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  • Field Notes: A Weekend Moving Through the Black Hills Music Scene

    Field Notes: A Weekend Moving Through the Black Hills Music Scene

    THURSDAY

    Murphy’s Pub | Zac Conger with Matt Buehner
    Thursday night started at Murphy’s with Zac Conger, joined by Matt Buehner from Outside Kids. Murphy’s continues to be one of the best rooms in town for simply sitting with the music. The space invites people to relax. Conversations float around the tables, but the sound fills the whole room in a way that makes it easy to drift back into the songs whenever you want.

    Conger’s set moved easily across genres. One minute it was The Fray, then Zach Bryan, John Denver, Tom Petty, and a few other unexpected turns along the way. His gravelly voice carried the whole thing comfortably, and for those of us used to seeing him behind a drum kit, hearing him step forward with guitar and vocals felt like a bit of a surprise reveal.

    FRIDAY

    707 Sportsbar & Nightlife – Camp Comfort & Tuff Roots
    Camp Comfort took the stage with the kind of energy that makes you wonder how any band is supposed to follow them. The groove is deep, the musicianship is razor tight, and the whole band plays with a level of confidence that comes from serious miles on the road. Zac Conger, who we’d just watched step forward as a singer the night before at Murphy’s, was back where many people first knew him — behind the drum kit — pushing the whole engine forward.

    Tuff Roots closed out the bill with the kind of roots-reggae sound that has been helping them build momentum across the region. Based in Sioux Falls, the group has been working its way onto festival stages like Sioux Falls JazzFest and Saturday in the Park, carrying a style that blends classic reggae rhythms with touches of soul, rock, and jam-band improvisation. Saxophone lines and melodic guitar parts give their songs a warm, layered feel, anchored by the steady bass grooves that sit at the center of the genre.

    Saturday

    Abys | Speed City Demons & Dew Claw

    Saturday night was back to familiar territory catching Speed City Demons, who remain one of the most reliably greasy rock bands in the local lineup. Their sound leans into gritty garage rock with a sense of humor about itself, and the band always manages to sneak in strange little sonic details that keep things interesting. This time it was the occasional synthetic flute tone floating over the top of the guitars, a weird but somehow perfect flourish.

    The night also featured the performance debut of a new band called Dew Claw. Their sound landed somewhere in that grungy, off-kilter pocket where things feel a little loose and unpredictable in the best way. At times the lead vocals even carried a bit of a David Byrne tone, which gave the set a slightly quirky edge that stood out right away.

    Side Quest:

    Black Hills artist Jehle Kae | Abys

    While I missed the official opening Friday night, I did get a chance to spend some time with the new artwork currently hanging at Aby’s by Black Hills artist Jehle Kae. The show features intricate black-and-white pen drawings inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of the region, with compositions built from dense layers of line work that invite you to slow down and study them for a while.

    Jehle describes the work as being shaped by both the land and personal experiences of grief and transformation. The pieces carry a quiet intensity up close, and the show will remain on display at Aby’s through April 3 for anyone who wants to spend a little time with it.

    Weekends like this are a good reminder that the Black Hills scene isnt stagnant, stale or boring. One night you’re sitting back with an acoustic set, the next you’re locked into reggae grooves, and by Saturday you’re watching a brand new band take their first crack at a stage. Different rooms, different sounds, but the thread running through it all is the same: Artists showing up, trying new things, and keeping the local scene moving forward one night at a time.

  • MoonCats Bring Their “Americonscious Campfire Folk” Back to Lost Cabin in the Black Hills

    MoonCats Bring Their “Americonscious Campfire Folk” Back to Lost Cabin in the Black Hills

    March 12, 2026 • 5:00 pm @Lost Cabin Beer Co

    Some touring bands pass through the Black Hills once and move on, while others thers keep finding their way back. For the North Dakota trio MoonCats, the Hills have slowly become something closer to a second home. The band returns to Lost Cabin Beer Co. this Thursday, continuing a relationship with the region that has grown steadily over the past seven years.

