Wildlife West Announces 2009 Music Festival Headliners And Event Schedule
by John Weckerle
Last year’s Wildlife West Music Festival may have been a tough act to follow, but this year’s lineup looks like another crowning achievement. Internationally known folk musician John McCutcheon will return to delight the audience with his incredible and varied repertoire. With over 30 albums to his credit and the ability to play about a dozen instruments, John McCutcheon’s performances are an uncommon treat among musical experiences. His songs tell stories of American life with a rare insight, and his instrumentals are often unparalleled in both skill and the enjoyment they bring to the listener. The Badly Bent – an award winning bluegrass band from Durango, Colorado – will be welcomed by those who return to Wildlife West year after year for bluegrass that, as phrased on the band’s web site, “never strays far from the roots established by the fathers of the genre.” Dave Firestine and Round The House – another award-winning band, but this time from Tucson, Arizona – will regale us with “authentic Irish music, with a twist of Tucson.” Syd Masters & The Swing Riders, the headliner for Wildlife West’s regular Chuckwagon Suppers, will entertain us with their unique blend of traditional and original cowboy music and humor. Also returning will be The Squash Blossom Boys, a local band that should be remembered by last year’s attendees. More bands will be announced soon!
Online ticket sales will commence soon on the park’s web site, as will a new series of sponsorships directed specifically toward those who would like to show their support for the festival.
Wildlife West has also released its event schedule for 2009, with events listed as follows:
- Wind Festival May 2, 3
- Chuckwagon Dinner Shows Saturday nights – June 20 through Sept. 15.
- Bear Fair July 11
- 7th Annual Music Festival August 7 – 9
- Harvest Festival August 28, 30
- Melodrama TBA