KHEW News Staff | As of Oct. 13, 2026
One Montana band’s new album for 2026 comes from Missoula garage punk trio Minot. “Down & Out at the Thunderbird” came out Oct. 2 on DragBunt Records, and the band plays Bozeman on Saturday, Oct. 17. It’s the trio’s third studio album, according to music site V13, which premiered the record on Sept. 30.
The album has 12 songs. Every one runs between about two and four minutes, and the closer, “Slime,” is the longest at 3:53.
Montana band new album 2026: what’s on it
V13 describes the record as fast, raw and lo-fi, drawing on 1960s garage rock, classic punk and modern pop. The band’s own pitch, quoted by V13, is less formal: “Garage punk wrapped in a hot dog bun, steamed to perfection and served to people with short attention spans that don’t have anything else better to do on a Friday night.”
The album opens with “Scarecrow.” Other song titles include “Bottle of Tumz,” “Dirtbag,” “Route 28,” “Taxed Emotions” and “Gatekeeper.”
The Bandcamp credits say the album was recorded and mixed at The Brand Ranch by Christopher Powley between July 2025 and January 2026. Mike Steak mastered it at Astoria Sweat Box, and KP Industries did the album art. The DragBunt catalog number is DBR015.
How new are these musicians?
Two of Minot’s three members had never played an instrument until the end of 2023, V13 reports. Less than three years later, they have a third album out, and V13 says the members now switch instruments from song to song.
The Bandcamp credits back that up. Drums are credited to two players, guitar to three, and vocals to three.
That’s the part of this story worth passing along to young musicians on the Hi-Line. Minot didn’t wait to get good before getting started. They learned by playing, kept recording and put the record out on an independent label. Starting late is not a reason to skip starting.
Where to hear Minot
The next scheduled show is Saturday, Oct. 17, at The Labor Temple in Bozeman, with Tiny Iota and At Nadir. The band lists the date on its Bandcamp page, and a Bozeman events listing drawn from the venue’s calendar shows an 8 p.m. start. The Gallatin Labor Temple is at 422 E. Mendenhall St. in downtown Bozeman. Check with the venue for cover.
The band already played two vinyl release shows: Oct. 2 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Oct. 3 at the M80 Chicken in Missoula.
For anyone who’d rather listen from home, the full album streams on Minot’s Bandcamp page, which also lists the lyrics for every track. Ear Candy Music in Missoula took vinyl preorders ahead of the Oct. 2 release.
Why a Missoula punk band matters to Hi-Line listeners
Big touring acts get most of the attention when Montana music makes the news. Bands like Minot are the other half of the picture: people who live here, write songs here and play the bars, halls and community spaces that keep a local scene going.
And yes, the name will catch the eye of anyone who’s driven east on U.S. 2. The band hasn’t said publicly, in the sources KHEW News reviewed, why it picked the name of the North Dakota city, so we won’t guess.
If you know of a Hi-Line or Rocky Boy band with a new release, KHEW News wants to hear about it. Local artists are a big part of what this music section is for.
Quick answers
What is Minot’s new album? “Down & Out at the Thunderbird,” the Missoula trio’s third studio album, released Oct. 2, 2026, on DragBunt Records.
How many songs are on it? Twelve.
Where is Minot playing next? The Labor Temple in Bozeman on Saturday, Oct. 17, with Tiny Iota and At Nadir.
Where can I listen? Minot’s Bandcamp page streams the full album.
Sources
- V13: Minot premiere “Down & Out at the Thunderbird” (Sept. 30, 2026)
- Minot on Bandcamp: Down & Out at the Thunderbird
- Ear Candy Music vinyl preorder listing
- Gallatin Labor Temple
KHEW News based this story on the published sources above. No one was interviewed for it.