    “We’ve built some really strong relationships in the Black Hills,” said Scott Balliet, the band’s manager. “The crowds show up and make us feel accepted. Not just like visitors, but almost like locals.”

    That connection grew through the kinds of friendships that form on the road. Time spent with the Camp Comfort crew and legendary host Dana Nordquist helped turn the Black Hills into a place the band now circles back to again and again.

    “The Black Hills is like a home away from home,” Balliet said. “The vibe here just fits with what we do.”

    MoonCats aren’t really folk, bluegrass, or Americana. Their sound doesn’t sit neatly into any one genre, so they made up their own: “Americonscious Campfire Folk.”

    “We all grew up sitting around campfires playing music,” Balliet explained. “Our songs try to capture that feeling. You don’t need a big stage. You just need something that pulls people together.”

    That idea shapes their live shows. Banjo, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and washboard all rotate through the set as the band mixes original songs with the occasional cover. The goal is about creating a shared moment in the room.

    “We want people to leave the burdens of the outside world behind for a while. Detach, unplug, be present, connect… and get lost in the joy.”

    Since forming in 2018, MoonCats have released four full-length albums and toured across a dozen states, building a following through the same kind of small venues and tight-knit communities that make nights like this possible. Their current run of shows reflects that momentum. The band is on a short tour that will take them to their first-ever performance in Denver, part of an effort to share their sound with new communities along the road.

    Even as they branch out into new territory, the Black Hills remain a regular stop on the map. Lost Cabin this Thursday likely won’t be the last visit this year. The band hinted that they expect to roll back through the region again soon, continuing a relationship that keeps growing each time they pass through.

    If their past visits are any indication, Thursday night at Lost Cabin will feel less like a tour stop and more like a gathering of old friends.

    Filer image

    The Moon Cats will be featured on Prairie Musicians, a Prairie Public television series that highlights artists from across the northern plains. Their episode premieres March 19 at 9 p.m.

    Learn more about the program:
    https://www.prairiepublic.org/television/prairie-musicians-2026/

  • All for One: Seraphim’s Three Musketeers Brings Big Adventure to a Small Stage

    All for One: Seraphim’s Three Musketeers Brings Big Adventure to a Small Stage

    Some theatre companies wait for the right stage to exist. Others build it themselves.

    What began as a small independent company has grown into its own performance space and a reputation for staging ambitious productionst. Their newest show, The Three Musketeers, continues that tradition with sword fights, political intrigue, and a classic adventure story adapted specifically for their Rapid City stage.

    The script itself comes from Seraphim’s own Stephen Farruggia, who adapted Alexandre Dumas’ novel for this production. The original story was first released as serialized fiction, appearing in episodic installments rather than as a single book. That structure meant making choices about what to keep and what to streamline for the stage.

    Farruggia focused the adaptation around the famous diamond scandal storyline while sharpening Cardinal Richelieu into a more clearly defined villain, allowing the plot to move quickly from one adventure to the next without getting bogged down in exposition.

    “It’s a fun adventure,” Farruggia said. “And I wanted to play with swords.”

    The swords are very much part of the show.

    Director Chris Wheeler, who also choreographed the combat in Seraphim’s earlier production of The Scarlet Pimpernel, worked with the cast to train them in stage rapier fighting. Rehearsals included weeks dedicated specifically to learning the mechanics of swordplay before folding the choreography into the broader production.

    Staging that kind of physical action presents a particular challenge in Seraphim’s intimate theatre. The story moves through multiple locations and requires room for duels, escapes, and shifting alliances. Instead of relying on frequent scene changes, the set was designed to transition quickly between different levels and spaces so the story can keep moving while the action unfolds. 2026-03-12 -The Three Musketeer…

    That kind of creative problem solving has become part of the company’s identity. Each production seems to push the limits of what their space can do.

