See Lacy J. Dalton and Dalton Gang perform at Bartley Ranch

Second-annual Reno Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering
The second annual Reno Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering will be held Sept. 7 and 8 at the beautiful Hawkins Amphitheater at the Bartley Ranch Regional Park in Reno, as a fundraiser for Soroptimist International of Reno's scholarships and awards to help women and children.

Come and enjoy three different shows with toe-tappin' music by Lacy J. Dalton and the Dalton Gang, David John & the Comstock Cowboys, and Richard Elloyan, and the vivid cowboy poetry and humor of Pat Richardson, Jim Parsons and John Tyson, our master of ceremonies. Each show showcases western traditions, culture and history.

A slide show of historic barns and discussion will be featured Saturday Sept. 8 from noon - 3 p.m.at Western Heritage Interpretive Center at Bartley Ranch Regional Park. An ppen mic session for aspiring cowboy poets will follow and a silent auction is included. Admission is free.

To sign up for the Open Mic session contact Jack Hursh at jhursh@unr.edu.

Lacy J. Dalton and Dalton Gang performs
Songstress and poet Lacy J. Dalton and her band, the Dalton Gang, will appear in two concerts on September 8, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Reno Soroptimist’s 2nd Annual Reno Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival at the Hawkins Amphitheatre at the Bartley Ranch.

This astounding Americana recording artist will be singing songs from her latest hit CD The Last Wild Place and from her all-time hits, the standards 16th Avenue, Black Coffee, Taking it Easy, Crazy Blue Eyes, and Everybody Makes Mistakes.

Appearing on the roster with Dalton will be two of the West’s most cherished lyrical cowboy poets: Pat Richardson and Jim Parsons.

Nevada’s own John Tyson will serve as master of ceremonies for both days of planned events which includes musical performances, poetry readings, interpretive exhibits, barbeque— a full-rounded authentic celebration of the unique Nevada heritage at one of Nevada’s most historic settings.

It is fun, food and frolic with three different concerts at the Bartley Ranch Hawkins Amphitheatre. David John and the Comstock Cowboys will be appearing in concert Friday night.

All the proceeds from this Soroptimist International of Reno two-day fundraising festival goes towards their local scholarship programs and community outreach programs assisting Nevada mothers and children.

For information and tickets www.ticketweb.com or by calling (775) 830-7087, advance tickets prices begin at $25.

Schedule and entertainers' bios
• 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7

John Tyson - As a reporter for KOLO News Channel 8, Tyson has exposed rural Nevada like no one else can. He travels an average of 3,000 miles every month in search of stories that reflect the best of Nevada's true character for his special reports John Tyson's Journal. Tyson is a former working cowboy, state brand inspector, and locomotive engineer, who knows Nevada from the sagebrush level. Tyson will be our master of ceremonies Friday and Saturday.

Jim Parsons - From 1972 through 1979, Parsons packed horse trips across the Anza Borrego Desert, through the San Bernardino National Forest, along the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and into the Great Basin. He now lives in Alpine County, Calif. He is the author of Windows into Western Life, a book of western poetry.

Richard Elloyan - From the Ruby Mountains in Nevada to the wide open prairies in Montana Elloyan's songs tell a colorful, emotional story audiences can connect with whether they live in Los Angeles or Wyoming. Progress caused most of us move beyond our rural roots to conventional work in towns and cities, but progress can not remove our internal almost innate desire to live the simpler although tougher life of the rancher, cowboy or mountain man exploring the wilderness. More about Richard on his website at www.richardelloyan.com.

David John and the Comstock Cowboys - Singer ,songwriter, musician, playwright David John's career has spanned from Nashville to L.A. and to the jungles of Vietnam as a U.S.O. entertainer. His baritone voice is ideal for the music he loves best, songs of the cowboy. His songs are a blending of new and old; and tell of life, death, horses, and cowboys; the way things were, and the way things should be. The skill of his performance has few rivals, as he delivers his songs from the heart. More about David John on his website at www.comstockboys.com.

• 4 p.m. matinee Saturday, Sept. 8

John Tyson

Jim Parsons

Pat Richardson - Born and reared on ranches in several states, Richardson had seven different last names (claiming that his dad was a cow thief), and went to 13 different grammar schools where he says he managed to learn nothing but how to shoe horses, ride colts and work cows. Pat was a professional saddle-bronc and bull rider, and also drew cartoons for the Rodeo Sports News and created pen-and-ink western art that he sold throughout the West. Now semi-retired in Merced, Calif., the multi-talented Richardson is a popular cowboy poet and humorist, who has been invited eight times to perform at the Elko National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and was named the 2004 Academy of Western Artists' Cowboy Poet of the Year. His book, Unhobbled, won the AWA's 2004 Will Rogers Medallion Award. He can be reached through his website at www.poet patrichardson.com.

Lacy J. Dalton & the Dalton Gang -She’s one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music - the woman People magazine called “Country’s Bonnie Raitt.” From the first time she caught the public’s ear, that soulful delivery, full of texture and grit, was a mainstay of country music. When you sit down to listen to her album, you find yourself pulled in by the very power and heart in this vocalist, because she’s not merely performing a 10-song set, she’s bringing each and every tune to life. Check out Lacy's website at www.lacyjdalton.com.

•8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

John Tyson

Pat Richardson

Lacy J. Dalton & the Dalton Gang

General information
Doors open 6 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m. for Saturday matinee and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Tri-Tip and chicken dinners, $8 - $12

Beer, wine, water, soda and snacks available.

Vendor booths carry performers merchandise.

Soroptimist International of Reno will have our First Reno Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering CD, posters, and other items for purchase.

www.renocowboypoetry.com

Performances will be held at beautiful Bartley Ranch Regional Park - Hawkins Amphitheater.

Saturday's afternoon open mic session will be held at Bartley Ranch Regional Park - Western Heritage Interpretive Center.

Directions to Bartley Ranch
The park is located off Lakeside Drive about a half-mile south of McCarran Boulevard below the locally known Windy Hill overlook. To enter the park, turn onto Bartley Ranch Road and cross the covered bridge.