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Entertainers and Performers that will be at
the 2012 Kamloops Cowboy Festival
March 8th - 11th, 2012
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It's performers like these that help make
the Kamloops Cowboy Festival
the Biggest and the Best of its kind in Canada!
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This is the sixth year of the
"Country 103 Rising Star Showcase".
The past five years were a great success with an incredible amount of talent
taking part. Both of the winners of last year's Showcase will be on the main stage
line up this year.
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You can use the following index if you are looking for
a particular performer - just click on their name to find
their photo and bio,
or scroll down the page and check them all out.
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There is also the Country 103 Rising Star Showcase and
Open Mic performers throughout the weekend. If you are interested in the
Country 103 Rising Star Showcase
Click here! The following
are the Rising Stars that have entered for 2012.
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Abe Zacharias is an award-winning vocalist and songwriter who has
performed in many parts of Canada and the US. His 1993 appearance on the stage of the
Grand Ol' Opry and his 1997 Golden Heart Award (Country Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year)
are two of his career highlights. Abe has gained a legion of fans through his more than
35 years of making music. He was especially pleased when one of them, country star Paul
Brandt, credited Abe as being one of his important musical influences. Recently one of
Abe's songs Prairie Homestead from his Songs of the Sage and Saddle album has been
recieving extensive airplay by the European Country Music Association. In December 2009
it went to #10 in the Netherlands and #8 in Belgium. Then in January of 2010 it went to
#2 in Norway. For info & bookings email Abe at:
countryboy1@telus.net
or see his web site at:
www.azmusic.ca
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Allen Christie In a similar style to Ian Tyson or Tom Russell, but not without his own unique
inflections, Allen Christie is poised to carry high the torch of North American Cowboy Music. His warm report and
solid delivery of self-penned gems that are earmarked to become classics in this genre make Allen an act that's
well worth getting out to see. Allen Christie has been touring North America with a driving acoustic sound that has
been getting a lot of attention. By blending elements of alternative country, western, and bluegrass music, Allen
has taken his roots based sound to new levels. He has recorded 4 albums, all featuring songs he wrote reflecting
his rural Alberta upbringing. Songs that paint vivid pictures of what life is like on the Prairies - you get to
share the hopes and dreams of the people that work the land along with their special moments, successes and failures,
and ultimately, their ability to not just survive rural living, but to celebrate it. His talent as a songwriter has
not gone without recognition. Allen's songs have made it to the big screen as part of movie soundtracks, TV documentaries,
and TV and radio commercials.
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Allen's Band
Allen leads his band with strong vocals and a flattop guitar. He has also been known to pull out a mandolin or banjo
on occasion. His showmanship and sense of humor have endured him to audiences from Ft. Worth TX. to Inuvik NWT. Joining him
in Kamloops are:
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Jacquie Drew is a Calgary-based country singer/songwriter. Jacquie belts out "Original country, blues and roots,
to fill your soul or stomp your boots!" Her second CD, Red Hot Candy Heart, contains 10 self-penned tunes and reached #4
Canada-wide on the folk/roots/blues charts in early 2011. A multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and mother of two,
Jacquie Drew was originally trained in classical piano, and backed many bands before launching her own career in 2008.
She has performed around Canada at music venues and festivals, and with her honky-tonk band, "Jacquie Drew & the Crew."
Jacquie and Allen have worked many times together in the past few years including a show at the David Thompson Cowboy
Festival and the Canada/USA party at the NFR in Las Vegas.
Ian Stults has been part of the Allen Christie Band for the past two years as the Drummer, Bass player, Guitar
player and Driver. Hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Ian is a true road warrior and as part of the band, he and Allen
have made appearances all over western Canada. This will be his first time at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival and is looking
forward to the experience.
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Brad Creemer is no stranger to the Cowboy Festival. He has played many times with the Allen Christie Band at not
only Kamloops, but Stony Plain, David Thompson, and Las Vegas to name a few. This mild mannered man plays bass in the
band now but many remember him for his awesome dobro playing and fabulous smile.
