Society Hall  "where community celebrates!"

The River Arkansas is fronted by former Haunted Windchimes songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Clark. In the winter of 2014, Clark penned a collection of songs about heartbreak, love, and escaping the clutches of day-to-day society. The following spring, Clark decided to make that collection into a record. By good fortune Macon Terry, a bass player and former member of the band Paper Bird, happened to be in the neighborhood the day the studio was booked for recording. Though Terry arrived not knowing any of the songs, what they captured was the beginning of something great. Later they would add Robin Chestnut on drums, Rachel Sliker on violin, and Benjamin Gallagher on piano. With the release their third studio album "Any Kind of Weather", the band has hit their stride, traveling the mid-west, south, and western United States as well as playing festivals all across Colorado, delivering their distinctive mixture of Country, Blues, Folk and Americana.

Mike Clark is a Calhan, CO native now residing on the banks of the Arkansas River in Pueblo, CO. With The River Arkansas, Mike (a self-taught natural) composes, sings, plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica. In other musical endeavors, The haunted Wind Chimes and Sugar Sounds, Mike has been known to play mandolin, violin, and piano.

Rachel Sliker, violinist, is also a Colorado native hailing from Colorado Springs and now resides in Boulder. Rachel trained classically on violin from ages 5 to 22 and her chops on the violin transcend from symphony stage performance to bluegrass festivals. With The River Arkansas, Rachel brings the down-home Americana flavor with her fiddle and soft, melodic vocal harmonies.

Macon Terry, upright bassist, grew up in the big ol' mess of Houston, TX and moved to Boulder, CO to study Environmental Design. After living along Colorado's front range for over a decade he traded in the busy city life for a calm existence in the San Luis Valley. Macon started playing guitar and electric bass soon after going to see Guns n' Roses and Sound Garden at the age of 11. Prior to playing music Macon was a professional ventriloquist and puppeteer from the age of 8 to 14. He began playing upright bass when he was 24, and it has been his primary instrument ever since.

Robin Chestnut, percussionist, is originally from Mountainview, CA and now calls Boulder, CO his home. Robin is a Stanford Band Camp alum from 7th and 8th grades where he performed the trumpet. Since then, Robin has mastered the drums and now lays it down for The River Arkansas. He also is quite the numeric genius that has a PhD in math from CU Boulder.

Michael O'Connor is a well respected guitarist and singer-songwriter celebrated for his soulful voice and gritty storytelling. Inducted with a star into the South Texas Walk of Fame and honored in the Corpus Christi Songwriter Hall of Fame, O'Connor's contributions to the music scene are widely recognized and revered.

A lifetime of hard-won experience on- and off-stage has allowed Michael a rare insight into the world of the rough, the faithless, the romantic, and the unlucky, all of whom find refuge in his songs. As a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, O'Connor's virtuosity shines through in his performances and recordings. His versatility allows him to explore a wide range of musical styles, from blues and folk to rock and country, showcasing his skill and artistry.

His career has seen him perform at iconic venues and festivals all over the United States and Europe all while touring with some of the most respected artists in Texas music. A seasoned performer, O'Connor has graced stages large and small, captivating audiences with his intimate performances, quick wit and understated charm. O’Connor’s contributions to the music scene extend beyond his solo work, as he collaborates with fellow artists and shares his talents through his work with Veterans and in the community.

With over fifty album credits to his name and a discography that reflects his evolution as an artist, Michael O'Connor continues to push the boundaries of his craft, exploring new sounds and styles while staying true to his roots.

From honky-tonks to concert halls, Michael O'Connor's music continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, proving that the spirit of Texas music and songwriting is alive and well in the hands of this gifted troubadour.

"Michael O’Connor is well-acknowledged as a great guitarist, but you should listen to his songs as well. He writes beautifully, authentically and comes by that gritty gravel road of a voice honestly. You’ll not find a forced moment in his work.”
- Rod Picott

Hailing from the backroads of central Pennsylvania, Jason McIntyre’s roots run deep, but his music has taken him far and wide. From the mountains of Colorado to his current home in Austin, Texas, his songs carry the echoes of the places he’s been and the people he’s met along the way.