    Farruggia hints that this show goes even further.

    “We went for it with this show,” he said. “There are some elements we’ve never done at Seraphim before.”

    Having their own theatre has opened the door for that kind of experimentation. It also raises expectations. Sets become more elaborate. Costumes more detailed. Productions begin to approach the scale of much larger venues.

    “Once you break the seal on making everything top notch,” Farruggia said, “you can’t go back.”

    For audiences, that ambition is part of the draw. Seraphim productions often feel closer to big-city theatre than what people might expect from a small independent company operating in Rapid City.

    And that may be the real story behind this production.

    The Three Musketeers is a tale about loyalty, courage, and a handful of characters who refuse to back down from impossible odds. It turns out that spirit isn’t limited to the story on stage. Sometimes it belongs to the people building the stage itself.

    The Three Musketeers
    Seraphim Theatre
    March 6 – March 14

    Tickets: $17–$50

    Get Tickets
  • Roots and Rhythm at 707

    Roots and Rhythm at 707

    Tuff Roots and Camp Comfort bring a night of reggae and roots rock to Rapid City

    Reggae doesn’t show up on the Rapid City calendar every weekend, which is part of what makes nights like this stand out.

    “Camp Comfort always brings the energy and a strong local following, so we’re excited to have them back and hear their new single live. We’re also looking forward to Tuff Roots’ debut at the 707 and continuing to bring strong regional acts to Rapid City.”
    – Brianne, operations manager @ 707

    On Friday, March 6, 707 Sports Bar & Nightlife will host a double bill built around groove-driven reggae and roots rock, with Sioux Falls–based Tuff Roots joining Black Hills favorites Camp Comfort for a night that leans into warm bass lines, brass accents, and the easy rhythm that reggae tends to bring with it.

    The night begins with a social hour at 7 p.m., with music starting around 8.

    Tuff Roots has been building a steady following across the region over the past several years. The band formed in Sioux Falls but draws on a wide range of musical experience from its members, blending classic reggae structures with elements of rock, soul, and jam-band improvisation. That mix gives their live shows a relaxed but dynamic feel, anchored by steady rhythms and melodic guitar work, with saxophone lines weaving through the groove.

    Their debut album, Planting Seeds, introduced the band’s approach to songwriting and helped establish them on the regional festival circuit. Since then they’ve appeared at events like Sioux Falls JazzFest, Saturday in the Park in Sioux City, and the Shangri La Music Festival, while also recording a performance for the long-running music series The White Wall Sessions. Their sound stays rooted in traditional reggae influences but carries the flexibility of musicians who have spent years playing across multiple genres.

    Sharing the stage are Camp Comfort, a reggae-rock band based here in the Black Hills. The group has built its local reputation on high-energy shows and a style that blends reggae rhythms with rock structure and improvisational jams. Founded by songwriter Nevada Romo, Camp Comfort draws heavily on personal experience and the easygoing ethos that reggae has long carried with it, aiming to create music that feels both reflective and celebratory.

    That balance between groove and movement tends to translate well in a live setting. Where Tuff Roots leans toward smooth, classic reggae tones, Camp Comfort often pushes toward the jam side of the spectrum, creating space for extended instrumental moments and audience interaction.

    Putting the two bands on the same bill makes sense for the Black Hills scene. It brings together a touring act that has been steadily expanding its regional reach with a band that many local audiences already know well.

    For Rapid City, it also offers something a little different from the usual weekend lineup. Reggae has always had a way of turning a room into a shared rhythm section, where the crowd becomes part of the groove just as much as the band.

    Whether you come for the horns, the bass lines, or simply the promise of a room full of good vibrations, this one is built to keep the rhythm moving all night.