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Bud Webb began his professional career in the music
industry in the late 60's touring throughout Canada with his band "Bud Webb & The
Outriders". By the mid 70's they had two albums under their belt and many
successful tours including working with Marg Osborne and Don Messer of the "Don
Messer Show". Today, Bud has settled in Lake Errock, BC. In 2002 Bud was inducted
into the BC Country Music Hall of Fame. He continues to stay active with live
performances and in the last few years has released three CDs: "Cowboy-Ography",
"Enjoy a Seniors Moment", and three years ago a new CD, "I Just Don't Look Good Naked Anymore"
- Live from the Merritt Mountain Music Festival.
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Butch Falk
A featured performer at many cowboy gatherings and festivals in Canada and the US. Butch possesses a unique ability
to bring the most descriptive cowboy lyrics to life. His music literally transports the listener to another place
and time. A dynamic contemporary performer, Butch is always true to the cowboy spirit in all of us. When
Butch is not performing he is busy in his workshop building guitars or woodworking. Butch has performed throughout
western Canada and the USA and performed at Cowboy Gatherings as far away as Tucson Arizona and Branson Missouri.
Butch has performed at all the major festivals in Canada including Calgary, Kamloops, Pincher Creek, Stony Plain,
Barkerville, Fort St. John, and many more. Nominated for the Academy of Western Artist's 'Rising Star Award' in 1998,
Butch went on to become a Nominee for Male Vocalist of the Year in both 1999, 2000, and 2003. His song, co-written with
poet Mike Puhallo, "Cinnamon", was nominated for the Academy of Western Artist's "Song of the Year". Another cut "Below
the Kinney Rim" / Mike Fleming, made the Top Ten play list on western music stations as well as the Top 100 for the 1990's.
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David Longworth
Dave thanks his Dad and Uncle for starting him in cowboy poetry at
a young age, as they both were fond of reciting classic cowboy poetry. At the age of
16 he first went on his own, working on farms and ranches, chasing his dream of becoming
an artist, and started into the folk and country music scene. About 1983 the music
thing stopped and Dave started to focus more on a career as an actor. Although he had
some concern that he had no formal training, after 24 years of bits, feature roles,
movies, and TV series, he is now a very estabilished actor! In 1990 he helped produce
a cowboy poetry festival in Princeton and in 1991 was a feature poet at the Okeefe
Ranch. He gives a good mix of classics as well as his own original poems.
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Duane Stewart
In his earlier years, Duane was regularly featured on CBC radio and
television series and recorded for both the London and Capitol labels. Back then he
used his father's stage surname and was featured for four seasons on his dad's "The
Stu Davis Show". The two later co-starred on the "Trail-Riding Troubadour" series.
Duane was also the singing host of three of his own CBC radio network series. He
left the stage and stage name behind as he began to devote more of his time to the
field of education. After twenty-five years as a high school and university English
teacher, confining his singing and playing to the occasional church service or
community fund-raiser, Duane's 2003 relocation from Alberta to the Shuswap
inspired his return to the stage. Since then, he has maintained a busy schedule of
western, country, and country gospel performances throughout BC and the prairies.
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Photo Donna Smith
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Ed Brown
Ed Brown is a former bronc rider and a founding member of the Manitoba Rodeo Association
(M.R.C.A.). In 1997 Ed was inducted into the M.R.C.A Hall of Fame. In addition to ten
years as a rodeo cowboy and seven years working with racehorses, Ed has worked as a
trapper, commercial fisherman, musician and wildlife artist. This diversity of occupations,
along with a sense of humor developed through a life-long association with cowboys,
trappers and various other colorful characters, is reflected in his exclusively original
poems, songs and stories. Some of Ed's accomplishments to date include being featured on
several TV documentaries. He has appeared in several magazine articles and done guest spots on a
variety of TV and radio shows including Spirit of The West and more recently Canadian
Cowboy Country TV. Ed has headlined at almost all of the major cowboy poetry gatherings and festivals in
Western Canada and in 2005 was named Manitoba's Cowboy Poet of The Year. Recently, Ed's
third CD , Cowboy Collaboration a joint project between Ed and fellow poet Bj Smith,
was honored by the Academy of Western Artists in Dallas Texas receiving the coveted Will
Rogers Award for Cowboy Poetry CD of The Year. When not touring in Alberta, Ed resides near Oak Lake
Manitoba where he makes his living as a wildlife sculptor and cowboy performer.
