Boycott Christmas in Thermopolis, yes really!

Thermopolis kicks of the Christmas season with "Buffalo Bill" Boycott performing his "Rocky Mountain Christmas" show on Thursday, Novemeber 29 at 7 p.m. in the Hot Springs County School District Auditorium.

"Buffalo Bill", also known as William Frederick Boycott, lives in Lander and performs throughout the country playing fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar. His Christmas program includes holiday stories, skits, songs, poems and instrumentals with a decidedly Western flair. One of his popular renditions is a “cowboy” version of “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

“Buffalo Bill” Boycott was a member of the Grammy Award-winning “New Christy Minstrels” from 2005 to 2008 and has performed in concert with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as well as Waddie Mitchell and Riders in the Sky.

In 2011, Boycott was named "Best Male Yodeller " by the Western Music Association. He and sidekick "Dr. Jo" (Flower of the Prairie) also won the 2011 Harmony Duo Award.

Boycott is a popular presenter in the schools, teaching history of the American West and demonstrating Native American sign language.

A long-time Wyoming Arts Council roster artist, Boycott has produced two programs on the history of the West and Wyoming in cooperation with Wyoming Public Television. He has also released five audio recordings, including "Rocky Mountain Christmas." That CD won the Wyoming Historical Society's Honorable Mention Award.

While in Thermopolis, Boycott will also present a short afternoon program for residents of the Pioneer Home. He will also work with fourth grade students on Wyoming history.

Boycott's appearances in Thermopolis are sponsored by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation, in conjunction with Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from Broadway Bygones.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors. Students are free. Advanced tickets are available with a $1 discount at Broadway Bygones until Nov. 28. For more information: 307-864-4070.

Arts in the Parks: Kane's River at Hot Springs State Park Aug. 23

Our colleagues at Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites share this news:

Nationally recognized bluegrass band Kane's River will make a rare Wyoming appearance on Thursday, August 23, in Thermopolis. The free performance will be held in Hot Springs State Park Pavilion at 7 p.m.

The Montana-based band is a five-piece acoustic group known for its high-quality harmonies and hard-driving music that appeals to bluegrass, folk and popular music aficionados. It includes founding members John Lowell, guitar, and David Thompson, bass, both from the Bozeman area; Julie Elkins, banjo, former Montana native, now living in Raleigh, North Carolina; Ben Winship, mandolin, Victor, Idaho; and Jason Thomas, fiddle, Orlando, Florida. Sound will be provided by John Brooks.

The performance is a Wildcat Production and is part of the Arts in the Park series. It is sponsored by Hot Springs State Park, Pinnacle Bank, Centennial Energy, Morning Star Oil Company, Jim Boles/BNSF Railway and Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation. Additional in-kind support comes from Paintbrush Inn, Las Fuentes, Nature's Corner, Black Bear Cafe, Michael & Jacky Wright, KTHE Radio and the Independent-Record.

The group has performed around the United States and Canada at such top festivals as the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Artist Showcase & Fan Fest, Rockygrass, Wintergrass and Winfield.

Songs from the group's two albums reached the top ten on the country’s National Bluegrass Charts. and past performance highlights include the IBMA Artist Showcase & Fan Fest, Rockygrass, Wintergrass, Winfield, and other top festivals and venues around the U.S. and Canada.

FMI: Jacky Wright, Broadway Bygones, 307-864-4070.

Jalan Crossland plays Thermop and Basin before heading off to Key West Songwriters Festival



Ten Sleep's Jalan Crossland performs Friday in Thermopolis and Saturday at the Basin City Arts Center in Basin. Get the details here. Next week, he's off to perform a series of concerts at the Better Angels Songwriters Festival in Key West, Fla.

Ancient art celebrated at Aug. 25 grand opening of Legend Rock State Historic Site

A grand opening of the Legend Rock State Historic Site visitors’ center will take place at 6 p.m., Thursday, August 25. In addition to Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), other dignitaries expected to speak at the event are Starr Weed of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, State Parks and Cultural Resources Commissioner Carolyn Buff and BLM Archaeologist Mike Bies. FMI: http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Legend-Rock-Petroglyph-Historic-Site/32516

The Cantrells perform in Thermopolis Oct. 13 & 15

Press release from the Hot Springs Greater learning Foundation in Thermopolis:

Nashville-based duo, The Cantrells, will perform in Thermopolis, Friday, October 15, at 7 p.m., in Hot Springs County School Auditorium.

