk takes their acoustic guitar, double bass, and “anything you can find at a hardware store” sound and integrates driving drums and an electrified sound, kicking down limitations to create a vibe that goes beyond their Americana “junkerdash” roots. Want to call it bluegrass’s trouble-making cousin? Fine by us. A bit of string-band blues? Sure ‘nuff. A concoction of electrified rockin’ soulful folksy witchcraft mayhem? Now you’re talking, mama.
Tickets $17 in Advance and $20 at the door.

Quotes that make us seem cool

A thrilling, haunting, stark collection of traditionally inspired mountain-hillbilly music.
John Apice, No Depression

The best news is Ward has the chops and commitment to be what he claims to be: A bonafide folk singer.
Doug Deloach, Maverick Magazine

Hillfolk Noir played electric and ruined Treefort the same way that Dylan ruined Newport“.
Country Jesus & the Extraterrestrial Highway, KRBX

This is talent that is wrought by a love and knowlege of traditional American music, uncompromisingly raw and packed with dustbowl character.
Sarah Coxton, fRoots Magazine

Brad Parsons, Nick Dellfs, Freeman DeJongh
2024-11-09 18:00 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
Songwriters-in-the-round. Only happens once – these three great songwriters together sharing their craft!

Three of the Pacific Northwest’s finest songwriters together for the first time! Another evening of great music and stories at The Frosty Badger!
Doors at 6P. Music at 7P. Food will be available purchase.

Tylor and the Train Robbers
2025-02-01 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
Perhaps no band combines what Western roots music has always been and what it
will become quite like the Train Robbers.

For the past decade, Tylor & the Train Robbers have been blazing trails, carving a path
through the heartland with their roots country and Americana music. With boots worn
thin from relentless touring, they’ve crisscrossed the country, honing their craft and
delivering electrifying performances, leaving a trail of devoted fans in their wake.
Brothers Tylor Ketchum, Jason Bushman, and Tommy Bushman form the core of this
musical powerhouse. Tylor, the eldest, takes the reins as the band’s frontman, rhythm
guitarist, and songwriter, weaving stories through his lyrics.
“Ketchum has a voice laced with the same western gravelly baritones that tend to stand
out as “Western” but his approach is decidedly more rock than country, and his delivery
still touches on poetic.” – Josh Crutchmer
Jason, on bass and backup harmonies, and Tommy, on drums and vocals, provide the
steady heartbeat and backbone that defines the band’s signature sound. Rider Soran’s
Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel, and Lap Steel chops add layers of depth and emotion to
their music. Rounding out the Bands sound, Antonio Vazquez melds it all together with
his melodically proficient Lead Guitar style.
“Perhaps no band combines what Western roots music has always been and what it
will become quite like the Train Robbers. It is this combination of tradition and fresh
take that makes them a must-listen.” – Josh Crutchmer
Now, as the band gears up for their latest release, Hum of the Road, the excitement
among their devoted fanbase is palpable. Recorded amidst the dust and heat of a
Southern tour, this album is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a sonic odyssey
that captures the essence of the open road and the soul of the American musical
landscape.
Hum of the Road was born in Yellow Dog Studios in Wimberley, TX, under the expert
guidance of producer Cody Braun from Reckless Kelly and engineer Adam Odor. Mixed
in Austin, TX, by the talented Jonathan Tyler, the album flawlessly channels the raw
energy and authentic vibes of the band. The result is ten tracks that traverse musical
terrains, from rock and roll anthems to country swing, psychedelic explorations,
heartfelt folk ballads, and classic county tunes.
With each song, Hum of the Road invites listeners on a musical adventure, echoing the
band’s own journey down highways and backroads. It’s an album that captures the
essence of a bygone era while remaining firmly rooted in the present, a testament to
the band’s timeless appeal and genre-defying approach.

Sean Hatton
2025-02-22 17:30 - 22:00 (America/Boise)
Hatton is joined by Bernie Reilly, Matt Steiner, John Simpson, and Lucas Ventura, a band adept to wide variety of sound and style. Doors5:30

Hatton’s bands have graced the stage alongside such notable acts as Chris Isaak, Maroon 5, Dawes, Dr. John, Leon Russel, Trace Adkins, and more.
Sean Hatton is Called one of Idaho’s best by the Idaho Statesman- “Carolina Liar” and “Radiohead” fans will love the complex guitar portfolio and introspective lyrics. The building harmonies, and talents of vocalist Sean Hatton, might take you back to the days when Crosby, Stills and Nash were kings of folk. The band’s sound is unabashedly Americana at its best.” ⁃ Amy Busek / Idaho Mountain Press
“…Sean Hatton, a guy with a sharp ear for the catchier side of twang… with songs that seamlessly blend roots, rock and pop into tidy, handsome packages that can sit snugly alongside Americana giants like The Band and Uncle Tupelo.
⁃ Ben Salmon / The Bend Bulletin

Jeff Crosby w/ special guest Jake Martini
2025-04-19 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
“Jeff Crosby is an uncompromising American songwriting voice and a powerhouse guitarist.” – Dave Schools
(Widespread Panic)