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www.peekeekoot.ca
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Ed Peekeekoot
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Ed was surrounded by the many
musicians in his family and their instruments. His first "real"
guitar was purchased when he was 16. Ed studied Chet Atkins
recordings and played in bands in the Clearwater, BC area while
continuing to fill his own artistic toolbox. He has expressive
skill on fiddle, banjo, dobro, and harmonica, as well as guitar.
Ed has developed a solo style performance that at turns has
people laughing, then crying. In recent years he has been
working on another style of "roots" music - the true roots
of his own Cree heritage. Ed's work has made its way across
North America and into many different countries, including
Germany, Australia, Japan, Israel, England, South Africa,
and Taiwan - all this from his home base of Crofton, British Columbia.
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Frank Gleeson
was declared Official Cowboy Poet by the Williams Lake City Council in 2003 for
promoting the town through poems and songs. He's the only Canadian Cowboy Poet to be
invited as a paid performer, and to be a feature poet at the National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering in Elko, Nevada for several consecutive years. Audiences
never seem to get enough of Frank's humour and request that he be back year after year!
He's been refered to as the "Fastest Cowboy Poet in the West" which just adds that much
more comedy to his already hilarious poetry! If you've never heard Frank before, now's
your chance, and we know you'll be laughing.
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Gary Prescott
Raised on the family ranch near Bryan, Texas, Gary grew up helping with the cow/calf operation and working in the family
hay fields in the summertime. He writes and sings with the heart and soul of a South Texas cowboy and his songs reflect
close family ties and values. As an adult Gary worked cattle in the deep South Texas brush giving him even more hands-on
experience from which to draw for song writing material. Gary's songs have been recorded by artists throughout the United
States and Canada and his song "Fair Blows the Wind", sung beautifully by wife, Jean, received top cowboy
song of the year honors with the Academy of Western Artists in 2005. Gary's CD "Rough Country/Wild Cattle", gives listeners
a glimpse at cowboy life across Texas and New Mexico. It's been called "Cowboy songs for real cowboys". Gary continues to
keep the ranching tradition alive south of Abilene, Texas, where he and wife, Jean run a small cow/calf
operation. He continues to write and sing songs about the way of life he holds dear.
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photo by Deanna Buschert
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Gord Colliar
Gord has been performing Cowboy Humour / Poetry for almost two decades for audiences all
over North America and UK. He started his cowboy career rodeoing in Saskatchewan and
then made his way cowboy in BC, finally settling in Alberta. Gord obtained his degree in
Animal Science in 1985 and did a short stint with Fish and Wildlife before settling down
to manage the Bar AD Ranch west of Longview. Gord now works as an Industry Specialist for
Pfizer Animal Health as well as an Auctioneer in Southern Alberta. He also is the lead
singer for the "Bunch Grass Band." Gord also is still very active in all aspects of
cowboy life (day work, Ranch Roping, The Alberta voice of Ranch Rodeo). His poetry and
humour has not changed over the years, because to him you have to make every job fun and
when you're laughing you having fun.
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The Gordie West Band web site is:
www.gordiewestband.com
Email Gordie at:
gordiewest@hotmail.com
Email Mike at:
mdygert@telus.net
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The Gordie West Band
You may have seen this dual at one of many cowboy festivals in BC and Alberta or
promoting the Calgary Stampede throughout North America. Gord West and Mike Dygert
(aka The Gordie West Band) are a couple of guys with a thirst for the folklore of the
west and a yen to play good, old cowboy music! Gordie West, who lives o short drive
north of Kamloops, began playing in country bands in his teens, spent close to 20
years touring overseas where he released 5 albums and now combines a singing career
with the wandering life of a Tour Director. He has a voice range that can showcase
the ballads of Marty Robbins and the yodel stylings of Wilf Carter. Mike Dygert
hails from Three Hills, a small town northeast of Calgary, Alberta. When he's not
with Gord, he's usually off playing with "Horsefeathers", a country dance band.
