42nd Gathering Featured Artists
Enjoy this collection of performances by the invited performers for the 42nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 25 - 30, 2027.
Artwork - They Are Always With Us, We Are a Part of the Desert (2026), watercolor by James Shoshone.
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The Climb
A.K. shares a lesson in parenting, perseverance, and life. A.K.Moss recites "The Climb" during the "Talking It All in Stride" show during the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
A. K. Moss
Prairie City, OR
A.K. Moss is a cowboy poet whose life was forged through survival an... -
Stars and the Moon
Matt takes you on a night ride home. Matt Robertson sings "Stars and the Moon" during the "Words Are Medicine" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Darrell Holden
Vernon, UT
Darrell Ekker Holden is a proud fifth-generation rancher and cowboy poet from the West Des... -
California Gold
Every season has its own story to tell. In "California Gold," Jessica Schley reflects on the quiet magic of the changing seasons, finding beauty in the landscape as it shifts from one time of year to the next.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jessica Schley
Santa Ynez, CA
Jessica Schley is a writer, rider, and... -
Waitin' on the Drive
Carson recites Larry McWhorter's debut poem. Carson Houser performs "Waitin' on the Drive" by Larry McWhorter durint the "Classics Chaos" show during the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Carson Houser
McClusky, ND
Carson Houser is a rancher, bull rider, and cowboy poet fr... -
Ordinary Cowboy
Richard discovers the ordinary may be extraordinary. Richard Elloyan performs "Ordinary Cowboy" during the "Beyond the Fencelines" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Richard Elloyan
Virginia City, NV
Singer, songwriter, and poet Richard Elloyan grew up in the hi... -
The Osage Orange
Jake tells a tale from the point of view of a fence post. Jake Riley recites "The Osage Orange" during the "For Story's Sake" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley was born in Salida, Colorado, and grew up, for the most part, in ... -
Don't Hurt My Heart
Mike draws on his experience with horses in his iconic song from the animals' perspective. Mike Beck performs "Don't Hurt My Heart" during the "Free Life & Fresh Air" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Mike Beck
Manhattan, MT
Mike Beck is a professional musicia... -
Pretty Girl and a Bronc Ride
Rusty tries to impress a sweet young thing with his horsemanship. Rusty Phillips perfoms "Pretty Girl and a Bronc Ride" during the "Buckaroo Who?" at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rusty Phillips
Liberty Hill, TX
From calving camps in Montana, shoeing horses in Ariz... -
Since I Left You (The Dog Song)
Lara shares a "brand new" breakup song. Lara Manzanares performs "Since I Left You (The Dog Song)" during the "Words Are Medicine" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lara Manzanares
Tierra Amarilla, NM
Lara Manzanares is a bilingual singer-songwriter from Northe... -
Ol' Faithful
The horses we remember most are the ones that never quit. Brazlyn Wilhite performs "Ol' Faithful," a poem that honors the horse who gives everything they have, the one that has no business continuing, but does anyway.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Brazlyn Wilhite
Kress, TX
Brazlyn Wilhite is a graphic desig... -
The Bristlecone Pine
Brenn Hill sings a song he penned with Waddie Mitchell about the consequences of war. Brenn Hill performs "The Bristlecone Pine" during the "Cohorts & Collaborators" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Brenn Hill
Hooper, UT
Brenn Hill is a singer-songwriter who d... -
Daddy's Rope
Kye spins a tale from the perspective of a rope. Kye Rieff recites "Daddy's Rope" during the "Thrown But Not Broken" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kye Rieff
Sarcoxie, MO
Kye Rieff’s poetry provides an authentic look into the joy, humor, heartbreak, and hard... -
He's a Poet with Something to Say
Dave Stamey croons one he wrote with poet Waddie Mitchell. Dave Stamey performs "He's a Poet with Something to Say" during the "Cohorts & Collaborators" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dave Stamey
Orange Cove, CA
Dave Stamey has been a cowboy, a mule packer, ... -
Black and White 1912
Allen shares the story behind a photograph taken in 1912 around the time that cars were taking over from the horses, BX Company stages, and freight wagons on the Cariboo Road in the interior of British Columbia. Allen Dobb sings "Black and White 1912."
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Allen Dobb Trio
Victoria,... -
Get Back on and Ride
Connie tells us what to do when life doesn't go as planned.Connie Gjermundson sings "Get Back on and Ride."
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Connie Gjermundson
Towner, ND
Connie Gjermundson was raised in a ranching family on the beautiful prairies of western North Dakota, where her love of music began at an ea... -
Roadrunner
Olivia shares a tale of a magical journey in the desert. Olivia Romo recites "Roadrunner: the Chosen Prophet," during the "Gimme Open Roads + Fresh Air" show at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Olivia Romo
Santa Fe, NM
Olivia Romo is a farmer, poet and water rights ac... -
The Coffee Song
DW warbles an ode to java. DW Groethe sings "The Coffee Song" during the "Wild Abandon" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DW Groethe
Bainville, MT
DW Groethe is the son of a son of pioneers. He was born and raised in the west of Dakota and has lived the past 25... -
Little Back Country Girl
Savannah shares a song for all of the backcountry travelers. Savannah Deuter sings "Little Back Country Girl."
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Savannah Deuter
Huson, MT
Savannah lives in the Six Mile Valley of Huson, Montana, where she grew up with a guitar in her hands and wood smoke in her hair. She now wor... -
High Desert Darling
Take a desert ride with Brigid and Johnny. Brigid and Johnny Reedy sing "High Desert Darling" during the "Get in the Pickup, We're Going to Town" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Brigid & Johnny
Dillon, MT
Brigid and
Johnny Reedy are a nationally acclaimed Mo... -
Cowpoke
Wylie croons a classic cowboy tune. Wylie Gustafson performs "Cowpoke" by Stan Jones during the "Upside Down in a Cow Town" show during the 41st Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Wylie Gustafson
Conrad, MT
Wylie Gustafson is an American original. He was born into a fourth-generation ran... -
Cowboy Vernacular
Dakota Robinson helps to translate the language of the range with a crash course in cowboy lingo. Dakota recites "Cowboy Vernacular" during "The Whippersnappers" at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dakota Robinson
Round Top, TX
Working on ranches from Texas to Kansas... -
The Shearer & the Darby Ram
Ismay sings about the legendary Darby Ram and the shearer who was tasked with giving him a haircut. Ismay and Andrew Allen-Fahlander perform "The Shearer + the Darby Ram" during the 37th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering "Rodear Year."
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ismay
Petaluma, CA
Melding the experience ... -
My Baby Said Yes
Dom sings a bluesy Tampa Red love song. Dom Flemons sings "My Baby Said Yes Instead of Maybe" during the "Blues on the Range" show at the 36th Gathering.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dom Flemons
Silver Springs, MD
Dom Flemons is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, and slam poet. Carrying o... -
Cicada Song
Jimmy pleads for rain. Jimmy Cantwell sings "Cicada Song" during the "Get in the Pickup, We're Going to Town" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jimmy Cantwell
Cañon City, CO
Jimmy Cantwell is a second-generation horseman who’s turned
a life full of experience i...