Born and raised in a quiet mountain town in Northern Idaho, singer-songwriter Jeff Crosby has carved out a distinct voice in the Americana genre. His songs unfold like intimate diary entries, capturing the rugged beauty of love, loss, and the restless pursuit of life on the move.
With his seventh studio album, ‘Another Petal Falls Off of the Rose’, Jeff Crosby embraces a new sonic direction, blending expansive arrangements with themes of redemption and forgiveness. Produced by Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, the album evokes the beauty of Idaho sunsets and showcases Crosby’s evolving sound.
In addition to his solo work, Crosby has co-written songs with Reckless Kelly (“Only See You With My Eyes Closed”) and Micky & the Motorcars (“Hold This Town Together”). His Idaho anthem, “Where I’m From (Idaho),” features Willy & Cody Braun.
Based in Austin, TX, Crosby and his band have toured extensively across the US and Europe, sharing the stage with artists like Robert Earl Keen, Reckless Kelly, Widespread Panic, and Jerry Joseph. Known for his distinctive voice and emotive songwriting, Crosby remains a key figure in Americana music.

Margo Cilker
2025-05-30 17:30 - 21:30 (America/Boise)
In Margo’s songs family and nature intertwine as guiding motifs, at once precious and endangered, beautiful and exhausting …

Biography
Margo Cilker’s sophomore album, Valley of Heart’s Delight, refers to a place she can’t return: California’s Santa Clara Valley, as it was known before the orchards were paved over and became more famous for Silicon than apricots. In this 11-song follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed Pohorylle, family and nature intertwine as guiding motifs, at once precious and endangered, beautiful and exhausting. Cilker and Pohorylle producer Sera Cahoone brought most of that record’s highly-acclaimed crew (studio players for The Decemberists, Band Of Horses, and Beirut) back to the studio with additional contributions from acclaimed Northwest traditionalist Caleb Klauder. Valley of Heart’s Delight, Cilker’s second record on Portland, Oregon label Fluff & Gravy Records, has already racked up an impressive list of accolades and year-end picks and has paved the way for 2024’s extensive touring and festival appearances.
Margo Cilker lives near the Columbia River in Goldendale, Washington with her husband, songwriter and working cowboy Forrest VanTuyl, as well their dog and some horses.

The John Depew Trio
2025-08-28 17:30 - 21:30 (Africa/Abidjan)
Songwriting sensibility with a powerhouse mandolin, banjo, bass trio. A benefit for KRFR community radio.

John Depew hails from the wide-open prairie where there are more cows than people, and he likes it that way. Nominated to be a face on the “Mt. Rushmore of Awkward Kansans, ” he takes his role seriously and only participates in medium- to-large talk. He definitely never overthinks small decisions like how many potatoes to cook for dinner or how many compliments to give himself in his own bio. His songwriting and musicianship have been described as ‘a nightmare for your ears…like…in a good way!’
Depew is by far the handsomest, most intelligent, funniest and most humble professional mandolin player ever to permanently reside exactly 5 and 1/2 miles outside Arlington, KS. He is not in the least filled with self-doubt and never questions his divinely ordained position at the pinnacle of the huge market power belonging to weird banjo and mandolin music. You will not on any planet find better fried chicken than his. Depew has been playing music since before people recognized it as ‘music.’ He enjoys being outdoors, watching cows eat, sitting by a fire, and spending time with his family.

An evening with Pete Droge
2025-10-18 17:30 - 21:30 (Africa/Abidjan)
“A traditionalist rocker to be reckoned with, a worthy successor to the likes of Tom Petty.”
-Anthony DeCurtis / Rolling Stone

Pete Droge’s appearance at The Frosty Badger will be his first ever show in Ontario. He will be joined by his partner in life and music, Elaine Summers. The intimate acoustic evening will feature fan favorites and deep cuts from his 1994 American Recordings debut, Necktie Second, which is getting the double vinyl deluxe treatment this Fall. The set will also lean heavily on material from his new studio album, Fade Away Blue. (Out August 22 on Puzzle Tree/Missing Piece Records.) Recorded with Grammy-winning producer Paul Bryan (Aimee Mann), the collection is largely autobiographical, built on a series of dreamy, cinematic snapshots from throughout Droge’s life. The songs are bittersweet, balancing longing and gratitude in equal measure. The arrangements are warm and inviting, with a spotlight fixed firmly on Droge’s tender lyrics and understated delivery. The result is an album a lifetime in the making, a rich, revelatory sonic memoir that faces down doubt and despair with love, resilience, and commitment at every turn.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Droge is a songwriter’s songwriter who’s shared bills with the likes of Tom Petty and Neil Young. Since rocketing to early acclaim on the strength of his 1994 debut, Necktie Second, Droge has released a series of critically lauded solo albums, appeared in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous; teamed up with Matthew Sweet and Shawn Mullins to form the Americana supergroup The Thorns; co-produced records for Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard and Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America; recorded three collections with his wife, Elaine Summers, as The Droge and Summers Blend; and composed a variety of works for film and television.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see this acclaimed singer-songwriter.

The Country Club w/ special guest Dustin Morris
2025-11-08 17:30 - 22:00 (Africa/Abidjan)
Modern-day Western Swing and Honky Tonk music from Boise, Idaho.

The Country Club is a band from Boise, Idaho playing original and traditional music from the front lines of the nostalgia wars. While their sound is clearly drawn from the well of classic country, honky tonk, old time, and bluegrass, it rings and twangs with modernity and occasional urbanity. From dark and dirty to clean and pristine, the sound of the Country Club is as at home on the range, in a barn, as it is downtown, in the club or a bar.
