<\/p>\n
The King family of Summit Ridge loves Western music so much they decided to start their own concert promotion company called Cowboy Gathering of the Four Corners.<\/p>\n
Todd, his wife, Aimee, and their two kids, Nolan and Cassidy, are long-time fans of Western music and cowboy poetry. During evenings and breaks working the farm, they write poetry, practice their yodeling, and dance to fiddle, guitar, mandolin and harp playing.<\/p>\n
But locally, there are not a lot of shows, so they decided to change that and bring in their favorite musicians to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cWestern music is different from country and bluegrass,\u201d Todd King explains. \u201cIt is quintessential cowboy tradition. We felt promoting it here was ideal for our local culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montezuma County\u2019s first Western music promoter will kick off their inaugural concert event during Montezuma County Fair July 31-Aug. 2 on various stages.<\/p>\n
The headline event will be on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. featuring national musicians and poets. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for ages 8-14, and children 7 and under are free.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe brought in our favorites,\u201d King says.<\/p>\n
3 Trails West is steeped in cowboy tradition, singing songs about cattle drives, riding horses, pretty girls back home, and nature\u2019s splendor.<\/p>\n
Kristyn Harris, just 19 years old, is the 2014 Academy of Western Artists female performer of the year. She is loved for her singing, songwriting, swing-rhythm guitar style and yodeling. She was the Western Music Association\u2019s female yodeler of the year in 2012.<\/p>\n
Susie Knight will perform her cowboy songs and poetry about true life experiences. Inspired by rodeo legend Chris LeDoux, Knight\u2019s style captures a woman\u2019s perspective on rodeo, ranch life, remudas, and romance.<\/p>\n
Also on stage will be Peggy Malone, \u201cThe little girl with the big voice,\u201d a regular at Western music events across the country. Her award winning song \u201cSingin\u2019 A Cowboy Song\u201d was featured on the PBS special A Night at the Rodeo.<\/p>\n
Many more poets and singer-songwriters will perform throughout the day King said, including poets Yvonne Hollenbeck, Thatch Elmer, and Terry Nash, and singers Ken Stevens, Janice Deardorff, and Deb Bukala.<\/p>\n
Free performances by headliners will be held at the Cortez Cultural Center amphitheater on Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to draw in more locals and tourists to the Saturday night concert.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our goals is to attract a lot of youth in the audience,\u201d King said. \u201cSeveral of our performers are younger, and we want to inspire our young people to appreciate Western music and know they can learn it themselves instead of playing video games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cowboy Gathering of the Four Corners is a nonprofit that relies on sponsors, community support and local hospitality to house incoming talent. Their first event cost $12,000, half of which was covered by the fair board, and the other half by local sponsors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fair board wanted a concert so we worked together so we can grow together,\u201d King said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about the good response we had, and feel there is a real interest and market here to regularly host Western music events.\u201d<\/p>\n
Between producing concerts at the fairgrounds, the Kings plan to host smaller Western music festivals featuring local and regional talent on their Summit Ridge farm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis music is in our blood, and we want to share that with the community,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
For more information about Cowboy Gathering of the Four Corners, go to www.cg4corners.com<\/p>\n