With four albums under his belt, McIntyre’s musical journey has been marked by collaboration and exploration. His debut album with The Rustlanders opened doors to touring opportunities with the likes of Ryan Bingham, Grace Potter, and Justin Townes Earle. Following the band’s disbandment, McIntyre embarked on a new chapter with longtime collaborator Junior Tutwiler, releasing the album “Miles” in 2014.

The creative partnership between McIntyre and Tutwiler gave birth to the project LEMONT, resulting in the collaborative albums “Bloomsday” (2017) and “Songs of Our Friends” (2020). Their music, enriched by contributions from friends across the country, showcases McIntyre’s ability to connect with fellow musicians and craft compelling narratives through song.

Currently based in Austin, McIntyre continues to write and perform alongside his friend and collaborator Michael O’Connor. Their creative synergy has produced a wealth of original compositions, with the duo embarking on a yearly pilgrimage that brings them back to their former home in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to his pursuits in songwriting and performance, McIntyre is deeply involved in music education and therapy. He teaches various instruments and songwriting at Swallow Hill Music in Denver, Colorado, and works with Challenge America on a music therapy program aimed at addressing and treating PTSD in military veterans. Through his music and his outreach efforts, McIntyre seeks to create connections and inspire healing in the lives of others.

Jason McIntyre is a singer-songwriter whose musical journey is as diverse and rich as the landscapes he traverses. Inspired by the timeless sounds of the great rock and roll bands of the 60s and 70s, the famed Texas Troubadours, and the legendary blues artists, McIntyre’s music resonates with a deep understanding of human complexities.

Kim Treiber and Chipper Thompson have performed in Alamosa numerous times over the years in several different musical configurations. They have been living and performing in Taos for over 33 years (Kim over 40 years!) and the concert will feature Kim and Chipper’s original songwriting from the entire span of their local and regional careers. Kim and Chipper will be joined by regional legend Don Richmond on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, and northern New Mexico rock stars Conrad Cooper on bass and Gilbert Frayer on drums.

Special guests will include Nicole Haworth, daughter of songstress and Kim’s partner in Burning Joan, Kirsten Parsons. Nicole was recently awarded a grant supporting her amazing music from Howlin’ Dog Music Group, her voice is not to be missed!

“My job as a songwriter is to not only reflect the joy and beauty of this world, but also reflect on the extremely precarious times in which we find ourselves,” says Kim, who moved to Taos from Chicago in 1983. She has been a member of the legendary Taos rock band Bohiems, as well as Fear No Art, Burning Joan (named for one of Chipper’s songs), and her long-lived and much-loved honky-tonk band Kim And The Caballeros.

Chipper Thompson moved to Taos from north Alabama in 1991 and has been performing locally and regionally since his second night in town. Chipper released his debut solo CD in 1997, and since then he and Kim - both individually and collectively - have released 12 albums worth of their music, ranging from honky-tonk country to contemporary folk to rock to old-time mountain music. Society Hall board member Don Richmond, also performing in the show, says, “Chipper and Kim are two of the most relentlessly creative artists and people I have ever known. This will be a great journey through the width and breadth of their amazing musical catalog.”

Kim says, “For me, playing music is a way to immerse myself and truly be in the present moment, the chatter in my head ceasing, and the anxiety around the challenging times we live in, fade away… even if just for a few hours. And hopefully that extends to the listeners, and we all can have a collective experience of joy and connection.”

In addition to music, Kim is a potter, photographer, and farmer. Her pottery is for sale at the gift shops of the Harwood Museum of Art, Millicent Rogers Museum, Magpie, and Taos Ceramic Center. Chipper has written a novel and a non-fiction art book and designed a coloring book, and his fine art is shown at Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe.