The Missoula Underground

Winter Mercantile at Western Cider
2025-11-29 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | Western Cider, 501 N. California Street, Missoula, Montana, 59802, United States
Level up your holiday gift-giving at the annual Winter Mercantile at Missoula’s Western Cider from 12:00 pm Noon to 4:00 pm on Shop Small Saturday, November 29

Level up your holiday gift-giving at the annual Winter Mercantile at Western Cider from 12:00 pm Noon to 4:00 pm on Shop Small Saturday, November 29, featuring some of Missoula’s hardest working designers and artists selling jewelry, ceramics, vintage and many other handmade goods. This pop up shop is the best spot to find a curated selection of well made products! Come by for a drink and get a head start on your holiday shopping!

Indigenous Made Winter Market at Missoula Fairgrounds
2025-11-29 09:00 - 15:00 | Missoula Fairgrounds, 1101 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana, 59801, United States
One day. 40+ artists. An unforgettable celebration of indigenous brilliance. Don’t miss the 2025 Indigenous Made Winter Market 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday, November 29 at the Missoula Fairgrounds

We’re counting down the days until our favorite holiday tradition returns. The Indigenous Made Winter Market is back for our 4th year on Small Business Saturday – bringing together Indigenous art, culture, and community to kick off the holiday season.

This isn’t just a market – it’s a celebration. Come experience a vibrant space where art, fashion, food, and story come together to celebrate Indigenous creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift, connecting with community, or just showing up for the immaculate vibes – this is the place to be.

What to Expect– 40+ Indigenous Artists & Makers – Shop one-of-a-kind art, fashion, jewelry, home goods, gifts, and more.– Live Entertainment – Vibe with DJ Carlos and enjoy special performances throughout the day.– Delicious Eats – Grab a bite from the iconic Fat Baby Frybread food truck.– Free & Open to All – Everyone is welcome to celebrate with us!

Calling All Indigenous CreativesVendor applications are now open! Indigenous artists and makers are invited to apply online to showcase their work at this year’s market.

Apply here: https://www.indigenousmademontana.com/winter-market

Vendor amenities include:• Professional event management• Refreshments & hospitality• Widespread marketing & media outreach• Amazing crowd turnout

Small Business Saturday in Downtown Missoula
2025-11-29 08:00 - 22:00 | Paddleheads Post, 140 N. Higgins Avenue, Missoula, Montana, 59802, United States
Put your money where your heart is – shop local in Downtown Missoula for Small Business Saturday, November 29; many of the other towns in Western Montana also have great deals and special hospitality for keeping your money in the community during the holidays

Celebrate Small Business Saturday in Downtown MissoulaThe Downtown Missoula Partnership invites the community to celebrate Small Business Saturday on November 29, kicking off a vibrant holiday season filled with family-friendly events, festive activities, and countless opportunities to support local businesses.

Small Business Saturday is a full-scale, nation-wide promotion where communities are encouraged to support locally-owned businesses. “Our Downtown is the Heartbeat of Missoula, and one of the reasons it is so strong is because of all the small businesses,” said Linda McCarthy, Executive Director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership. “We encourage Missoulians to “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is” and consider supporting our community by shopping small, dining locally, and utilizing locally-owned professional services during the holidays. When we support local businesses, our entire community thrives.”To help Missoulians make the most of the day, the Downtown Missoula Partnership will host the Shop & Dine Local Headquarters at the Paddleheads Post (140 N. Higgins) from 10am–2pm. Visitors can pick up swag, learn about special Small Business Saturday promotions, and receive free hot cocoa coupons to Bernice’s Bakery—a warm and delicious way to start a day of supporting local businesses.

As the community enjoys local shopping and dining during the holidays, one easy way to further that support is by purchasing the Downtown Missoula Gift Card, which is accepted at over 200 locations, including shops, restaurants, galleries, and entertainment venues. Whether as a stocking stuffer or a thoughtful gift for friends, family, or colleagues, the Downtown Gift Card keeps dollars circulating locally and helps Missoula’s small businesses thrive. Downtown Gift Cards can be purchased at the Downtown Missoula Partnership (218 E. Main), the Paddleheads Post (140 N. Higgins), or online at missouladowntown.com/downtown-gift-card/.

