Montana guitarist and singer-songwriter John Floridis along with percussionist Ed Stalling and cellist Jennifer Slayden and special guest Cade Slayden of North Fork Crossing will be performing a benefit concert for Gallatin Valley Food Bank. Floridis, Slayden and Stalling will be performing material from his two seasonal releases “December’s Quiet Joy” and “The Peaceful Season” both of which feature his fingerstyle acoustic guitar arrangements of traditional Christmas/Winter melodies, as well as original compositions. The trio also includes seasonal vocal tunes, both original and by other artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Patty Larkin, Ben Harper and John Gorka in the performance. The songs feature lyrics speaking to the journey from darkness to light, seasonally, emotionally and spiritually. The concerts welcome the audience to escape the frantic stress that too often pervades the holiday season and relax in an intimate listening environment with music to warm the heart and soul. Floridis has been performing benefit concerts across the state for 15 years, raising over $120,000 in total. Floridis is a 30 year Missoula resident and has been recognized as one of the state’s most popular and respected musicians, having performed in a variety of venues, festivals and concert halls in support of his ten independently released albums. Floridis was recently named “Artist of the Year” by the prestigious Arts Missoula Awards and has been featured in an Emmy Award winning episode on 11th and Grant on Montana PBS He is also the host and producer of Musician’s Spotlight on Montana Public Radio which received its fourth “Non Commercial Program of the Year” award from the Montana Broadcasters Association and Live From Home as well on Montana PBS. For more information about the concerts and John Floridis visit www.johnfloridis.com