FEATURING: Brigid and Johnny, Kristyn Harris Trio, Jake Riley.

Poet Jake Riley tosses his saddle (and perhaps his water skis) in the back as he hitches a ride with Brigid & Johnny and the Kristyn Harris Trio, owners of two of the sweetest pickups in cowboy poetry land. The Reedy’s ’57 Chevy comes loaded with the blood harmonies of Montana siblings raised on the Gathering. Kristyn’s 1951 Ford cab is three deep as her bandmates join her powerful vocals for an even bigger western swing sound driven straight from Texas. And Jake hitches his Nebraskan verse on tight, ensuring a sweet caravan of western sound.

Hosted by Mackie Griggs.

From the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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PLAYLIST

Kristyn Harris Trio
"My Window Faces the South" (words + music by Jerry Livingston + Mitchell Parish + Abner Silver) (extra verse by Kristyn Harris)
"Captive of the West" (words + music by Kristyn Harris)
"Used Hay Dealer" (words + music by Kristyn Harris)
"Endless Sky" (words + music by Chuck Pyle)
“Seen My Heart” (words + music by Kristyn Harris + Randy Husten)
"I've Been Everywhere" (words + music by Geoff Mack)

Jake Riley
"Natural Remedy"
"Rites of Passage"
"The Walkaway Plan"
"Waterskiing Poem"
"Pride Goeth" (poem by Waddie Mitchell)

Brigid and Johnny
"I Hate Myself for Being So Mean to You" (words + music by Joe Young + Benny Davis + Milton Ager)
"Esther" (words + music by Brigid and Johnny Reedy)
"High Country" (words + music by Johnny Reedy)
"High Desert Darling" (words + music by Brigid and Johnny Reedy)
"Grandmother's French Hollyhocks" (poem by Wally McRae)
"Back on Montana Plains/I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (arrangement by Brigid & Johnny, words + music by Patsy Montana)
"Tiger Rag" (public domain)

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Brigid & Johnny
Dillon, MT
Brigid and Johnny Reedy are a nationally acclaimed Montana-based duo who captivate audiences from coast to coast with their charisma, enthusiasm, and authenticity. Though only 24 and 19 years old respectively, they have decades of perofrming experience between them and have appeared at such prestigious venues as the International Storytelling Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Grand Ole Opry. Brigid and Johnny are excited to share their love of Montana and western culture, and their voracious appetite or good music as they create a unique blend of western Americana, singer-songwriter folk, swing, blues, cowboy music, poetry, storytelling, and more.

Kristyn Harris Trio
Burlson, TX
Kristyn Harris is an entertaining Texas-bred singer-songwriter best known for her western swing spin on original and classic songs of the rural and ranching lifestyle, a topic close to her heart and daily life. She is recognized for her powerful voice, swing rhythm guitar chops, songwriting, yodeling, and energetic stage presence. Kristyn balances full-time music touring with time spent looking after her black angus cattle herd or working her newest colt. Her starstudded trio features versatile instrumentalists Leah Sawyer and Matthew Walton who share Kristyn’s love of this music and triple the fun when their boots hit the stage.

Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley was born in Salida, Colorado, and grew up, for the most part, in the upper Arkansas Valley of the Colorado mountains. He began roping and rodeoing as a kid, which led to helping out at local ranches, which spawned his love for cowboy culture. Much of Jake’s work involves firsthand ranch and rodeo experiences told from his perspective on the contemporary fringe. He’s shared his work from California to Minnesota. Jake now calls the plains of Nebraska home, living there along with his wife Carley and a teeming horde of younguns with an affection for western ways.

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Filmed in front of a live audience with help from the E. L. Wiegand Foundation at the Western Folklife Center’s G Three Bar Theater in Elko, NV, on Jan. 31, 2026.

Made possible by Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockman's Casino and by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

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Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org