Small Business Saturday also marks the start of the Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest, running November 29 thru December 18. Community members are invited to stroll through Downtown, enjoy the creative and festive window displays, and vote for their favorites. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the season’s spirit while exploring local storefronts. The voting link will be available starting November 29 at missouladowntown.com/holiday-window-contest/.

Kalispell Weekend Market - Give Thanks Craft and Vendor Market at Flathead County Fairgrounds
2025-11-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States
Get a jump start to your holiday shopping at the Give Thanks Craft & Vendor Market hosted by Kalispell Weekend Market 10:00 am to 5:00 Saturday, November 22 and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, November 23 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell

Get a jump start to your holiday shopping and welcome fall at the Give Thanks Craft & Vendor Market! This two-day event brings together an amazing variety of local artists, crafters, and small businesses offering:– Clothing & accessories– Unique gifts & home décor– Beautiful woodwork & jewelry– Self-care & beauty products– Handmade Montana products– Delicious food, drinks and sweet treats

Come support local vendors, find one-of-a-kind treasures, and enjoy the vibrant community atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for the perfect fall décor, gifts, or just want to explore amazing local craftsmanship, there’s something for everyone!

Brawl of the Wild: UM Griz Football vs MSU Bobcats at Washington-Grizzly Stadium
2025-11-22 12:00 - 16:00 | Washington-Grizzly Stadium, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana, 59812, United States
The biggest game in FCS Football is headed to Missoula’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium this Saturday as the #2-ranked UM Grizzlies host the #3 MSU Bobcats in the annual Brawl of the Wild with kickoff at 12:00 pm Noon

(Details by Grizzly Athletics) – The biggest game in FCS football is headed to Missoula this Saturday as #2 Montana hosts #3 Montana State in a Brawl of the Wild Showdown that will also serve as the de facto 2025 Big Sky Conference championship game.

The Griz enter this week’s showdown undefeated at 11-0 on the season while the Cats come in at 9-2 (7-0 in conference), and on a 9 game winning streak. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday with limited tickets available for purchase at gogriz.com/tickets or by clicking the button below.

Tickets via GrizTix LINK

Highlights of last week’s UM Griz Football victory at Portland State

Saturday also is the final day of this season’s Can the Cats competition, an annual competition between the UM and MSU communities to see who can raise the most food and funds for their local food banks.

Keep your eye out for volunteers pushing Albertsons shopping carts to collect donations of canned goods and non-perishable food items. You can also make donations at the UM concessions stands when you check out, or right now by visiting CanTheCats.com .

The Brawl of the Wild will broadcast statewide on Scripps Sports as well as streaming live on ESPN+ . Riley Corcoran and Greg Sundberg will be on the radio call on the Grizzly Sports Radio Network.

Where to Watch:

Missoula/Kalispell – KPAX

Billings – KTVQ

Bozeman – KBZK

Butte – KXLF

Great Falls – KRTV

Helena – KXLH

Additional Markets – Boise, Twin Falls, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Tucson, San Luis Obispo, Denver

Watch parties are also being hosted across the country in more than 30 states including Alaska and Hawaii. For a full list of official Griz-Cat watch parties, click the button below or visit grizalum.org .

Gris-Cat Watch Parties list nationwide LINK

Holly Jolly Artisan Craft Show at The Daly Mansion
2025-11-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-14 10:00 - 16:00 | The Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, United States
All three floors of The Daly Mansion in Hamilton will be bustling with local vendors selling homemade & handmade goods of all kinds for the Holly Jolly Artisan Craft Show 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15

Save the Dates for the Daly Mansion’s Holly Jolly Artisan Craft Show!

On Friday, November 14th & Saturday, November 15th all three floors of The Daly Mansion will be bustling with local vendors selling homemade & handmade goods of all kinds! Pottery, jewelry, gourmet goodies, home decor & so much more! There’s sure to be something for everyone on your list!

Visit the Mansion to get your local holiday shopping done early from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm both days.

Also Featuring:Hattie’s Kitchen – taco soup & cornbread lunchPop-up vintage & resale boutique*New* Daly Mansion Volunteer Specialty Items BoutiqueDaly Mansion Volunteer Bake SaleDaly Mansion annual Food Drive

Please join us for this delightful & unique Bitterroot Valley tradition!