He has a dry wit that will leave you wondering "where'd he come from" and "how'd
he get there"! Together they make the music come alive with song and good humour.
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Photo by Deanna Kristensen
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Hugh McLennan
and his wife Billie live the life they love - shared with their
cattle and horses in some beautiful country! Hugh has spent
a lot of years training horses for the public and specializes in
starting colts and developing them for ranch work. He spent
many years working in radio and TV but his heart was always in
ranching and cowboy life. Sixteen years ago Hugh started the
Spirit of the West radio program with the objective to
bring the livestock industry to the general public using the
real words of the people on the land along with the music and
poetry of the west. As well as many other awards, Hugh's
show was named Canada's Best Agricultural Radio Program in
two different years. His speaking engagements take him all
over North America.
Hugh's web site is:
www.hugh-mclennan.com
Email Hugh at:
hugh_mclennan@telus.net
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Jayden Stafford
is 10 years old, and a grade 5 student at Parkland Elementary, in Farmington, BC. He and his family live on a small hobby
farm where he gains inspiration to write his own poems. Between the chickens and pigs, horses and a bottle calf, there is
never a dull moment! Jayden began reciting Brian Salmond's poetry a couple years ago. Since then he met with Brain and
has joined him, Tom Cole, and other members of the Campfire Cowboys to perform at a variety of functions around the Peace
country. In March 2011 Jayden competed against 6 other poets in the Rising Star Showcase at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival,
and brought home the 1st place prize! He's very eager to return to main stage at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival in 2012!
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Also see Jean's band
Sweethearts in Carhartts below.
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Jean Prescott
A native West Texan, Jean Prescott hangs her hat just a little bit south of Abilene, Texas, with her husband,
singer/songwriter Gary Prescott. Jean's music has
been referred to as "the spiritual essence of the west" and she shares her love of western life through her songs about
the real west of yesterday and today. The heart of her music, however, remains with the women of the west and their
stories. With numerous awards to her credit from both the Academy of Western Artists and the prestigious Western Music
Association, Jean has been honored by the Texas State Legislature for her contribution to the preservation of Texas
history through her music. Her rich alto voice graces an interactive music exhibit at the National Cowgirl Museum and
Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, and Jean is a recipient of the 2006 American Cowboy Culture Award for her preservation
of the western way of life through song. With multiple award-winning CDs to her credit, her most popular CD Sweethearts
in Carhartts, brings alive the stories of ranch wives. Whether she graces a concert stage or an evening campfire,
Jean Prescott's music goes straight to the heart and is always toe tappin' good!
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Kristyn Harris a 17 year old singin', yodelin', swing rhythm guitar player from McKinney, Texas, has a
passion for cowboy, western, and western swing music, inspired by the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Bob Wills. She
lives the songs she sings as top hand for her family ranch - she's even trained a wild Mustang, who is now her best friend.
She shares her love of horses by volunteering weekly at a therapeutic horse riding facility and participating in 4-H. Proud
to be a native Texan, she's helping preserve Western heritage by performing regularly with Fort Worth's Cowtown Opry, and
as a solo performer at numerous cowboy and western venues nationwide. She was a top five finalist for the Western Music
Association's Crescendo award in 2011, and recently won the 2011 WMA Janet McBride Yodeling Award. She was also the winner
of the Rising Star competition at the 2011 Kamloops Cowboy Festival.
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Les Folles Jambettes
This high spirited act has been kicking up their heels since 1997. Based on the historical dance of the boomtown
mining days of BC, Les Folles Jambettes present the traditional Cancan and bring it into the 21st century. The 10
member group sets the stage for their colorful dance numbers with their unique character and energy. Lose yourself in
their ruffles and feathers - step back in time to the wild west with the Crazy Legs Dancers!
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Liz Masterson
is an award-winning songbird from Denver, Colorado. Her unique and lovely voice lends itself well to the concert stage or
a cozy campfire. Liz has just released her first solo CD called "Roads to Colorado" which is getting rave reviews. Also,
her roots run deep in the 30s and 40s era cowboy songs and big band swing tunes. Her warmth on stage endears her to fans
and friends alike. Liz is a founding member of the prestigious Western Music Association. She is also part of the Band
Sweethearts in Carhartts with Jean Prescott, and Yvonne
Hollenbeck.
