Think "local arts" on Small Business Saturday

On Nov. 24 (or any day) in Wyoming, shop small, shop locally, shop creatively. Check out the links on our sidebar for artists, performers and writers in your community. Buy a homegrown painting, a CD, a book! Buy your loved one a ticket to a local play or concert. See more ideas on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. You can get free downloadable signage at www.shopsmall.com. 

Zak Pullen inks new album cover for John Kirlin & The High Plains Drifters

Latest album cover by the energetic Zak Pullen of Casper. CDs are for sale at Zak's Corridor Art Gallery and Derby Boutique in downtown Casper. The band will be selling them when it plays at the Wonder Bar on Oct. 12 and at Galloways on Oct. 13.

Equality State Book Festival presenter Zak Pullen illustrates cover of new album by The Wiyos

Cover illustration by Casper's Zak Pullen.

Casper artist and illustrator Zak Pullen will participate in a panel discussion about children's book publishing on Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m., during the Equality State Book Festival in the Casper College Gateway Building. Also on the panel are Cat Urbigkit, Karla Oceanak and Kendra Spanjer. Zak is the co-owner of the The Corridor Gallery in downtown Casper where the bookfest's author reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m. Zak is branching out to do cover designs for music CDs. His latest is a cover illustration for The Wiyos newly-released album, "Twist." Zak is releasing 100 CD/book combinations at $55 each. That includes a meet-and-greet jam and story session and two tickets to the Sept. 14 The Wiyos' concert at the Wolcott Galleria Theatre, 136 S. Wolcott in Casper. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Also playing will be Ten Sleep's Jalan Crossland and John Kirlin and the High Plains Drifters. A great line-up! We hate to tell you all this because we want you to attend the free bookfest events that continue that same evening at 7:30 p.m. with a reading by Wyoming Poet Laureate Pat Frolander followed by a poetry slam (with emcee George Vlastos) at 8:30. Both events are at the Metro Coffee Company downtown.

"Wyoming (for Dummies)" receives 2011 Nammy Award for Best Male Artist

Gary Small and the Coyote Brothers' CD "Wyoming (for Dummies)" received the 2011 Nammy Award for Best Male Artist. The CD features "six crazy rockabilly and surf songs about our quirky culture in Wonderful Wyoming," says Gary Small. Click here for more info.

Chanman Roots Band CD release party tonight at Mangy Moose

Peter Chandler, founder of the Chanman Roots Band, is on the
Wyoming Arts Council's artist roster. Get more info here.

Call for entries: American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest

From American Songwriter magazine online:

For 27 years, the American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest has helped thousands of songwriters become involved in our community. Established in 1984, America Songwriter magazine sponsors six (6) contests per year that run in conjunction with each issue published. Entrants should send lyric sheet only, no cassettes or musical direction. The winning lyric, along with three (3) additional runners-up and up to ten (10) honorable mentions from each contest, will be published in the issue of American Songwriter that follows the deadline of each contest.

Honorable Mentions: Up to ten honorable mentions are recognized in each issue.

Finalists: Top four finalists have their lyrics printed in American Songwritermagazine. One of the four finalists will also be chosen for American Songwriter's one-page Q&A feature in the coinciding issue. 

First Place: First place winner receives a Martin DCX1E acoustic-electric cutaway guitar and a legendary Shure SM58 Microphone.

Grand Prize: One bi-monthly First Place winner will win a trip to Nashville for a dream co-writing session with RCA Recording Artist Chris Young, who recently scored his fourth “No. 1” hit on the U.S. Country charts with the hit single “Tomorrow.” The winner will also receive a full-band demo recording session at a leading Nashville recording studio.

Past Grand Prize Lyric Contest winners have co-written with hit songwriters such as Rodney Crowell ("Stars on the Water," Jimmy Buffett, "Please Remember Me," Tim McGraw, "Making Memories of Us," Keith Urban), Bobby Braddock ("He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones, "People Are Crazy," Billy Currington, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," Tammy Wynette) and Chris Stapleton ("Your Man," Josh Turner, "Never Wanted Nothin' More," Kenny Chesney, "Swing," Trace Adkins). 

Remember, this is a LYRICS ONLY contest, so it is not necessary to have an Audio File attached to the lyric/song you would like to enter (although it is fine if you do). Both Members and non-Members of AmericanSongspace.com only need to account for the LYRIC SHEET for each song entry! 

Upcoming Lyric Contest DEADLINE: September 21, 2011 11:59 P.M. (CST) (November/December Issue).

