February 13, 2024 newsletter

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Howdy everyone!

Here's an overview of what's happening this week.

The guitars, banjos, fiddles, thoughtful poetry, and humorous tales of the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering are rolling into Alpine this week, with more than 40 performers participating.

Events kick off Wednesday, Feb. 14 with a show rodeo benefiting the SRSU Rodeo Team (S.A.L.E. Rodeo Arena, 6 PM; $10 for adults, $5 for youth 12-17, free under 11 and SRSU students). The Mercantile opens at noon on Thursday, and onsite ticket sales begin then. Roux Alpine is catering a cowboy supper at the Alpine Civic Center ($25 advance, $30 door) each evening (Thursday-Saturday) from 5:30-7 PM. The poetry and music start at 7:30 PM, with a new Thursday night show. This year the lineup includes poets Jay Snider and Joel Nelson, and musicians Rod Taylor and Chris Ryden ($30 advance, $35 door).

Friday morning begins with the traditional Chuckwagon Breakfast at Poet's Grove in Kokernot Park ($5). The keynote address, "Making the Ordinary Heroic: The Story of John Lomax," from documentarian and folklorist Hal Cannon will be at 9:40 AM on Friday morning in Marshall Auditorium, after a 9 AM welcome and dedication of the event to former board member Jim Goodnight. The popular free "Taste of the Gathering" with eleven performers will be at 10:45 AM, also in Marshall Auditorium. Then the Gathering is in full swing, with 2 afternoon shows each day, and many free sessions. The Friday 1 PM show features the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott with Andy Hedges ($15 advance, $20 door). The Friday 3:30 PM show is a live podcast interview, with Andy Hedges interviewing poet Waddie Mitchell for the 100th episode of his show, Cowboy Crossroads ($20 advance, $25 door). And the day concludes with the Friday night show, including music, poetry, and humor from Doris Daley, Jill Jones and the Jingle Bobs, Andy Nelson, and Corb Lund ($30 advance, $35 door).

After another delicious Chuckwagon Breakfast, Saturday morning is all free sessions. Some samples include "Soldiers and Patriots," with Brenn Hill (host), Joel Nelson, and Randy Huston; "Swing It!," with Kristyn Harris (host), Jill Jones and the Jingle Bobs, and Brigid and Johnny Reedy; "Black Cowboy Songs with Dom Flemons"; and "Songs and Poems Worth Remembering," with Vess Quinlan (host), Tom Sharpe, and Rod Taylor. The Saturday 1 PM show features Waddie Mitchell and Pipp Gillette ($15 advance, $20 door), while the 3:30 PM show is "Fifty Years Ago: Songs of Ian Tyson" ($20 advance, $25 door) with performances from Tyson's friends Corb Lund and Brenn Hill. Free sessions continue on Saturday afternoon.

The cast of last year's Saturday night show in rehearsal. Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

For the Saturday night show, noted songster Andy Hedges will recreate his duets from his recent Roll On, Cowboys album with friends Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dom Flemons, Pipp Gillette, Brenn Hill, Corb Lund, Waddie Mitchell, Brigid Reedy, Randy Rieman, Rod Taylor, and Andy Wilkinson ($45 advance; $50 door). The show premiered in Lubbock in April 2023, and will go to Carnegie Hall this March. But you can see it in Alpine, with an iconic lineup of folk legends, Grammy winners, cowboy poets, singer/songwriters, and old-time cowboy musicians sharing a single stage. The Gathering expects this show to sell out, as Charlie Goodnight: His Life in Poetry and Song did in 2023.

The full Branding Crew for the 2024 Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering includes: Mary Abbott, Jerry Brooks, Dale Burson, Bob Campbell, Hal Cannon, Craig Carter (with Zack Casey), Doris Daley, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Juni Fisher, Dom Flemons, Pipp Gillette (with Lloyd Wright), Amy Hale, Kristyn Harris, Andy Hedges, Brenn Hill, Randy Huston, Jill Jones and the Jingle Bobs (Bob Goldstein and Zeke Severson), Ross Knox, Daron Little, Corb Lund, Deanna McCall, Kaden Miner, Waddie Mitchell, John Moore, Andy Nelson, Joel Nelson, Vess Quinlan, Brigid and Johnny Reedy, Randy Rieman, Chris Ryden, Tom Sharpe, Jay Snider, Gail Steiger, Rod Taylor, Andy Wilkinson (with Emily Wilkinson), and Cora Rose Wood. All seven ticketed shows are using reserved seating this year, and tickets are selling fast online. For a full schedule, see lonestarcowboypoetry.com/schedule.

All the best,
Kay and Gene Nowell
Co-Chairs
Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering

P.S. Get your tickets for this weekend (Feb. 15-17). See you this week in Alpine!

P.P.S. We rely on individual members to provide a foundation of support to make the Gathering possible. With around 40 paid poets, musicians, and storytellers, it's a huge undertaking and an exciting experience. If you're already a member, thank you!! If you're not yet a member, can you consider it? Membership starts at $6 per month.

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