The 36th Gathering of Cowboy Poets Returns to Prescott in August
The 2024 edition of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering will again take the stage at the Jim and Linda Lee Yavapai College Performing Arts Center August 8–10. One of Prescott’s most popular annual events, this year’s Gathering features more than forty authentic cowboy singers, poets, and storytellers sharing the heritage and culture of the American cowboy for two days and three nights of entertainment.
Headline performers include Dave Stamey, Mike Dunn, and Kristyn Harris & Hailey Sandoz. This year’s collectible poster titled “A Good Way to Get Shot Down,” created by local artist Steve Atkinson, will be available for purchase at the Gathering, as will raffle tickets to win an original framed giclée of the poster.
Dave Stamey’s life’s work celebrates the rural American West. He has been a cowboy, a mule packer, and a dude wrangler—and is now one of the most popular Western entertainers. Cowboys and Indians Magazine has called him “the Charlie Russell of the Western Music.” Western Horseman Magazine has declared his “Vaquero Song” one of the greatest Western songs of all time. The International Western Music Association (IWMA) has named him seven times as Entertainer of the Year, seven times as Male Performer of the Year and five times as Songwriter of the Year. In November of 2016, Stamey was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame. He will be on stage Thursday, August 8.
Mike Dunn takes pride in an Arizona heritage dating back to the 1800s, memories centered along the east side of the Whetstone Mountains where much of his grandad’s ranch, the Rail “A” brand, remains in the family to this day. There he learned firsthand what cowboy life was like as he worked the ranch of which he is now part owner. His book Somewhere Between Earth and Heaven contains much of his original poetry wherein he reflects on his own experiences and those of others as tribute to the ranch family. The Academy of Western Artist named the book a recipient of the Will Rogers Medallion Award shortly after publication. Mike enjoys creating and sharing rhythmic stories—stories of the joys and dreams, the heartfelt emotions, the serious and sad realities of cowboy life. The humorous, energetic, patriotic, solemn, simple, caring, wild, daring, and trusting spirit of the cowboy comes alive in the writings and recitations of his works. Mike will be on stage on Friday, August 9.
Kristyn Harris and Hailey Sandoz will take center stage on Saturday, August 10. Kristyn is the five-time (and currently reigning) IWMA Entertainer of the Year, the youngest musician to have received this honor. She is recognized for her powerful voice, swing rhythm guitar chops, songwriting, yodeling, and energetic stage presence, as well as for the passion and authenticity that she puts into each performance. Her most recent album, A Place to Land, was awarded Outstanding Western Album by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for 2020.
Hailey is the three-time IWMA Instrumentalist of the Year and is known for her exceptional fiddling, jazzy vocals, and creative arranging skills. A recent graduate of Texas A&M University, Hailey is a highly sought-after touring musician, who at 18 was hired full-time by Grammy-Award winner Bobby Flores and the Yellow Rose Band. Kristyn and Hailey perfectly complement each other’s talents. Although unique individual performers, they create musical magic when they hit the stage together.
The Gathering also offers free day sessions throughout the campus on Friday and Saturday where attendees can meet and hear the cowboy singers, poets, and storytellers while enjoying the culture and history of the American cowboy. “We are thrilled to host another memorable event at the revered Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center located at Yavapai College,” remarks Jim Jensen, President of the Board of Directors for the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering. “Here on stage, the rich heritage of the authentic American cowboy is passionately preserved year after year. It’s our privilege to present this unique form of entertainment to the community and visiting guests.”
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 cowboy 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.
Learn more and buy tickets (available after June 1) at www.azcowboypoets.org or by calling 928.776.2000 or 877.928.4253.