The 2023 edition of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering will again take the stage at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center on August 10-12. One of Prescott’s most popular annual events, this year’s Gathering features more than forty authentic cowboy poets and singers sharing the heritage and culture of the American cowboy for two days and three nights of entertainment.
Headline performers include Trinity Seely, Doris Daley and The Cowboy Way. This year’s collectible poster titled “This One’s for You, Buddy,” created by local artist Roselynn Fernwalt, will be available for purchase at the Gathering, as will raffle tickets to win an original framed giclee of the poster.
- Trinity Seely, having lived on a working cattle ranch in Montana with her husband and children, has a deep perspective and appreciation into the lifestyle of the historic western era. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including being listed among True West’s favorite western artists; and recently her third release, Cowboy’s Wage, was archived into the Cowboy Hall of fame museum. Her beautiful vocals give voice to the life of a cowgirl and ranch wife.
- Doris Daley, known as the “western wordsmith and purveyor of poetry,” has been an emcee and featured performer at virtually every major cowboy festival in Canada as well as a headline performer at multiple western venues across the United States. In 2004, she was named Best Female Cowboy Poet in North America by the Academy of Western Artists, the first time any Canadian—male or female—has won the cowboy poetry category. Three times she has been named one of the Top 5 Cowgirl Poets in North America by the Western Music Association, which in 2009 awarded her top honors for Best Female Cowboy Poet and Best Cowboy Poetry CD. As with her AWA Will Rogers Awards, she’s the first Canadian to bring home top honors in the cowboy poetry categories.
- The Cowboy Way, a trio of award-winning New Mexico singers and songwriters— Doug Figgs, Jim Jones and Mariam Funke—captures the spirit of the West with their lively, high-energy shows featuring tight harmonicas and smokin’ instrumentals. The values, challenges and allure of the West come alive as this group takes you on the “ride of a lifetime” through traditional cowboy songs and dynamic renditions of contemporary Western tunes. Be ready for high-energy crowd-pleasing entertainment.
The Gathering also offers free day sessions throughout the campus on Friday and Saturday where attendees can meet the cowboy poets and singers and enjoy stories of the culture and history of the American cowboy.
“We’re delighted to offer this event again at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center,” comments Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering’s Board of Directors President, Jim Jensen. “The culture of the real American Cowboy lives on stage here every year and it’s been an honor to bring this form of entertainment to locals and tourists alike.”
The Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering has maintained a standard abandoned by most other gatherings—namely inviting men and women who are now or have been in the past a part of the working cowboys’ environment and workplace. The Prescott Gathering is respected by cowboy poets as one of the best gatherings in the country because it helps preserve the true “working cowboy” culture and heritage.
Tickets are available by going to www.azcowboypoets.org or call 928-776-2000 or 877-928-4253.