Details at http://www.americansongspace.com/contest/nov11lyric

Cheyenne's Reproacher launches new CD July 15 at Ernie November

Delta Sonics perform at Plains Hotel April 29

The Delta Sonics, a blues band from Denver, will perform in the grand ballroom of the Historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne on Friday, April 29, 8 p.m. Advance tickets $10 at Phoenix Books and Music, 1612 Capitol Ave. Tickets at the door will be $12. FMI: 307-632-3476

New CD from Gary Small & the Coyote Brothers: "Wyoming (For Dummies)"

Grady Kirkpatrick playing latest CD by Gary Small and the Coyote Brothers today on Wyoming Public Radio's "Morning Music." Selection was "Snaggle-Tooth Jackalope." Here's info from the Coyote Bros web site: "We've just released 'Wyoming (for Dummies).' An EP with 6 crazy rockabilly and surf songs about our quirky culture in Wonderful Wyoming. If you've ever worked in the Park, or been to Yellowstone, ya' better get this one."

Jared Rogerson holds CD release party March 11 at the Rock Rabbit in Pinedale

From musician Jared Rogerson:

After much preparation, the new album "Peace, Love and Horses" was released on Tuesday March 8. On Friday, March 11, we will host a CD Release Party at Rock Rabbit in Pinedale, Wyoming. Admission is free and everyone is invited. I will be perfroming live with a 5-piece band followed by special opening guests, Gelene Cox, and Michelle Humber and Nate Curry. CDs will be on sale for $15 the night of the show. We will also will be giving away free CDs, as well. I hope to see you there.

I am so happy about the new recordings, but the key is getting those songs out there for everyone to hear. So, I would also like to announce that I now share a booking agent with western singer/songwriter Brenn Hill. His name is Charlie Parker and he is a great guy. He has been busy trying to fill up my calendar with performances throughout the West in 2011. I am now available to perform as a solo, duo, trio, or band. If you know of dates I ought play at, PLEASE let me or Charlie know. I'm determined to put a lot of miles on and make 2011 the biggest year ever. I really need your help spreading the word.

We recently launched an all new website at www.jaredrogerson.com. Song snipets can be sampled on the home page. I hope you spend some time there and I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of the new site. If you like what you see, please send the website link to everyone you can think of. And- don't forget to show your support by clicking "like" on my facebook musician page if you haven't already.

Here's Jared's partial traveling schedule:

MARCH 3/11: Record release show at Rock Rabbit
Pinedale, WY

APRIL 4/29 & 4/30: Montana Storytelling Roundup
Cut Bank, MT

JUNE 6/18: Summerfest Arts Fair
Logan, UT

AUGUST 8/6: Concert
Layton, UT
AUGUST 8/10 - 8/13: Madison County Fair & Rodeo
Twin Bridges, MT
OCTOBER 10/7 & 10/8: Nebraska Cowboy Poetry GatheringValentine, NE

NOVEMBER 11/26: Columbia Gorge Cowboy Gathering
Dalles, OR

Alex "Wherever You Will Go" Band in Casper Nov. 12

Alex Band

November 12, 2010 • 7:30 p.m.

Durham Hall, Aley Fine Arts Center, Casper College

The inspiring sound of Alex Band’s powerful, emotionally charged voice is immediately recognizable to millions of music lovers, thanks to modern-day classics like “Adrienne,” “Our Lives” and the chart-topping hit “Wherever You Will Go,” which Billboard recently named the #1 Adult Pop Song of the Decade. And though We’ve All Been There, Band’s solo debut (released June 29 on his own AMB label through EMI), contains the first new material we’ve heard from the former leader of The Calling in half a decade, “Wherever You Will Go” (which he wrote at 16 and released at 19, remarkably enough) remains a staple of the Adult Pop format, while “Our Lives” is a heavily used bumper on ESPN and other sports programming.

If his fans feel that Band is long overdue for a return to the spotlight, the L.A. native has himself been chafing at the bit to make his return throughout the last five years, which he spent in musical exile. But the time has finally come for that voice to inspire us once again. “I’ve lived with these songs for years,” says Band, “and the whole point is to share them with everybody now.”

Describing the title song, which opens this stunningly widescreen album and sets up its thematic breadth, Band says, “It’s definitely about my own struggle, but I think everyone can relate to what I’ve been through from experiences in their lives. I think everything I’m talking about on the record is pretty universal. And knowing now that I’m writing for different cultures, with fans around the world, it’s important that what I’m writing about is generalized enough that people can take the songs in their own way. ‘We’ve All Been There’ is almost like a mantra—‘Here I am…these scars on my hands…doing what I can’—with this chorus behind me singing, ‘We’ve all been there.’”

