Features

Dakota Dave Hull live on Wyoming Sounds recorded on 4/05/18.

A new art exhibition, up now at the Ucross Gallery in northern Wyoming, takes a contemporary look at the image of the horse. Printmaker Mark Ritchie was inspired to invite artists from around the world to submit their work after attending a horse-focused art workshop in Hungary. 

Ray Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket celebrates his 40th birthday bash on Wyoming Sounds recorded on 3/30/18.

As you may know, NPR put out another call for undiscovered bands to enter a contest to play a Tiny Desk Concert in Washington, D.C. A number of Wyoming musicians filmed themselves behind—and in front of—their own ‘desks’. Check out all of the entries here. 

Here are the Cowboy State's contest entries:

The Woodpile live on Wyoming Sounds recorded on 3/23/18.

Edison live on The Ranch Breakfast Show recorded on 3/17/18. 

From Wyoming to Philadelphia, vocalist Samantha Rise Roberson weaves together jazz, folk and contemporary styles crafting what she describes as "High-Country Soul." Her debut album, Brighter Days, is scheduled for release in early 2018.

10 Cent Stranger, Low Water String Band, and J Shogren Shanghai'd live on Wyoming Sounds on 2/16/18.

Members of the Jackson Hole Chorale are joining more than 170 other vocalists from across the USA and Canada to sing a well-known piece. The performance is organized by Distinguished Concerts International New York, which assembles amateur choirs from around the country to perform at Carnegie Hall. In January, a group of singers from Cheyenne participated in a performance at Carnegie Hall organized by the same group.

Western artist Theodore Waddell and his wife, Lynn, are gifting an 80 piece print collection to the Whitney Center for the Arts at Sheridan College. The collection includes works from celebrated artists from around the country, all gathered by Waddell himself.  “I’ve traded and bought works, prints and whatnot, forever. Just from people whose work I’ve admired and cared for over a lifetime”, he says.

While some communities celebrate football stars, snow-based sports dominate in Jackson Hole. The Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club inducted 10 new members into the club’s Hall of Fame during a banquet Saturday at Snow King Resort. Among the new Hall of Famers, former U.S. Snowboard Team member and pro snowboarder Rob Kingwill had easy access to ski lifts and training living next to Snow King Mountain.

A Brooklyn-based design company is moving its inventory and order fulfillment hub to Pinedale. Artist Stephanie Housley creates embroidered home décor under the brand name Coral and Tusk, which is sold around the world. 

About a year and a half ago, she and her husband decided to move from Brooklyn to the western part of Wyoming. Housley said the landscapes she has visited in the state inspired many of her designs. 

This week, the third annual Grand Teton Winter Music Festival brings together speakers and musicians for four days of music and culture in Jackson.

The winter festival is an expansion of the long-running summer music festival. This festival will feature Chicago’s Fifth House Ensemble, a fluid multi-instrument group.

This year’s festival highlights American contributions to classical music. “One of the reasons that we’re working with this group is because they’re very much championing new music – and new American music.

Seth Walker live on Wyoming Sounds recorded on 1/25/18.

The Ucross Foundation artist residency program in northern Wyoming has announced the winner of its first Native American visual artist fellowship award. Sydney Pursel will spend a month at Ucross, receive a $1,000 stipend and show her work in their gallery.

Pursel is a member of the Iowa Tribe, and said a lot of her early work wrestled with tribal identity.

The artwork of 31 of the Middle East's premier contemporary women artists is coming to Jackson. “I AM” is an international traveling exhibit focusing on the contributions that Middle Eastern women make to local and global culture, and movements for peace and harmony.  

It’s already made stops in Jordan, London and Washington DC, and will open at the Center for the Arts in Jackson on Friday evening.

In celebration of the 80th birth anniversary of John Hartford on December 30, 2017, Wyoming Public Radio rebroadcast John Hartford: An American Treasure produced by Grady Kirkpatrick at WNKU Highland Heights, KY in June of 2001 shortly after John passed away from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The Best Music Of 2017

We asked listeners to vote from two lists and we received an abundance of votes this year! Thanks to everyone who voted and thank you for listening to Wyoming Sounds. Here are their picks for the best music of 2017:

Top 20 Albums

1.       Jason Isbell – Nashville Sound

2.       Willie Nelson – God’s Problem Child

3.       Father John Misty – Pure Comedy

4.       Chris Stapleton – From a Room

5.       Josh Ritter - Gathering

6.       Kendrick Lamar – DAMN