Performing singer/songwriter, Carol Montag, returns to CSPS Hall to present her celebratory
Christmas concert titled "A Carol Christmas" on Saturday, November 29th at 7:00 pm. Joining Carol
will be Bruce Millard on guitar, mandolin, and banjo; Gerard Estells on piano, keyboards, and guitar;
and Jim White on drums and percussion. Per Carol, “I couldn’t be more excited to be performing with
these wonderfully talented musicians. They’re absolutely fantastic, and together we’re going to bring
plenty of holiday cheer!” Audiences can expect a heartwarming evening filled with classic Christmas
carols, contemporary holiday favorites, and a few playful surprises to make the season bright. We hope you’ll join us for this special celebration of music, joy, and the spirit of the season.
Carol Montag grew up in Ames, Iowa and studied piano and learned to play flute in school. She learned to play guitar by ear while listening to the music of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and other folk music legends. she accompanies herself on six and twelve string acoustic guitars, piano, and lap dulcimer.
Carol has recorded seven albums: Song for Carrie, White, Marigolds, Second Sermon, Strange Ballet (her most recent release), Silent Night, and Simple Gifts (with the group known as Tribute). Montag has performed at numerous music festivals, coffeehouses, colleges, and concert series. She has opened for or shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Three Dog Night, Michael Johnson, Tom Paxton, Jim Post, Greg Brown, Kenny Rankin, David Wilcox, John Gorka, John Stewart, and others. Carol was commissioned to write and perform music for Ballet Iowa and the LaCrosse Ballet.
Notable appearances include Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk
Festival, Great Traditional Music Festival, Bix Beiderbeck Festival, Shawano Folk Festival, the Old
Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Iowa Public Television, The Flea Market with host Jim Post -
WBEZ-fm, KCRG and KGAN Television, Live From Studio One - KUNI fm, 19th Street Coffeehouse,
Madison, WI, Bluewhale Coffeehouse, Green Bay, WI, Front Porch Music, Valparaiso, IN, No Exit Cafe,
Chicago, IL.
Recently, Carol has received multiple awards for her music video titled "Strange Ballet" which was
written in the aftermath of a land hurricane that stuck much of Eastern Iowa. She released her sixth
album and songbook titled "Strange Ballet" on August 23rd at CSPS Hall.
