Whitefish MT

Whitefish Trail Hootenanny 2026

O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center - Operated and Managed by The Whitefish Theatre Company

Experience a one-of-a-kind collaboration as acclaimed Nashville songwriters Wynn Varble, Brice Long, and Jo Smith join select musicians from the Glacier Symphony for an unforgettable evening of songs, stories, and symphonic arrangements.
Hear the hit songs behind some of country music's biggest artists performed in an intimate setting, elevated by the rich, cinematic sound of a live orchestra. Throughout the evening, the songwriters will share the inspiration, humor, and personal stories behind the music, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the creative process that turns ideas into timeless songs.
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Wynn Varble&nbsp;
Wynn came to love country music at a very young age when he discovered his father’s collection of classic country vinyl records. He even traded his big brother’s “Grand Funk Railroad” for a copy of Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John”, and still has a scar to prove it! Around the age of 14, a neighbor showed Wynn a few chords on an old guitar. Before long, Wynn was playing on his own and writing his own songs.
After years of performing in honkytonks &amp; bars, Wynn decided to make the move to Nashville. His first radio single was “Fit To Be Tied Down” by Sammy Kershaw. Since then Wynn has had many hits including three number ones...all three were nominated for “Song Of The Year” by the CMA or ACM and sometimes both. Wynn’s three number one songs are “Have You Forgotten” by Darryl Worley, “Waitin’ On A Woman” by Brad Paisley, and “I’m A Little More Country Than That” by Easton Corbin. In addition to his number ones, Wynn has had songs recorded by artists such as Garth Brooks, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Trace Adkins, Mark Chesnutt, Willie Nelson, Kellie Pickler, Lee Ann Womack, and many others.
In 2009, Wynn received the Nashville Songwriters Association’s Songwriter of the Year Award. He made his Grand Ole Opry Debut in 2011. Additionally, Wynn has appeared on several tv shows and was featured weekly on the Joey &amp; Rory Show for several years. Wynn writes songs nearly every day and tours extensively. He is currently signed with BMG Music Publishing.
Brice Long
Brice has enjoyed a successful 25+ year music career. As a songwriter he has had over 175 of his songs cut with artists such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Hank Williams Jr, Randy Houser, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Gary Allan, Cody Johnson, Chris Young,&nbsp;Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Casey James, Randy Travis, John Michael Montgomery, Porter Wagoner and many more. &nbsp;
Brice’s songwriting hits include the #1 singles “Heartache On The Dance Floor” by Jon Pardi and “Nothing On But The Radio” by Gary Allan. Randy Houser’s “Like a Cowboy”,a song that also garnered Brice a CMA nomination for Song of the Year. &nbsp;Other recent hits include Randy Houser’s debut single, “Anything Goes”, “Today” from Gary Allan, Casey James’ “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” and Jon Pardi’s, “What I Can’t Put Down”.
Brice Long is signed to Sony Music Publishing. He is a native of Hopkinsville, KY. His music is available wherever digital music is streamed and sold.
Jo Smith
Jo Smith was named to Rolling Stone’s 10 New Artists You Need to Know in 2017 and CMT’s Next Women of Country 2018, making her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2013, and becoming a Highway Find on Sirius XM’s The Highway in 2017. Jo was the opening act on Blake Shelton’s All About Tonight Tour, Chris Young and Thomas Rhett’s Liquid Neon Tour, and Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley’s Locked and Reloaded Tour. After moving to Montana in 2020, she released her first independent project Wyoming, featuring Vince Gill on the title track. As “Wyoming” attests, Jo has “been able to keep ahold of that traditional timeless thing that makes music last.” Her music possesses a timeless beauty that grows out of uncanny ability to tell stories that balance the emotional depths of traditional country and soul with a deep desire to deliver songs passionately to fans searching for songs that express universal feelings of longing, loss, hope, and love.

Local Event: Songwriters & The Symphony

Flathead County

Whitefish

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Songwriters & The Symphony

Experience a one-of-a-kind collaboration as acclaimed Nashville songwriters Wynn Varble, Brice Long, and Jo Smith join select...

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