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Mag Mawhinney
For the past decade, Mag has been writing western/cowboy poetry and performing at major cowboy festivals, as well as
other events, across Western Canada, and into the US. Her recitations have also been aired on TV and radio. Contributions
of her rhymes and festival reviews have frequently appeared on the BC Cowboy Heritage Society web site and in their
quarterly newspaper The Cowboy Times. Mag also enjoys freelance writing and has been published internationally in numerous
magazines, anthologies, newspapers and web sites, winning some awards for her articles and for poetry, in all genres.
In March 2008, she received an "8 Seconds" Award for her poem, "Winter Range", in the global Lariat Laureate Competition
at cowboypoetry.com. She has also given presentations on writing for schools, libraries, and clubs. She has written three
poetry books and has also released a poetry CD, "Passin' It On", which includes four of her original songs.
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Matt Johnston
Matt's song writing talent and love of the cowboy culture have produced some wonderful songs. Matt has been writing and
performing at Cowboy Festivals, concerts and gatherings for over a decade. In 2002 and 2003 he was nominated for the
"Rising Western Star Award" by the Academy of Western Arts in Fort Worth and again in 2010 for the "Male Western Vocalist".
His debut recording features eight of his original songs and is put together with twenty three poems by Canada's Cowboy
Poet, Mike Puhallo. After focusing on his homestead and family life for a few years Matt is shifting his energy back
towards music and is currently working on a new Album. Matt hangs his hat in Upper Clearwater which is surrounded by
Wells Gray Park. Matt and his wife Ursula are both farriers. He devides his spare time between family, homestead, horses
and working in his saddle shop. Busy guy, hey! Congratulations, Matt and Ursi on your new baby girl, Annie!!
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Mike Fleming
grew up in Colorado where he developed his performance and songwriting skills in theater and music. He has been described
by reviewers as "a creative and perceptive songwriter" whose work is "among the most innovative in Western Music." Mike
has won the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers - Best Western Swing Song award for, Sometimes This Old Cowboy Gets
the Blues, as well as the 1997 WMA/Song of the Year and 1998 AWA Best Song with co-writer, Les Buffham, for Below the Kinney
Rim. His band, NEW WEST, won the 1999 Will Rogers Award for Best Western Group.
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He has been described as one of Canada's funniest storytellers.
Email Ol' Ugly at:
bizwiz1@telus.net |
Ol' Ugly
ain't nothing special, he just loves to make people laugh.
And there is them that agree:
'Country Music News' says of
Ol' Ugly, "He has become a favorite on the Western Canada entertainment scene over the
past few years where his routines which include unique facial expressions and a number
of story characters bring comparison to comedic works of greats like Red Skelton and
Jerry Clowers."
"I have no idea where Ol' Ugly fits in but he leaves his audiences rolling in the
aisles," said Hugh McLennan, popular host of radio's, 'Spirit of the West' at the
Kamloops Cowboy Festival in 2004.
Ol' Ugly is one of the busiest performers in Western Canada and in 2005/06 season he
performed at over 45 shows. His CDs have been amongst the top selling comedy CDs in the
country.
Contact John Glawson (Ol' Ugly) at 403-646-2932 or go to
www.country-comedian.com
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Robbie Robertson "The Mountie Cowboy Poet"
has been associated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for more than fifty years; an active member for twenty
eight years. He writes and recites poetry about the early history of the Force and some of its heroes. He also writes
and performs traditional Cowboy Poetry. He wears a 1895 N.W.M.P. period uniform or the current R.C.M.P. dress Red Serge
while reciting his poetry. He was the first member of the force to be given permission to wear the uniform after
retirement for other than "State or formal occasions". He is a member of The R.C.M.P. Veterans Association, an Honorary
Member of The Former Texas Rangers Association, a life member and past president of The Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association.