Lolo Community Center Holiday Craft Show
2025-11-15 09:00 - 14:00 | Lolo Community Center, 12345 Hwy 93 South, Lolo, Montana, 59847, United States
Start your holiday shopping at Holiday Craft Show at the Lolo Community Center Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Start your holiday shopping at Holiday Craft Show at the Lolo Community Center Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Over 30 vendors! Patty Wagon will be there with their lunch menu.

The Prairie Sisters Vintage Christmas Market at Missoula Fairgrounds
2025-11-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Missoula Fairgrounds, 1101 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana, 59801, United States
Shop early-bird hours 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, or all day 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday at the Prairie Sisters Vintage Christmas Market at the Missoula Fairgrounds

Join us on Saturday, November 8 for The Prairie Sisters Vintage Christmas Market in Missoula, Montana!

We are excited to welcome a wide selection of hand-picked, high-quality vintage and handmade vendors. You can expect to find a beautiful building full of vintage and handmade:

Home goodsFurnitureJewelryClothingCandlesBody productsHoliday decorationsSweet treatsand MORE!

Shop local and support small businesses this holiday season! Because of our high quality standards, shopping The Prairie Sisters Vintage Market means you’re shopping the best of the best vintage and handmade vendors in Montana!

Doors open Saturday at 10:00 am, and tickets are $5 at the door.

Want to shop before the crowd, and enjoy a night of Christmas Market magic? Purchase an early bird ticket from our website to shop from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, November 7: https://www.theprairiesisters.com/early-bird-ticket

The Market Beautiful at Flathead County Fairgrounds
2025-11-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States
Listen to live music, make your own Christmas wreath, sip on hot cider, see Santa and let us help you get into the Christmas spirit while shopping a huge selection of curated vintage and handmade items at The Market Beautiful / Christmas Market 2025 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, November 7 and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, November 8

The Market Beautiful / Christmas Market (formerly Vintage Whites) is full of whimsy & amazing vintage finds. Browse the biggest Montana market & find gifts for everyone! Listen to live music, make your own Christmas wreath, sip on hot cider, see Santa and let us help you get into the Christmas spirit!

Shopping, food trucks, gingerbread house workshop, Santa’s visit, cocktails, live music, ballet performance and more!

Early shopping will be available from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday night for $20 (includes Saturday as well). 10:00 am to 4:00 pm General Admission on Saturday is $10! Kids 12 and under get in free.

$10 General Admission Saturday-only (Kids 12 & Under FREE)

PURCHASE TICKETS LINK

Holiday Craft Bazaar at St. Paul Lutheran Church
2025-11-08 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-07 09:00 - 15:00 | St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks Street, Missoula, Montana, 59801, United States
Pop in for the annual Holiday Craft Bazaar and Café at Missoula’s St. Paul Lutheran Church 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8

It’s that wonderful time of year again!

Join us for our Annual Holiday Bazaar & Café – a joyful day of shopping, fellowship, and holiday cheer!

Handmade gifts & craftsDelicious soup & warm rollsFresh-baked pies & ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls

Bring your family, your friends, and your Christmas spirit. Good food, great finds, and plenty of cheer — all under one roof!

First Friday in Downtown Hamilton
2025-11-07 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-03 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-09-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Hamilton, Montana, 217 West Main Street, Hamilton, Montana, 59840, United States
Hamilton’s Downtown Association hosts First Friday each month from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with businesses open late, art galleries showcasing exhibits, live music, food and beverages.

Downtown Hamilton businesses stay open late on Friday from 5:00 pm til 7:00 pm. Come and enjoy your Hamilton’s downtown and do some local shopping in a festive atmosphere during the evening hours.

SOS Fair / Winter Gear Swap at Missoula Fairgrounds
2025-10-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Missoula Fairgrounds, 1101 South Avenue West, Missoula, Montana, 59801, United States
One of the sure signs of the changing seasons is the annual SOS Fair & Winter Gear Swap in the Commercial Building at the Missoula Fairgrounds happening 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday, October 26

Find great bargains at everything you need for outdoor gear at the annual SOS Fair & Winter Gear Swap in the Commercial Building at the Missoula Fairgrounds happening 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday, October 26.

