Platts returns to Saratoga for New Year’s Eve

Sam Platts has been living his dream of being a professional musician since he left Saratoga over three years ago.

In 2009, Platts moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to be closer to his parents.

Since that time he has performed in several bands including the band he is traveling with this winter.

This will be the one year anniversary for his band, The Kootenai Three. Last year Platts was playing a solo gig and invited his musician buddies to play with him.

“We just winged it and it turned out pretty good, so we kept working,” Platts said.

Platts still plays with Wiley and the Wild West and traveled with them to Russia last spring.

In his spare time, he plays with the Kootenai Three. Dec. 29, the band plays in Missoula and will perform in Saratoga at the Saratoga Resort and Spa on New Year’s Eve.

Sam had contacted the Resort and Spa earlier to set up a New Year’s gig and they had already booked a band. The band cancelled and Platt’s New Year’s Eve gig was cancelled, too, “so it all worked out”, Platts said.

The band plays music by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Willie and Waylan and Ernest Tubb.

Platts, a 2009 graduate of Saratoga High School, was also the Rocky Mountain Region Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow winner in 2008.

“It will be good to see everybody, it has been a while,” Platts said. He is looking forward to seeing family and friends during his short stay.

Jan. 2 he is scheduled to perform in Livingston, Mont. and then back to Missoula for a gig Jan. 3 and 4.

The band will begin their performance at 9 p.m. at the Snowy Mountain Pub at the Saratoga Resort and Spa.