He has performed in London England, Texas, Arizona, Montana, and numerous Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Western Canada. He
performs as a guest lecturer on Alaska Cruises with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He has appeared on National Television and
Radio, as well as "The Spirit of the West" with Hugh McLennan and "Canadian Cowboy Country Television" "The Mountie Cowboy
Poet", also entertains as an after dinner and convention speaker.
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Sam DeLeeuw
Make no mistake, Sam knows what she's talking about. Twenty-plus years a rancher's wife, she's herded horses, cows,
sheep and daughters. In college, she was the only girl in the Livestock curriculum, and was everybody's "favorite date"
because she'd help with the spring branding. She can construct a perfect stack of hay, keep a calf warm in her truck or
the floor of her kitchen, and keep the scour medicine in her fridge separate from the salad dressing. Her "honors" and
"awards" are too numerous to mention. She has, for many years, been chosen as
one of the judges for the annual National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo competitions. She is often humorous, but sometimes
tear-evoking and much of her original poetry is taken from her own family's genealogy, day to day life, people she's met
and places she's been. Raised in Idaho, Sam now makes her home just outside of Ogden, Utah.
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Shirley Field
An exceptionally talented yodeller, Shirley is a musical treasure.
At the age of nine she annouced that "I'm gonna be a Yodeller"! Shirley
wrote a book with Rudy Robbins called, How to Yodel the Cowboy Way, which has inspired
yodellers around the world. She has performed with the likes of Loretta Lynn and Marty
Robbins. In 1962 she sang at the Grand Ol' Opry. Shirley was inducted into the
BC Cowboy Hall of Fame in March 2000. See the
Hall of Fame Photo Album. She has a book and CD on how to yodel and
over the years has taught many of our feature performers to yodel - some of them at
her workshop on how to yodel, at the Festival. Shirley was inducted into the BC
Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Sweethearts In Carhartts
present the side of western women in poetry and song that most folks never hear about. For instance, the ranch wife is
as essential to the ranch as barbed wire. As Red Steagall says, "Women are the cement that holds the west together and
have helped make it what it is today." When these gals take the stage not only will folks be entertained, they will learn
more than a little bit about the lives of western women and their sometimes unexpected and often exciting adventures. The
spontaneity and camaraderie of Sweethearts in Carhartts is contagious. Their fans love them and can't seem to get enough
of them! Margo Metegrano of www.CowboyPoetry.com says, "Those gals! What a trio! Each one is wonderfully talented and having
them together is like adding lots of extra hot fudge, nuts and whipped cream with a cherry on top to an already-great sundae!
Jean Prescott, Liz Masterson, and Yvonne Hollenbeck
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www.tomcole.net
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Brian Salmond and Tom Cole
These tall lanky cowboys are the image you would expect of men who have spent their days on the back of a horse raising
cattle. Tom and Brian grew up on their family's respective ranches in northern BC. Their poems, songs and stories reflect
the western lifestyle.
Brian Salmond has an unusual and refreshing twist on his writings. He has the uncanny talent to see
the humorous side of seemingly every situation and is able to record it on paper for others to enjoy. While delivering his
poems to an audience it is apparent that Brian is also gifted in relating his stories to others.
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Tom Cole is a larger than life tall drink of water (6'6) that can quench your thirst for country music. His rich baritone
voice was made to sing cowboy songs. His approach to the music makes the listener believe every word he sings.
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Yvonne Hollenbeck
Her husband, Glen, calls her his "kisser, mixer and windmill fixer" but "jack-of-all-trades and master of none" is how
Yvonne Hollenbeck describes her life as a South Dakota cattle rancher’s wife. Whether helping outside with the livestock,
putting up hay, paying the bills, or feeding a crew, Yvonne puts real life experiences into her poetry which in turn
delights audiences of all ages. Yvonne performs throughout the United States, captivating audiences in her wake. She is
one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West and is not only a popular banquet and civic entertainer, but also
co-writes songs with many western entertainers. Although she can credit a long list of awards, she claims the many
friends she has made in the western entertainment business as her greatest accolade. Yvonne is involved with is a
collaboration with noted singers and songwriters, Jean Prescott, Liz Masterson,
entitled "Sweethearts in Carhartts", a tribute to the women of the West, from
homesteading to present.
