Counting Coup featured at Northern Native American Heritage Week event

Billings-based band Counting Coup will play a free concert at Montana State University-Northern Friday evening as part of Homecoming and Native American Heritage weeks.

Counting Coup Lead Singer and Bass Player Troy Falcon described their music as Western blues folk rock, and said they are working on their first album.

Three of the band’s four members are Native American and Falcon said their lives and experiences are a significant inspiration behind many of their songs.

“You bleed on the paper a little bit, you know,” he said. “... Really we’re just trying to connect with people.”

He said the band’s music is their way to share aspects of their lives that may not be familiar to non-Native audiences and they’re happy to be part of Northern’s celebration.

“Music is our bridge for culture,” Falcon said.

Northern Assistant Professor Grant Olson, who’s been an organizer of the event, said he reached out to the band after seeing them at Red Ants Pants Music Festival over the summer, playing on a side stage, and was blown away by how good they were.

“The moment they started playing a crowd instantly gathered around them,” Olson said, “... it’s the real deal.”

He said he thought they were the perfect fit for Northern’s celebration after they handily won Best Emerging Artist at the festival.

“I keep telling people come listen to them here for free because these guys are really going somewhere,” he said.

Falcon said the band still plays about 90 percent of its shows in the Billings area and they’re excited to introduce themselves to Havre, and maybe, pick up a few new fans.

The event also will include Northern’s Sweetgrass Society presenting exhibition dancers.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. in the Cowan Hall Courtyard with food trucks serving attendees.