"Cowboy Culture Comes to Moab"

Put a little yippe-ki-yay in your winter weekend by attending the Moab Western Stars Cowboy Poetry Gathering at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center.

In its seventh year, the gathering has expanded to include children's performances and art shows and invited the cream of the crop of Utah and western states cowboy poets.

The poetry and song begins Friday night at The MARC with our one-of-a-kind Cowboy Campfire Concert. This year the concert features Rollie Stevens, Brian Arnold, Doug Keller and Kenny Hall, all on stage together around the campfire - just the way authentic entertainment comes together out on the western range.

Saturday and Sunday Moab's MARC will once again be the corral for cowboy culture events. Performances begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and continue through the day. Saturday's activities will include a series of workshops and a special matinee, "A Marty Robbins Tribute." Performances by Don Edwards, Jill Jones, Richard Lee Cody, Gordon Thomas, Jerry Brooks and Rollie Stevens will blend together for a stirring tribute to one the most beloved cowboy singers, Marty Robbins.

Mid-day Saturday a Dutch oven cook-off will give everyone a taste of old fashioned range food that will knock your socks off! Cash prizes will be awarded and tastes will be sold to the public as a fundraiser for the MARC.

Saturday night the Grand County High School auditorium, audiences will be treated to the amazing sounds of Suzy Bogguss. The concert also features popular cowboy humorist Andy Nelson, acting as MC, and poets Sam DeLeeuw and Phil Kennington. Jill Jones and Bill Snow, Jr. are the opening musicians for Saturday's concert. After the Suzy Bogguss concert head back to the MARC for The Saturday night Community Cowboy Dance with the Sawmill River Band. Call 435-259-2002 for more information and tickets.

Activities begin again Sunday Morning, with an inspirational non-denominational Cowboy Church, coordinated by Marion Manwill. Come prepared to share a thought or a song, or just partake of the pure spirit of the west. Later in the day performers again take the stage, and there will be additional workshops available with registration. And of course you'll want to visit the western vendors, or stop by the museum exhibit hosted by Bill Macking, founder of the Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum in Craig, Colorado.

Don Edwards will appear in concert on Sunday night at Star Hall, along with poets Jo Lynne Kirkwood and Paul Bliss, and musicians Jill Jones and Bill Snow, Jr. Join us for a night you're sure not to forget!

Throughout the weekend there will be western craft demonstrations and a host of vendor booths including quilt appraisals, saddlemakers, Western art, amazing leather and silver work. Get dressed up in your western finery and have your portrait made at the black and white photography booth. You'll have a lasting memory of the gathering.

Cowboy poet Curly Syndergaard will be featured at Don Weller's Cutting Horse Clinic, along with musician Brian Arnold.  Artist Jeff Wolf is a special guest, featured at work along with Balladeer Don Edwards at the acoustic guitar workshop.  These are just a few of the special events at the gathering that are bound to leave you with a glow and a couple of laughs to boot.

There are always surprises in store for anyone who shows up for a cowboy poetry gathering in Utah, so expect to see some faces not listed here!

For information, tickets, vendor guidelines, western art guidelines and more, visit http://www.moabwesternstars.com/ or call the MARC at 435-259-6272.