The man-and-wife team deliver a combination of folk, bluegrass, western swing and old-time traditional music. It is said that Emily “sings like an angel” and Al plays the fiddle “like the devil.”

They are often recognized from their soundtrack work for Robert Redford’s film, “A River Runs Through It.” They also played guitar and fiddle in the church picnic scene.

A house concert will be held Wednesday., Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. Tickets are limited to 30 and are available at Broadway Bygones.

Al learned to play the fiddle as he made his way around the British Isles and Norway. He returned to America, playing through the Southwest as part of the “Chuckwagons of the West” shows.

Emily began playing piano at age four. Her clear, rich soprano attracted attention, and she sang harmony vocals with the popular bluegrass band Hot Rize.

The two met in Colorado in 1983, when she auditioned Al to play in her bluegrass band. They were married two years later and have been performing together ever since. An accomplished guitarist and songwriter, Emily wrote most songs on their latest albums, “The Heart Wants What it Wants” and “Dancing with the Miller’s Daughter.”

The Cantrells are sponsored with support from the Western Arts Federation (WESTAF), Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation and Hot Springs County Schools.

In addition to the two public concerts, the Cantrells will work with music students for a three-day artist residency.

Advance tickets for the regular concert are available at Broadway Bygones adults $8, over 65 $5; at the door adults $10 over 65 $7. Students are free.

“There is nothing like being able to interact with the performers,” said Jacky Wright, Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation committee chair. “We want young people to have that experience; that’s why we’ve worked hard to be able to provide school programs and free student tickets.

“In our small community, people can really be close to the performers and see and hear the nuances that you miss on television and the internet.”

FMI: Ellen Sue Blakey, 307-864-3391, ellensb@rtconnect.net

Cody Burrows performs today in Thermopolis

Cody Burrows will be performing at the Storyteller Bookstore, 528 Broadway, in Thermopolis on Friday, Nov. 27, 4 p.m. He will be joined by Jake Austin on the lead and slide guitar and Mandela on bass. The concert is free and open to the public. Cody's new CD, "Nothing Goes to Waste," will be on sale at the store.

Cody grew up in Thermopolis and played trumpet in the Thermopolis H.S. band.

The Casper Star-Tribune featured a Q&A with the singer/songwriter today on page 8 of the "Weekender" section.

FMI: 307-864-3721 or 921-2113.

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.

Wyoming Oldtime Fiddlers Contest May 30-31

From the May 13 issue of the Little Chicago Review:

The 36th Annual Wyoming Oldtime Fiddlers Contest will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, in Thermopolis.

This year’s judges are Nancy Padilla, Bozeman, Montana; Natalie Padilla, Greeley, Colorado, and Tyler Enders, Casper.

The contest is nationally sanctioned by the National Oldtime Fiddle Association, Weiser, Idaho. Winners qualify to compete in the national contest June 22-27. The contest will begin at 9:30 a.m. daily in Hot Springs High School Auditorium, 415 Springview. Other activities include mini-workshops by the judges, judges’ performances and plenty of jam sessions. A traditional pig roast will be held Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m., at Ralph Witters Elementary, 215 Springview. Performing at the pig roast will be “Ana & Friends” from Casper, followed by an informal jam session of local musicians. Tickets for the pig roast are $10 at the door.

The mini-workshops for fiddle and guitar will start at 7:30 p.m. at the school. Early sign-up is recommended since space is limited. Workshop fee is $20; bring your own instrument.

Tickets for the contest are available at the door. All-day adult tickets (ages 19-60) are $10 Saturday and $12 Sunday. Tickets for ages 6-18 are $5 Saturday and $7 Sunday. Seniors (61+) are $8 on Saturday and $10 Sunday. Ages five and under are free. Family tickets (two adults, two children are $20 the first day $22 on Sunday.

The event is sponsored by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation, Wyoming Arts Council with funding in part from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming State legislature; Wyoming Oldtime Fiddlers Association, Hot Springs / Thermopolis Lodging Tax Board, Thermopolis / Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs County Schools. Corporate sponsors include ConocoPhillips and TCT.

Old-time fiddle style is based on fiddle playing of the late 19th and 20th century. Different rhythms were developed to accompany dance steps of different countries. Early string bands modified the traditional styles, and these formed the development of both country and bluegrass music.Contestants must play at least two traditional styles, including a hoedown and a waltz. There are also twin fiddle teams as well as a no-holds barred category. An awards ceremony will be held after final performances on Sunday, usually about 3 p.m. This is the third year that the contest has been held in Thermopolis. Shoshoni sponsored the contest for 33 years.