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Country 103 Rising Star Showcase
This is the sixth year of the "Country 103 Rising Star Showcase".
The past five years were a great success with an incredible amount of talent
taking part - so much talent that we have picked main stage performers from that list.
Thanks to Country 103 Radio in Kamloops! This year we will once again
split the contest into two groups to spread the prize
money a little farther. There is a section for poets
and a section for musicians. Both first place winners
will receive $1000 each. The other four finalists (2 poets and 2
musicians) will receive $500 each.
These Rising Stars perform throughout the weekend
and six finalists will be showcased on main stage Sunday
afternoon.
If you are
interested in being part of the "Rising Star Showcase"
please see the
Rising Star Showcase page, which includes an
application from.
We getting close to full, and as we receive bios and photos of those entered, we'll list them here. These
are the ones we have so far:
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Cowboy Poets
Curtis Anderson
Jill Gunnarson
Joyce Pallister Bronsch
Wendy Vaughan
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Cowboy Singers
"Camel" Dave Howell
Cliff & Mary Caldwell
Dale McEachern
Darcey Smith
Tim Ross
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"Camel" Dave Howell
Camel Dave's background is anything but cowboy. He was raised in the Toronto area, but eventually saw the error of
his ways and moved out west. For the past 11 years he has lived and worked as a cowboy and guide in the Cariboo. Dave
also had a stint as a camel wrangler in Barkerville (which explains his unusual nickname). He has played guitar since
he was 14, and has written many cowboy songs and poems over the last 10 years. His career began as the "campfire"
entertainer at a guest ranch where he worked. From there he performed at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival, Clinton Jamboree,
and the Princeton Fall Fair. He is presently living on a small horse ranch in the Merritt area.
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Cliff & Mary Caldwell Cliff was raised on a farm/ranch. He had horses, both draft and saddle. He spent
his younger years using and showing horses as well as being involved in rodeo. Cliff spent the better part of ten years at
the McIntrye ranch in south Alberta. This was a good spot to learn and appreciate the cowboy way of life. Mary spent her
early adult life on a farm raising and showing purebred Angus cattle. She was also involved in 4H clubs for many years.
These experiences created a life long interest in rural life. The music part of our lives came later. We have always been
fans of country and cowboy music but did not start playing and singing until a few years ago. We play at coffeehouses in
the area and we entertain occasionally at pubs. We made our first CD in 2010.
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Curtis Anderson wrote the following bio for himself:
"Hello my name is Curtis Anderson. I am competing
in the 103 Rising Stars Poetry Showcase. I rode bulls for 10 years. On June 26/2002 I was in a rodeo accident and
received an acquired brain injury and spent a week short of a year in therapy. I learned to walk, talk, and eat over
again. I have been writing Cowboy Poetry for 2 years. All of my material is original. A lot of my poems are dedicated
to family and friends and heroes that I have met through rodeo. The past year I have been a motivational speaker and
wrote a speech called ROAD TO RECOVERY on my long road to recovery. My website is CACCanada.com. Maybe one day I can
speak for you. I would like to wish the other contestants good luck. Everybody's here to relax and share your smile
with everyone you meet.
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Dale McEachern 16 year old Dale McEachern is a cowboy in the making with a desire to sing country
and western songs, live on a ranch, and one day, have his own cattle and horses. He loves to play his guitar, fiddle
and mandolin and to sing. Dale's love for music started when he was very young as he grew up listening to Wilf Carter,
his Grandmother and his Great Uncle sing old country songs. In January, 2008, Dale started playing the guitar with his
Grandmother. After a few months he wanted to play the mandolin so she taught him how to play it and in August of the same
year, he taught himself to play the fiddle. Dale always liked cowboy songs with yodels in them. Now his desire is to
learn to yodel and sing songs just like the cowboys. Dale plays in a family band playing with his Grandmother and mother
at local music festivals, community events and Senior Citizen Centers in Fort St. John and surrounding areas. Dale will be
entertaining on main stage in the Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert February 11th, 2012.