Come to Buy Gear:Purchase: Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pmMissoula Fairgrounds, Commercial Building

The entrance to the fair will be through the west door. Come prepared to wait outside until 10am when the fair starts. Masks are optional unless the statues change. Due to Covid-19 Delta, we may limit the number of people in the building at one time.

This is like a giant, multi family rummage sale. No guarantees what will be available and we indicate what bindings are out of date and can’t be worked on by the shops.You can find just about any equipment that has to do with skiing, snowboarding, skating or others at the winter ski swap. Whether you are interested in alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, telemark skiing, or back country skiing you will find equipment to fit your needs. If you are new to the sport, we can help you get started.Most of the equipment that is sold at the swap is in pretty good to excellent condition… the previous owners have already loved the equipment but want to move on to newer gear. Prices will vary but you can expect to find some very good deals. It is not uncommon to find starter packages (skis, boots, poles, clothes) sold for under $100. Good equipment sells for a fraction of the original price.Come to the sale early, the best deals go first and fast! Payment can be made via cash, check, or credit card.This is a consignment sale. All sales are final.

WE TAKE VISA, MASTER CARD, DISCOVERY, AMERICAN EXPRESS. A card fee of 3% will be charged.

To Sell:Check IN Consignment Gear on Saturday, October 25 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Commercial Building at the Missoula Fairgrounds.No Early Shopping or Looking CLICK HERE for complete details on Gear Check-in and Selling on the SOS Fair website.

SnowBowl and Marshall Ski Patrols realized over 50 years ago that youngsters would be learning to ski each year with ill-fitting, hand-me-down equipment.

They held the first Ski Swap in 1968 in the basement of a bank. The swap grew and moved to the Missoula Fairgrounds, moved to Adams Center, then Big Sky High School, in recent years is back at the Fairgrounds.

2018 marked the 50th Anniversary Sale. Our mission is promoting family outdoor recreation of skiing, boarding and other outdoor winter sports.

Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market at Flathead County Fairgrounds
2025-10-14 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States
Get a jump start to your holiday shopping and welcome fall at the Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market in the Trade Center Building at Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, October 11 and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, October 12

Get a jump start to your holiday shopping and welcome fall at the Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market! This two-day event brings together an amazing variety of local artists, crafters, and small businesses offering:Clothing & accessoriesUnique gifts & home décorBeautiful woodwork & jewelrySelf-care & beauty productsHandmade Montana productsDelicious food, drinks and sweet treats

Come support local vendors, find one-of-a-kind treasures, and enjoy the vibrant community atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for the perfect fall décor, gifts, or just want to explore amazing local craftsmanship, there’s something for everyone!

Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market at Flathead County Fairgrounds
2025-10-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States
Get a jump start to your holiday shopping and welcome fall at the Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market hosted by Kalispell Weekend Market in the Trade Center Building at Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, October 11 and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, October 12

Get a jump start to your holiday shopping and welcome fall at the Hello Fall Craft & Vendor Market! This two-day event brings together an amazing variety of local artists, crafters, and small businesses offering: – Clothing & accessories – Unique gifts & home décor – Beautiful woodwork & jewelry – Self-care & beauty products – Handmade Montana products – Delicious food, drinks and sweet treats

Come support local vendors, find one-of-a-kind treasures, and enjoy the vibrant community atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for the perfect fall décor, gifts, or just want to explore amazing local craftsmanship, there’s something for everyone!

Questions? Contact us at kalispellweekendmarket@gmail.com

Stevensville Harvest Valley Farmers Market
2025-10-04 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-27 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-20 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-13 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-06 09:00 - 14:00 | Stevensville Harvest Valley Farmers Market, 301 Main Street, Stevensville, Montana, 59870, United States
The Stevensville Harvest Valley Farmers Market runs 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturdays on Stevi’s Main Street from May 3 thru October 4

We are a local Farmers Market in Stevensville, Montana.We accept WIC and Senior Coupons.We offer a wide variety of items at the market each week from Artisan, Homemade Crafts, Produce, Plants, Baked Goods, Local Honey, Food Trucks, and Music.Take a drive to our small community market that is nestled in the heart of Bitterroot Valley and check out the history of Stevensville.We have much to offer in our community with opportunities for shopping at the Farmers Market and many of the small stores that are along the Main Street in Stevensville.

