FEATURING: Richard Elloyan, Darrell Holden, Dana Wirth.

When it comes to poetry, there are lines that confine, and there are lines that run free. Join us for a night of verse and song that resonates with the freedom of the wild range. Ride out onto a vast poetic expanse with unrestrained troubadour Richard Elloyan, openhearted writer Darrell Holden, and cinematic songstress Dana Wirth as they set their words loose. Bound by a deep connection to land, these three capture moments shaped by unbroken wind and weather, crafting contemplative poems and songs that linger far beyond the fence line.

Hosted by Kristin Windbigler.

From the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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PLAYLIST
"Eureka Saturday Night" - Richard Elloyan
"Just for Grins" - Darrell Holden
"Night Rider's Lament" - Dana Wirth (words + music
"The Weaver" - Richard Elloyan
"Mirages" - Darrell Holden
"Nevada" - Dana Wirth
"Coyotes Love My Cats" - Richard Elloyan
"In a Pinch" - Darrell Holden
"Cattleman" - Dana Wirth
"Too Early, Too Cold, Too Old" - Richard Elloyan
"Just Another Day" - Darrell Holden
"The Coyote + The Cowboy" - Dana Wirth (words + music by Ian Tyson)
"The Escape" - Richard Elloyan
"Ahorseback" - Darrell Holden
"O mio babbino caro" - Dana Wirth (words + music by Giacomo Puccini)
"Ordinary Cowboy" - Richard Elloyan

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Richard Elloyan
Virginia City, NV
Singer, songwriter, and poet Richard Elloyan grew up in the historic mining town of Virginia City. His love of the state, its rich history, and its magnificent vistas serves as a constant source of inspiration for his work (and his unique wit). Richard has performed at major western music festivals throughout the West and has traveled to perform as far away as China. Many of Richard’s songs have been recorded by other artists. A lifelong learner, he was awarded his master’s degree in creative writing in 2024.

Darrell Holden
Vernon, UT
Darrell Ekker Holden is a proud fifth generation rancher and cowboy poet from the West Desert of Utah. He writes about the legacy passed down by those who came before him and shares stories of working ranch families and cowboys who are still making a living with livestock. Married to his best friend Angie, they have two outstanding kids, Hailey and Dalton, and are soon to be grandparents. Darrell considers poetry to be simply life expressed in rhyme. And he hopes you hear what he writes and recites with your hearts.

Dana Wirth
Klamath Falls, OR
Nicknamed the “best opera singer in the West,” Dana Wirth is known for her
warm vocals reminiscent of the early days of western folk. She performs
everything from western classics to heartfelt originals that reflect her upbringing and current life on her family’s ranch in Oregon. Her education
in opera adds bright color to her western musical palette, and she marries the
two in a great show. You will cry, you will laugh, and we will sing about cows.

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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. 27, 2026.

Made possible by C-A-L Ranch and by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

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

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