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Darcey Smith grew up on a Prairie Farmers Rehabilitation Administration
in Manitoba where they ran approximately 5000 head of cattle. He learned the cowboy
life early following his father's footsteps, roping and riding bareback bronc's. He
and his family moved farther west throughout the years, cowboying in every province to
BC. He had three older sisters that sang and played guitar that inspired him to do the
same. He has rode bareback horses in the CCA, MRCA, FCA, LRA, HRA, CARA, BCRA, CRA,
and sang a few songs
along the way. Darcey currently trains horses and rides range for a living. He is
married and has three children. He writes and sings songs that are inspired by his
family and their lifestyle, and are true and close to his heart. He will be performing
these song on stage for the first time at the festival.
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Jill Gunnarson
aka Gypsy Jill, hails from Grand Forks, BC. With a natural passion for performing and visual arts stemming from a family
of artists, Jill has written poetry since childhood as a way to expand her creative talents. Jill moved to Kootenays in
1985 from her farm homestead in Aldergrove to a small hobby farm where she enjoys the company of her critters and her
overriding passion for dog rescue specializing in rough collies. Having performed as a singer, musician and clown, she
has recently found her niche as a western / cowboy poet. Many of her poems, written since 2006, are centered on the gold
rush era and the experiences of women during that time. She has performed as the mistress of ceremonies with a traditional
cancan dance troupe at Kamloops Cowboy Festival, Williams Lake Stampede, Rock Creek Fall Fair, BC Cattleman's Association
annual meeting, an event at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and many smaller events.
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Joyce Pallister Bronsch
worked at the Calgary Stockyards during the 1960's for Paul and MacDonald, a commission firm buying and selling livestock.
It was here she met and married Hank Pallister, a Brand Inspector, and started her western way of life.
As a humorous impersonation of 'Minnie Pearl' Joyce shares her poems with community audiences at fall suppers, musical
concerts, cowboy poetry gatherings, cowboy church, at the Stampede as well at ladies events. She won 'Reciter of the Year'
in 2007, Lyricist of the Year in 2008 & 2009 and Entertainer of the Year in 2009 at the Canadian Country Gospel Music
Awards. She has published a small book of cowboy poetry, entitled "Lingo and Lines From a Cowboy's Life and a Cowboy's Wife",
and two books about her late husband Hank Pallister called "Smoke From The Branding Fire" and "Bulls, Brands, and BS: Brand
Inspector's Stories.
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Tim Ross
is a singer/songwriter/guitar slinger who hails from Wycliffe, in the East Kootenays of BC. His day job as a
range management consultant, which translates to "cowboy with a degree", grants him the privilege of riding the range
and making a living in the saddle. His night job is playing in bands of all sorts, but his true love is "Western" music.
His songwriting influences range from rock-and-roll and blues to rockabilly and cowboy songs, but his subject matter
is the West. The songs on his first CD, "Blue Sky, Green Grass" are set in the Kootenays, the Cariboo-Chilcotin and the
Canadian prairies. These songs, and those on his new CD, reveal his humour, and his love of the land, people, dogs,
horses and cattle that make up the New West. Tim and Tracey also raise grass-fed beef, and spend lots of time with their
horses and border collies.
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Wendy Vaughan
has been writing and performing poetry since 1988 when she first performed at the first Pincher Creek Cowboy Poetry
Gathering. Since then she has entertained with her poetry at various events, and gatherings in Western Canada and Montana.
Raised west of Cochrane in the Ghost River area, she experienced ranch life first hand and many of her ranch experiences
are related in poetic form. Wendy currently resides with her husband, Walter, on the family farm North of Cochrane, Alberta.
She is the president of the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association and has provided entertainers for the Bards and Beef Show
in Crossfield, Alberta an annual fundraiser for the Westbrook 4-H from 1997 to 2008. Wendy is instrumental in the
production of the ACPA's annual Trail's End Gatherings.
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Open Mic
We can't hire everyone, so our Open Mics allow others a chance to perform at the
Kamloops Cowboy Festival! This includes the already known professionals and up-and-coming
talent! Every year we end up hearing new entertainers on the open mics and quite often
invite them back as paid performers the following year! If you are interested in
performing on the open mic let us know and we'll add you to the list! Email:
cowboys@bcchs.com
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