Contest rules, participant forms and more details are available on the web at http://www.hsglf.org/ or call 307-921-8120.

Wyoming Fiddle contest set for May 30-31

The 2009 Wyoming Old Time Fiddle Association (WOTFA) State Contest will be held in Thermopolis at the Hot Springs County High School on Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31. For more information about the annual competition, contact Contest Director Ed Capen at 307-921-8120 or ed_capen@yahoo.com or WOTFA President Dick Enders at aec@bresnan.net.

FMI: http://www.wyomingfiddle.org

Wyoming writing/ranching duo at UW 3/25/09

Kathleen O'Neal Gear and Michael Gear of Thermopolis, best-selling authors, archaeologists and buffalo ranchers, will talk about their work on Wednesday, March 25, 3 p.m. in Classroom Building #302 at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. FMI: Rachel M. Ferrell,
307-766-2867.

NW College Studio Singers perform with Ronnie Bedford & Friends

The Northwest College Studio Singers will open the season by opening for the 2008 Ronnie Bedford and Friends concert tour Oct. 7 and 8 in two Big Horn Basin communities and Billings, Mont.

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the 14-member group performs at 11 a.m. at Billings West High School, followed by a 1:45 p.m. performance at Billings Skyview High School.

The singers return to Wyoming Wednesday, Oct. 8, for a 10 a.m. concert at Greybull High School, followed by a 2 p.m. program at Hot Springs County High School in Thermopolis.
Later that evening, they'll open again for Ronnie Bedford and Friends as part of Thermopolis's October Month of Music. The concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Hot Springs County High School Auditorium. Admission is$5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.

Ronnie Bedford, a jazz drummer (and WAC Governor's Arts Award recipient) who spent most of his career on the east coast, called on local friends for this tour: Rob Rumbolz on trumpet, Craig Olson on sax and Jeff Troxel on guitar.

The Studio Singers will open with a lineup of familiar jazz standards that includes the likes of Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "I Could Write a Book" by Rodgers and Hart. Also on the program is the ballad "If I Loved You" and a Steely Dan-type arrangement of the 1950s tune "Ruby Baby."

New book about bronc rider Bill Smith

This info comes from Jenny Shank who writes the always excellent "Books & Writers" section for New West:

The University of Oklahoma Press recently published Margot Kahn’s Horses That Buck: The Story of Champion Bronc Rider Bill Smith, which tells the story of Bill Smith, a Wyoming-raised cowboy who became a “three-time world champion saddle bronc rider.” Kahn will be touring the region in the coming weeks, appearing at Shakespeare & Company in Missoula, Mont. (May 14, 7 p.m.), Borders in Bozeman, Mont. (May 15, 7 p.m.), White Horse in Thermopolis, Wyo. (May 16, 2 p.m.), The Readers Cove in Fort Collins, Colo., (12-3 p.m.), and Anthology Book Co. in Loveland, Colo., (May 19, 6 p.m.)

Lots of fiddling around in Thermop April 26-27

Deadline for pre-registration for the 35th annual Wyoming Oldtime Fiddlers Association 2008 State Championship Contest is Friday, April 25. The competitions will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 , and continue through Sunday, April 27, at Hot Springs County High School Auditorium in Thermopolis. Awards ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

FMI: Contact Ed Capen, 307-921-8120 or ed_capen@yahoo.com. Get an official entry form at http://www.wyomingfiddle.org.

REMINDER: Thursday Thermop reception

A reception will be held in Thermopolis for the Wyoming Arts Council board on Thursday, Nov. 8, 7-9 p.m., in the Ralph Witters Elementary School commons area. Thermopolis will be showcasing local and Big Horn Basin artists, including many young people. This event is free and open to the public.

The WAC board will hold its quarterly meeting on Nov. 8-9 at the Holiday Inn in Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis. The public comment session will be held there on Thursday at 4 p.m.

FMI: WAC at 307-777-7742.

Thermopolis plans reception for WAC board

Sue Blakey of the Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation sends word that a reception will be held in Thermopolis for the Wyoming Arts Council board on Thursday, Nov. 8, 7-9 p.m., in the Ralph Witters Elementary School commons area. For that evening only, Thermopolis will be showcasing local and Big Horn Basin artists, including many young people. Sue invites everyone to come out to this free event and welcome Arts Council board and staff members.

The WAC board will hold its quarterly meeting on Nov. 8-9 at the Holiday Inn in Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis. The public comment session will be held there on Thursday at 4 p.m.

FMI: WAC at 307-777-7742.