Every Saturday May 3 thru October 4, 20259:00 am to 2:00 pm weather permitting .

No dogs are allowed in the market area for safety of our customers and vendors.

Kootenai Harvest Festival at Libby Riverfront Park
2025-09-13 12:00 - 18:00 | Riverfront Park, 123-561 City Service Road, Libby, Montana, 59923, United States
Come to the Kootenai Harvest Festival! – a fun-filled day at Riverfront Park in Libby with local vendor shopping, a locally sourced Harvest Meal, and live music all day from 12:00 pm Noon to 6:00 pm Saturday, September 13

Come to the Kootenai Harvest Festival! – a fun-filled day with local vendor shopping, a locally sourced Harvest Meal, and live music all day from 12:00 pm Noon to 6:00 pm Saturday, September 13, 2025

The Prairie Sisters Vintage Market at The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
2025-09-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, Missoula, MT, 59804, United States
The Prairie Sisters Vintage Market 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, September 6 at The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

Shop the best vintage and hand-made vendors in the area.

Find the perfect vintage or hand-made item for your home, or simply enjoy getting out and about this spring!

Support local business owners

Enjoy delicious food and beverage vendors

Vendors will be selling vintage goods as well as handmade items such as body products, jewelry, food and treats, home decor, bags,clothing and much more!

The Prairie Sisters Vintage Market is a juried show, meaning vendors apply and we accept only those who fit our high quality standards – when you shop PSVM, you’re shopping the best of the best!

Want to shop an hour before the crowd? Purchase an early bird ticket from our website: https://www.theprairiesisters.com/early-bird-tickets to start shopping at 9:00 am!

Learn more about The Prairie Sisters and our upcoming markets here: https://www.theprairiesisters.com/

Pixies with Spoon & Fazerdaze at KettleHouse Amphitheater
2025-08-31 18:30 - 22:30 | KettleHouse Amphitheater, 605 Cold Smoke Lane, Bonner, MT, 59823, United States
Logjam Presents welcomes Pixies for a live concert performance with Spoon & Fazerdaze at the KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner at 6:30 pm Sunday, August 31

Doors @ 5:00 pm

Logjam Presents welcomes Pixies for a live concert performance with Spoon & Fazerdaze at the KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner at 6:30 pm Sunday, August 31.

Tickets on sale at Logjam Presents Box Offices and online while supplies last. General Admission lawn, reserved stadium seating, reserved premium stadium seating, general admission standing pit and premium box seating tickets are available. Shuttle Tickets and Parking Passes can be purchased here. Crazy Creek Chair Rentals for this event are available for advance purchase here. All ages are welcome.

Take a look at these tips to best prepare yourself for a smooth ticket buying experience.

Additional ticketing and venue information can be found here.

All concerts are held rain or shine. Be prepared for extremes such as sunshine, heat, wind or rain. All tickets are non-refundable. In the event of cancellation due to extreme weather, tickets will not be refunded.

About Pixies

2024 is a momentous year for Pixies. 35 years since groundbreaking Platinum-certified album Doolittle catapulted the band into the UK Top Ten, and 20 years since their celebrated reformation at Coachella, Pixies are deep into their second act. Bigger than ever, playing to fans spanning multiple generations, and in the midst of their most creative purple patch. A brand new album – titled The Night the Zombies Came – marks the group’s tenth studio record (if you count 1987’s Come On Pilgrim). 13 new songs that will arrive aptly in time for Halloween amongst a 2024 touring schedule taking in circa 70 shows across the globe – and even more to be announced in 2025.

Spend an hour or two in the company of Charles Thompson IV, and the conversation will soon fall to zombies, bog people, Druidism, medieval theme restaurants, shopping malls, the Masons, surf rock and the practice of slaughtering lambs in Monmouthshire. Along the way, he might take in Shirley Collins, the distinctive dry drum sound of 1970s’ Fleetwood Mac, and the sestina, a poetic form attributed to the 12th century Provencal troubadour Arnaut Daniel.

Out of such disparate wonders are Pixies’ albums made. “Fragments that are related,” as Thompson (better known as Black Francis) puts it. “And juxtaposed with other fragments in other songs. And in a collection of songs in a so-called LP, you end up making a kind of movie.”

