6th Annual Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering

Bringing the best Cowboy talent to Nephi, Utah

April 16th & 17th 2027

Join us for the 6th Annual Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering! Over two days, seven talented cowboys and cowgirls will share music and poetry, including a memorable dinner show round-robin. Enjoy food, Western gear vendors, a free open mic, and our youth poetry contest!

Featured Artists

OJAI CALIFORNIA

Trinity Seely

Raised on cattle ranches across the West, Trinity Seely offers a deep, authentic look into ranch life. She currently serves as Director of the horse program at The Thacher School in Ojai, California. Trinity released her debut, self-titled album in 2011—produced by Brenn Hill and Ryan Tilby—earning praise in publications like Western Horseman and True West.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA

Brigid & Johnny Reedy

Nationally acclaimed duo Brigid & Johnny Reedy from Southwest Montana have spent two decades immersed in the music and culture of the rural West. Dedicated to preserving living traditions through deep connections to land and heritage, the siblings blend exceptional musicianship, sublime harmonies, poetry, and storytelling to deliver unique, captivating performances.

RIVERDALE NEBRASKA

Jake Riley

Born in Colorado, Jake Riley developed a passion for cowboy culture through rodeoing and ranch work. Inspired by Waddie Mitchell, he began writing cowboy poetry in high school. Blending original works with classic recitations, Jake has performed nationwide, including Elko’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. He now lives on the Nebraska plains with his family.

CUSTER COUNTY NEBRASKA

R.P. Smith

Fourth-generation rancher R.P. Smith hails from Nebraska’s Pine Crest Ranch, held by his family since 1906. Inspired 40 years ago by Baxter Black and Waddie Mitchell, R.P. developed an authentic, organic poetic style. Sharing his poetry nationwide has enriched his ranching career and family life, and he looks forward to performing this April.

SALEM UTAH

Paul Bliss

Seasoned by the rodeo arena, cattle range, and wagon road, Paul Bliss writes authentic western poetry. Named Cowboy Poet of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists, he has performed nationwide and released acclaimed recordings. Based in Salem, Utah, Paul runs cattle across the Intermountain West alongside his wife, Stacey.

WESTERN SLOPE COLORADO

Melanie LaRue

Raised in the high desert of Baker, Nevada, Melanie LaRue is a singer and songwriter deeply rooted in the West. Currently working on a Colorado cow-calf operation alongside her husband, she shares her lifelong passion for cowboy and western life through music, drawing inspiration from sagebrush country, good horses, and working ranch life.

UTAH

Zach Martinez

Zach is a cowboy musician and songwriter who performs original and classic western songs inspired by a lifetime spent horseback. Zach was a featured performer at Elko’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 2025. Zach continues writing new music and dedicatedly supports and expands the cowboy poetry and music community.