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Missoula, Montana based performing and recording artist

"First and foremost I am a musician..."

John Floridis, Missoula, Montana based guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer has been a resident in the wide open spaces and "Big Sky" state since 1993 having moved there from the strong shouldered, down-but-never-out city of Cleveland, Ohio. He has released nine recordings mixing bluesy, folk-rock vocal tunes with adventurous solo acoustic guitar compositions. His most recent recording “Thankful” was released in August of 2023. His 2013 album “Live From 11th and Grant” is the soundtrack from his Northwest Emmy Award winning performance for the Montana PBS program of the same name.

Among the solo guitar albums John has released are two very popular winter themed recordings “December’s Quiet Joy” and “The Peaceful Season.” Those recordings have  inspired a decade long production of multiple December benefit concerts around Montana. The concerts benefit organizations that work with community members experiencing homelessness, treatment programs for severely troubled youth and refugees to Montana from war torn areas around the world. These concerts have raised over $100,000 over the last decade.

His popular recording “October Surprise” is a collection of guitar instrumentals, the titles of which explore his journey with and recovery from open heart surgery.

John was named Missoula's best musician by the Missoula Independent and remained a consistent finalist in that category for that paper’s publication. He has performed for almost three decades at numerous concert series, festivals, universities and music clubs in the Western.

John has shared the stage with artists as diverse as Derek Trucks, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, John Mayall, Leon Russell, Lucy Kaplansky, Bruce Cockburn, Kelly Joe Phelps, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Patty Larkin.

In addition to performing solo Floridis also performs in the John Floridis Trio/Quartet with award winning drummer Ed Stalling and bassist/songwriter, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Travis Yost and cellist Jennifer Slayden. The John Floridis Trio/Quartet has shared the stage with Robert Cray, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leftover Salmon and Ben Sollee and as well performed at the Crown Guitar Festival, The Sweet Pea Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, The Festival of Sandpoint, the Gorge Amphitheater and many other festivals and events around the region.

For over 25 years John has been the producer and host of Montana Public Radio’s weekly feature Musician’s Spotlight for 20 years. The program is a multiple winner of the Montana Broadcasters Award for Best Non-Commercial Program.

John has also hosted and co-produced “Live From Home” for Montana PBS. The program features home recorded and independent music videos by Montana musicians.

As a music composer his work has been used for multiple programs on both Montana Public Radio and Montana PBS. He has consistently been among the winners of the International Acoustic Music Association's awards for instrumental composition. His music has been used for commercial programs, films for projects through the University of Montana and for the soundtrack of the multiple award winning documentary “Mississippi Queen.”

Prior to his full time career in music, John worked with emotionally troubled youth as a registered music therapist and clinical social worker both in Ohio and Montana.

 

Videos

Music

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    Thankful - "Thankful"

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    What I Don't Know - "Thankful"

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    Only If I Can Be A Boat - "Thankful"

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    We'll Wait For You - "Thankful"

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    Almost 50 - "Thankful"

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    What Happened Last Night - "Thankful"

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    Take Me to The River - "Thankful"

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    The Dance Of Apollo - "The Dance of Apollo"

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    Late May Moon - "In This Place"

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    Cross Road Blues - "In This Place"

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    In This Place - "Live From 11th and Grant"

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    Fear No Funk - "The Dance of Apollo"

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    Judgment Day - "This Year"

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    Spinning Wheel - "Live From 11th and Grant"

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    Only If I Can Be A Boat - "Live From 11th and Grant"

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    Thankful - "Live From 11th and Grant"

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