Since their earliest days in late 80s’ Massachusetts, and on past their 2004 reformation, Pixies have worked this way — proclaiming their love for both Hüsker Dü and Peter, Paul and Mary, relishing both loud and quiet, singing somewhat kaleidoscopically of reincarnation, scuba diving, Luis Buñuel, necromancy, Samson and Delilah and the 1986 comedy drama Crimes of the Heart. From the start their music has been imagistic, contradictory, electrifying. They stand as one of the most influential, revered and deeply adored bands of all time.

The juxtaposed fragments that make up this year’s The Night the Zombies Came are perhaps the most cinematic of their career — gothic meets sci-fi shlock, horror flicks, dark folk tales and Ennio Morricone westerns.

Early on, the band noticed the songs were dividing into two camps: what they came to call the ‘Dust Bowl Songs’ — country-tinged, ballad-esque numbers such as Primrose and Mercy Me, and on the other side, the album’s furious punk numbers such as You’re So Impatient and Chicken. Only Jane (the Night the Zombies Came) keeps its feet in both camps — reminiscent of early 60s Phil Spector, the band hitting the sweet spot between mushy and abrasive, it’s a track that Thompson allegedly likened to being chased by a swarm of bees.

For this outing, the band returned to work with producer Tom Dalgety, who has steered Pixies since 2016’s Head Carrier and on through 2019’s Beneath the Eyrie and 2022’s Doggerel, and whom Thompson refers to as “a good master of a lot of information” and drummer David Lovering calls “a fifth Pixie now.”

Over the course of the last three records, they have established a rhythm with Dalgety: the producer heading to Thompson’s house in Massachusetts a week before recording to familiarise himself with the new songs, sitting in his front room with a laptop, while the singer strums out a few ideas. “I really love that process,” Dalgety says. “From a professional, productive side of things it’s really nice to get to know the songs and experiment. But also from a geeky fan point of view it’s quite cool being sat on the sofa and seeing ten Pixies songs just suddenly unfold in front of you.”

From there, the band reconvened once again at Guilford Sound studio in Vermont, sharing a house together, rehearsing in the living room, walking through the autumn woods each day to the studio to record. The hours were not relentless. When the sun went down, Thompson notes, they could still go howl at the moon.

But they used their time wisely and often experimentally. For several records now, Thompson has been chasing a different sound for the drums — not the expansive boom of the expensive studio live room with its perfect acoustics and high-end microphones, but something deader and drier and more akin to the records he loved from the early 1970s.

For a couple of Zombies’ tracks — Chicken and Mercy Me, Lovering and Dalgety relented. The producer set up a small drum kit in a small room, deadened the drum skins with cloth and gaffer tape. “And they stuff David in there,” recalls Thompson. “And you know, climbing in and out of it is sort of like climbing in and out of a fish aquarium. And it probably gets warm in there. So I’m sure that he suffered for my dry drum sound. I don’t know if there was blood, but there was definitely a lot of sweat. And maybe some tears.”

Lovering is diplomatic. “Compact would be the word for it,” he says. “Everything was just nice and muffled the way I like to hear it. And if you listen now, it is concise, you hear the drums much more, they’re not as open and brash or arena style. They’re just right there, and it makes for a different kind of sound.”

There were other changes, too. A line-up shift has brought in bassist Emma Richardson (Band of Skulls), and with it, a different quality to the band’s sound. Thompson praises the restrained elegance of her voice. Dalgety speaks of her “fantastic creative vibe”. Lovering describes her as “a consummate bass player.”

The recent tour, of which Richardson was a part, was particularly joyful for the drummer. “I think the response to these shows and the way that we’ve been playing is because of the rhythm section,” he says. “Of course I’m up there, but Emma is up there with me. And when the rhythm section is locked on, and laying it down with power, Joe and Charles can screw off as much as they want. She’s just killing it.”

For Richardson, the invitation to join Pixies was a huge and unexpected compliment. She spent weeks exploring the band’s back catalogue ahead of the live shows, trying to understand their magic.“They have this amazing way of making something that is quite a complicated arrangement sound really effortless and very succinct,” she says. “But actually when you’re picking it apart as a musician you realise all the tricks that they use. How cleverly they form songs and structures and lyrics.”