FMI: http://www.artcorewy.com/

"Songs from the Land" CD features musicians from Idaho and Wyoming

From the Valley Citizen in Driggs, Idaho:

Not only is the Teton Regional Land Trust’s new album release, “Songs of the Land,’ a work of musical art, it is an amazing compilation of Teton Valley’s best musical talents and voices.

Born out of the guiding statement, “Evoking emotion to inspire change,” the Land Trust’s Matt Lucia and Emily Nichols worked closely with some of Teton Valley’s favorite singers and songwriters (Ben Winship, Michael Batdorf, Greg Creamer and Mike Hurwitz to name only a few of the 16 artist) to pull together the album debuting at the nonprofit’s annual summer picnic next Saturday, Aug. 7.

Wyoming artists on the album include Anne and Pete Sibley, Jackson; Alta’s Merissa Wilson and Mike Hurwitz; Margo Valiante, who grew up in Jackson; Screen Porch Door and Loose Ties, Jackson.

Margo Valiante, who grew up in Jackson and recently played at Targhee Fest and is set to complete the Music on Main concerts series in August, sings "First Born Son" on the album.

“This song is dedicated to those who redirected their entire life to be in a place of inspiration. I feel blessed that my family picked up everything and moved to Wyoming when I was six years old. For anyone whose life has been shaped by the shadow of a peak or the sound of a river, you are a First Born Son.”

For more information and to purchase a cd, contact Emily Nichols, 208-354-8939 or emily@tetonlandtrust.org 

"Chrome, chrome on the range..."

Michael Hurwitz and The Aimless Drifters with Tracy Nelson and Gary McMahan (June 2010). A new album of 12 new original songs, with covers of an old Libba Cotton song and a Gary McMahan song.

A real Mullligan Stew of American music styles: Western swing, Cajun, cowboy Ballads, folk, and honkytonk country. - Mike

Songs - Your Dancin' Shoes, He's a Rodeo, Love Song, Uncle Lucky, Roy Rogers in Japan, Out of the Fryin' Pan, Ed Trafton, Cowboys Gone Wild, Edith, Shake Sugaree, Real Live Buckeroo, Poor Cowboy, Home Town Reel, Minnie Sang the Blues.

Mike Hurwitz of Alta is on the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster. Bring him and his new CD to your community with an Arts Across Wyoming grant. Get info at http://www.wyomingartscouncil.org/

"Riding the White Horse Home" -- from the written page to the CD

Grady Kirkpatrick on KUWR's "New Music Wednesday" featured a song with a familiar-sounding name. It was "Riding the White Horse Home," written and performed by Salt Lake City musician Kate MacLeod. Wondered if it was based on the fantastic memoir of the same name by Laramie County, Wyoming, native Teresa Jordan (now in SLC). Grady noted on-air that indeed this was the case. But wyomingarts needed more info so looked up Kate MacLeod, which is the kind of stuff the Internet is for. We found this:

The song Riding the White Horse Home is based on the book by the same name. It is a memoir about rural family life in Wyoming, written by artist and author Teresa Jordan.

The song is on MacLeod's new CD, Blooming. Another amazing fact: the cover art was done by Denver artist William Matthews who also illustrated the first edition of Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx, back when she lived in Wyoming.

What would we do without real books by real writers?

Vote now for "Modern Day Mountain Man"

Wyoming Arts Council roster artist Bryan Ragsdale of Green River sends this request:

"Modern Day Mountain Man" has been nominated for Country Song of the Year by the Independent Singer Songwriters Association. It is a huge honor and I need you help. Starting tomorrow you can go to http://www.issa-music.org/ to vote for "Mountain Man" or the song of your choosing. Please pass this on to all your friends, family, folks you don't know. Help me put the Rocky Mountains back into mainstream music. Blog it, post it...any help would be greatly appreciated! Voting deadline is Nov. 30.

To bring Bryan to your community via a WAC grant, go to http://www.wyomingartscouncil.org/ and clicks on "Grants" on the left sidebar.

Spencer Bohren returns to Casper 10/24

Casper native Spencer Bohren will perform on Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m., at Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium in Casper.

Here's more info from the ARTCORE web site:

Born in wind-swept Casper, in 1950, Spencer's gospel-singing parents provided the foundation for a musical style and career that remain healthy after more than four decades. In the 1950s, with Hank Williams and Elvis Presley on the airwaves, Spencer’s family spent hours gathered around a piano. Spencer says, "My mother didn't have boys and girls. To her we were sopranos, altos and tenors.” Four decades as a "road scholar," concert performer and general fan of humanity have given Spencer Bohren much to share. No one was more surprised than Spencer when Jorma Kaukonen of the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tune called to invite Spencer to teach at the Fur Peace Ranch, his guitar camp in Pomeroy, Ohio. He offers a veritable treasure trove of guitar technique, lapsteel tricks, and musical knowledge to enthusiastic students around the world.

