A Carol Christmas

Performing singer/songwriter, Carol Montag, will be presenting a celebratory Christmas concert titled "A Carol Christmas" at CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday, December 7th at 7:00 pm. Joining Carol will be Bruce Millard on guitar, mandolin, and banjo; Riley Thurm on guitar, bass, and pedal steel guitar; and Dillon Rairdin on guitar, keyboards, bass, and percussion. Carol is a former member of the Christmas trio known as Tribute. Tribute performed together to sold out audiences for 19 years. This is Carol's fifth Christmas concert as a soloist. Audiences will enjoy traditional Christmas Carols, contemporary Christmas songs, and a few songs just for fun! One show only. Tickets on sales now.

Carol Montag, grew up in Ames, Iowa and 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. Fellow students could often hear the music of Joan, Joni, and Judy floating down the halls from Carol's dorm room at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. These three women were not only an inspiration to Carol, but also ignited her interest in songwriting.

Carol has recorded six albums: Song for Carrie, White, Marigolds, Second Sermon, Silent Night, and Simple Gifts. 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. Carol has also performed at the World Food Prize Award Ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol. Past performers at The World Food Prize Award Ceremony include such notables as Ray Charles, John Denver, and Simon Estes. She recently was signed to Fervor Records. The label is home to a select roster of emerging indie bands, heritage artists, and an incredible array of cult hits, deep cuts and rarities from the 1920s to current day. Recently, Carol has received multiple awards for her music video titled "Strange Ballet" which was wriiten in the aftermath of a land hurricane that stuck much of Eastern Iowa.

“Upon hearing her music I was stunned and couldn’t wait to write about her. Once I even rented a bus and took a bunch of Des Moines Register reporters and editors on a trip across Iowa to hear Carol sing at Stone City. Carol has a true gift and is a true Iowa treasure.”  - Julie Gammack, former Des Moines Register columnist

"Carol is a genuine discovery. The best to come out of Iowa since Bonnie Koloc."   - Tom Paxton

“...a singer of new songs written by her for her. Carol is not folk or blues or modern, she cannot be categorized, she must be heard.” 

    - Burlington, IA Area Arts Council

“Carol has the voice of an angel. Timeless, transporting, lovely, and evocative. Lyrically wise and uplifting.” 

    - Robert Lindsey Nassif - Theatrical music composer