The new record is particularly special to her. “It’s incredible. It feels slightly different from anything they’ve done before. It’s got this brilliant mixture of a knowing nostalgia and a punk, energetic, fun element. But it’s got this dark underbelly, and an almost romantic longing feel to it. They’ve created these little worlds which are quite cerebral and dreamlike, but it’s also got these big vistas. It’s quite cinematic.”

Zombies also marks an expanded role for guitarist Joey Santiago. The track I Hear You Mary began as an instrumental he wrote for the previous album, and having also contributed his first lyrics on Doggerel, on this record, Thompson set Santiago the task of writing the words to Hypnotised by completing a sestina — a lyrical riddle of sorts, formed of six stanzas of six lines, in which words are rotated in a set pattern. Santiago, startled by the responsibility, set about labouring over a complex set of lyrics before coming to a realisation: “The truth of the matter is you’re just putting fucking words together. The lesson is just not to be precious. Just fucking do it.”

In recent years, Santiago has also sought to learn more about guitar playing — aware, he says, that it might help conquer his long-running imposter syndrome. “I was afraid, kinda, that I was going to lose my identity if I started studying it, but it made my studio experience a lot easier,” he says. For months, he found himself following the Youtube algorithm as it guided him through intensive tutorials. “Every musician will tell you that it’s a never ending thing,” he says. “It’s pretty remarkable that there are 12 notes and there are still possibilities out there.”

Lovering, too, has been deep in pursuit of self-improvement. “I find that the only time I get better or change or learn new things is just by playing and playing and playing,” he says. “It’s taken me 50 years to learn how to play the drums, and I mean that honestly. In the last year I’ve learned the way to play off my right hand — I never did that in the past, I was lazy as hell! And everything is like a clock now. So I’m excited not only with what we did with the record, but for upcoming stuff. We’re going to sound good!”

Back in the company of Thompson, the conversation has moved on to headless chickens, gargoyles, the lingering presence of the undead. “When we’re putting together a record,” he says, “we’re not trying to make it fit around a particular theme, but there may be a couple of catchphrases or words or concepts that are kicked around. On this particular record, I would say it would be ‘zombies’. Though it’s not in every song, and it’s not necessarily presented in a literal way.”

On every album they’ve ever made, Pixies have taken the record’s title from the lyrics — a song title, or a line. For a time, Thompson says, he struggled to find a title for this new collection of songs. “The only phrase that seemed to sound good to me is this one. Everything else seemed too goofy. You would think The Night the Zombies Came would be the most goofy-sounding, but to my ear, and to Tom’s also and to the rest of the band, it felt like ‘Oh, yeah, The Night the Zombies Came. That’s it. Of course.”

About SpoonSpoon, Austin’s most esteemed rock ambassadors, have released ten albums to date including a string of five straight top 10 records: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007), Transference (2010), They Want My Soul (2014), Hot Thoughts (2017), and Lucifer on the Sofa (2022).

Lucifer on the Sofa earned the band its first-ever GRAMMY nomination (Best Rock Album) and was praised by Rolling Stone as “The best thing they’ve ever done.”

Hailed by TIME as “one of the greatest American rock bands”, Spoon topped Metacritic’s chart as the single most critically acclaimed band of the aughts.

In 2019, Spoon released Everything Hits At Once: The Best of Spoon, which was praised by NPR as a “convincing argument for Spoon being one of their era’s most distinctive and excellent rock bands.” That same year, Fender released the Britt Daniel Signature Telecaster Thinline as part of their artist signature electric guitar series – highlighting the enduring influence of Daniel’s precision-punk style that has helped fuel Spoon to become what the Guardian calls ‘one of the finest bands of their generation.’

About FazerdazeIn a society where being strong and resilient is often held up like a badge of honour, it’s much, much harder to acknowledge when enough is enough – to accept when it’s time to let go. It’s a truth that New Zealand singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Amelia Murray has spent years wrangling with, but one whose story thankfully comes with an empowering punchline of personal reclamation in the form of ‘Break!’: her returning EP as Fazerdaze.

“You can get so caught up in these false constructs of niceness and loyalty – these rigid societal constructs of what being a ‘good’ person’ is – but the best thing I did for myself was break free of that paradigm and ruthlessly start putting myself first,” she begins. “This EP is a punctuation mark of that, of being disruptive and severing from the false parts of myself.”
