Famous Cowboy Rendezvous now in its 13th year

From l-r: Kristyn Harris, Doug Figgs, Jon Chandler and Chris Mortensen. Photo by Jason Williams.
LOGAN –It may not look like the 2nd week of March outside, but it is, and that means it’s time for the annual reunion of Cowboy poets, western musicians and artisans for the 2023 Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous.
They are setting up shop again at the Cache County Events Center at the fairgrounds where they have been the last few years.
On KVNU’s For the People program on Wednesday we had musicians Kristyn Harris, Doug Figgs, Jon Chandler and Chris Mortensen, along with organizer Dale Major.

Texas-bred Harris returns to this year’s Rendezvous. Part of the activities the performers take part in while they are here is talking to students in schools. Harris talked about why she loves doing that.

“I remember being that kid, being inspired by seeing other people play guitar and sing. The first time I saw someone playing western swing-style guitar, I was just totally captivated. And hopefully, some kids are having that take away too because it was just a bug that bit me and I couldn’t stop. I also have the passion for what this music is about,” Harris explained.

She said ranching and the American West are close to her heart. Likewise, singer-songwriter Doug Figgs from New Mexico said what he does goes right along with his lifestyle.

“This is my life, this is what I do in my life, I work with horses and cattle all the time. There are so many people who just don’t understand that, they’re in the big cities. I also shoe horses, they don’t have any idea what that is. I think we’re seeing….I see a lot of new people coming people. I just love it, yeah,” said Figgs.

Also returning is Jon Chandler who is from the Denver area.

He explained, “people on my mother’s side came to Colorado in 1858 inspiring the Pikes Peak-or-bust gold rush.  So I have this automatic history that I’ve had forever in my background that led me down this path, with this type of music and this type of people that I hang with. It’s been a lot of fun for me and this is my second time over here Cache Valley. I’ve played so many festivals over the country and this one is just really very quickly turning into one of my favorites.”

The Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous runs Friday from 3p.m. to 10p.m. and Saturday from 10a.m. to 9 p.m. with three stages of western music, cowboy poetry and open mic stage.

Along with western vendors and dancing, food vendors, the kids corral, Cowboy Church (Sunday 9:30 a.m.) featuring various musicians and poets.

The headlining concerts feature Country Singer Billy Dean (with Kristyn Harris and Andy Nelson opening) at 7 p.m. Saturday. But before that Jim Curry will be singing the songs of John Denver (with Jon Chandler and Tom Swearingen) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

For the complete schedule and tickets visit CVCowboy.org

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