Contemporary with his recent welcome into the academic world, Spencer has developed a performance/lecture, Down the Dirt Road Blues, which follows a single song's journey from 16th Century Africa through America's culture and history up through the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, utilizing appropriate vintage instruments.

Still actively touring in Europe, Spencer has recorded and released four CD projects with Germany's Valve Records. The second one, Southern Cross, displays a small gallery of Spencer's artwork. In recent years, he has performed in France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, as well as Germany, and is gathering an enthusiastic following in England and Ireland as well.

While the horrific events resulting from Hurricane Katrina's devastating visit to New Orleans in 2005 have dramatically affected Spencer and his family, he, like so many others, has rebuilt his home and life. Spencer's inspired post-Katrina song, Long Black Line, became a post-traumatic touchstone for all of New Orleans, a guiding step in the recovery process.

Get tickets here

Fly-fishing love stories -- and more -- on "Fishing Music II"

Grady Kirkpatrick spent part of today's "KUWR Morning Music" show playing excerpts from "Fishing Music II" from Snake River Records.

The jaunty opening song is "Little Miss Cutthroat" which you might call a fly-fishing love story:

Little Miss Cutthroat
my Yellowstone dreamboat
more than just my fly
is hooked on you

The song features Wyoming's Mike Dowling on guitar. Take a look at the video:

Judith Weikle on stage in Jackson July 17

Judith Weikle and Liz McCorquodale will perform together at the Jackson Hole Art Fair in Jackson's Miller Park on Friday, July 17, 5-6 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Weikle, a Celtic musician and folk singer, is new to the Wyoming Arts Council roster. If you would like to bring her to your community through an Arts Across Wyoming grant, go to http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/ and click on grants on the left sidebar. The view Judith's bio and contact info, go to http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/Apps/Roster/Results.asp. FMI: 307-777-7742.

WYO Theater presents acoustic Steve Earle

Musician and songwriter Steve Earle will perform in concert at the WYO Theater in Sheridan on Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 adult and $27 senior, military and students.

Here's the announcement from the WYO Theater web site:

The WYO is proud to present a special solo acoustic concert of Steve Earle, touring in support of his new album Townes, a 15-song set comprised of songs written by Earle's friend and mentor, the late singer-songwriter, Townes Van Zandt (Pancho and Lefty and White Freightliner Blues, to name just two). Townes debuted May 28 at number 19 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, the highest debut in Earle's career, and at number 6 on the Billboard Country Chart.

Earle is a master storyteller in his own right, with songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, The Pretenders, Joan Baez and countless others. His 1986 debut record, Guitar Town, shot to number one on the country charts immediately establishing the term "new country" or sometimes "alt-country," followed by an exciting array of twelve releases including the biting hard rock of Copperhead Road (1988), the politically-charged Jerusalem (2002) and, more recently, the Grammy-winning albums The Revolution Starts...Now (2004) and Washington Square Serenade (2007).

FMI: http://www.steveearle.com/. Listen to Steve Earle's acoustic version of Pancho and Lefty at http://www.myspace.com/steveearlemusic

Spencer Bohren returns to Wyoming this fall

Musician and Casper native Spencer Bohren announces a fall schedule that takes him from Switzerland back to the Rocky Mountain region. You can find the details of his Swiss gigs on his web site at http://www.spencerbohren.com/. Here's the WYO/COLO/MONT sked:

Friday, September 25, BLACK ROSE ACOUSTIC SOCIETY SERIES, Black Forest, Colo., 303.459.0857

Saturday, September 26, COYOTE CREEK CONCERT SERIES, Elizabeth, Colo., Casey Jones Park Pavillion, sunsetridgeranch@msn.com, 303.648.3662

Tuesday, September 29, OLDE TOWN PICKIN' PARLOR - Pickin' in the Parlor Series, Arvada, Colo., Unclekit@Pickinparlor.com, 303.421.2304

Saturday, October 3, WYO THEATER, Sheridan, Wyo., boxoffice@wyotheater.com, 307.672.9084

Saturday, October 10, through Sunday, October 11, BIG TIMBER ROOTS 'n BLUES GUITAR WORKSHOP, Big Timber, Mont., limited enrollment, marie@mtintouch.net, 406.932.6771

Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23, ARTS & MUSIC RESIDENCY, Thermopolis, Wyo.

Friday, October 23, HOT SPRINGS COUNTY AUDITORIUM, Thermopolis, Wyo.

Saturday, October 24, ARTCORE CONCERT SERIES at Kelly Walsh Auditorium, Casper, Wyo.