    Tuff Roots + Camp Comfort
    March 6, 2026
    707 Sports Bar & Nightlife (21+)

    Social Hour – 7 PM
    Music – 8 PM

    • $10 Presale
    • $15 at the Door
    • $25 VIP Upgrade (reserved seating, expedited entry, VIP bar)

    Get TIckets

  • Dahl Emerging Artists Spotlight Delivers Blues, Groove, and Family Harmony

    The Dahl Emerging Artists Spotlight once again proved why these events have become a staple of the local music scene—an evening defined by talent, range, and a genuine sense of community.

    Mark Falk and Brian Mahaney

    Mark Falk and Brian Mahaney opened the night with a set of old-school blues classics, led by the warm resonance of Mark’s beautifully restored resonator guitar—a once-discarded instrument that now sings with character and depth.

    Their chemistry was effortless. Mark carried the vocal lead while Brian layered in tasteful guitar lines, stepping forward when the song demanded and pulling back when it didn’t. A few humor-laced relationship tunes reminded the audience that heartbreak hasn’t changed much in the last 90 years—only the vocabulary has. Where modern songs mention social media blocks, these blues standards tell stories of bruised pride and dramatic exits. The crowd responded with steady laughter and knowing smiles.

    A standout moment came with their rendition of “Girl From Ipanema.” The jazz standard, known for its complex chord changes, is rarely attempted live, but the duo navigated it smoothly, delivering a soulful and confident performance that shifted the mood while maintaining the intimacy of their set.

    Lawren Erickson, Gary Rose, and Josh Marquis

    The second act brought a polished trio in Lawren Erickson, Gary Rose, and Josh Marquis—musicians clearly comfortable with one another and fully in command of the room.

    Lawren’s original songwriting stood front and center, particularly during a “cowboy song” that transitioned from laid-back blues to a driving freight-train rhythm. The technical demands were high, but the trio handled them with precision and ease.

    Josh Marquis showcased his versatility, shifting between flowing melodic leads and sharp, energetic runs that elevated each arrangement without overpowering it. Meanwhile, Gary Rose anchored the set on bass with understated authority. Without the support of a percussion section, his playing carried both groove and structure, weaving subtle complexity into every line.

    The trio demonstrated not only instrumental skill but mature musicianship—each player enhancing the others rather than competing for attention. A playful highlight came when Lawren invited the audience to shout “BEER!” on cue, turning the room into part of the performance.

    Dysfunky Family Band

    Closing the night was the Dysfunky Family Band, an energetic, ever-evolving ensemble featuring the Daiss family alongside close collaborators. What followed felt less like a set and more like a musical variety show—instruments rotating, harmonies stacking, and the occasional Dad joke keeping things light.

    They opened with upbeat reggae-influenced tunes featuring ukulele, cajón, and harmonica, immediately lifting the room’s energy. Amy and Alicia’s harmonies were tight and natural, trading leads seamlessly while maintaining a rich blend.

    A tender performance of “Tonight You Belong to Me,” led by Amy’s clear fiddle melody, stood out as one of the evening’s most charming moments. Later, Amy’s original “I Can’t Get You Off My Mind” delivered a jazzy, 70s-inspired groove with powerful vocal phrasing and dynamic harmony work. The sisters’ layered vocal ending energized the audience and marked one of the strongest original pieces of the night.

    The tone shifted with Mr. Daiss’ original song “Mother Earth,” a reflective piece addressing environmental concerns. The room grew quiet as the message settled in—a reminder that music can entertain, but it can also challenge and unite listeners around shared responsibility.

    A Night That Feels Like Community

    As the evening concluded, the audience lingered—hugging, shaking hands, and exchanging conversation before heading back into their Friday nights. That sense of connection is what sets the Dahl Emerging Artists Spotlight apart. It’s not just a showcase of talent; it’s a gathering place for artists and patrons alike.

    If you haven’t attended one yet, you’re missing more than a concert—you’re missing a community. Come see for yourself every Friday evening from 6-8pm; this Friday March 6th will be the Emerging Artists monthly open mic, so feel free to sign up to perform and join in the fun.