Prescott Western Heritage Days September 16, 2011

Western Heritage Days takes place during the Arizona Centennial Best Fest in Prescott, and will take place in the Western Village on the west side of Courthouse Plaza (on Montezuma Street, between Goodwin and Gurley).

The Prescott Western Heritage Foundation, Inc., in partnership with The Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies, Inc., have joined forces to create Prescott Western Heritage Days, an event that showcases Prescott and Yavapai County from 1864 until 1912. This period represents the time from when Prescott became the first territorial capital until Arizona became the 48th state.

Prescott Western Heritage Days will host the largest gathering of re-enactors in Arizona at the Centennial kick-off celebration scheduled for September 16-18, 2011. Prescott was selected by the Arizona Centennial Commission to launch the centennial celebration since it was the site of the first territorial capital. This year, Prescott Western Heritage Days will be a part of the centennial event’s "Western Village", located on world famous Whiskey Row, and at other nearby venues to be posted later. Family activities will include unique photo opportunities, cowboy and old-time music, cowboy poetry, costume contest, Victorian fashion show, gold panning, and numerous children’s activities throughout the weekend.

Western culture and heritage has deep roots in Prescott. Amateur and professional artists, photographers, videographers, media and tourists will have a one of a kind opportunity to photograph and record dozens of re-enactment groups in and around historic downtown Prescott, Sharlot Hall Museum, and other nearby venues.

Other partners involved with making the event a reality include the Sharlot Hall Museum, the Prescott Victorian Society, with additional support from the 9th Calvary/Buffalo Soldiers, the Prescott Buscaderos, the Prescott Roughriders, and the Bill Williams Mountain Men. Other re-enactment groups from around the state will also be participating. Many businesses and individuals have also stepped up as event sponsors and are supporting a vision to promote the city’s heritage and our "spirit of the West".

MUSIC

Just 4 Mama
Just 4 Mama is a family band who plays a variety of bluegrass, old time and gospel music. We started playing together in our living room and on the back porch three years ago just for the fun of it. Today we still love to just have a good time together and share the joy of music with anyone who wants to listen.

Spur of the Moment
A hometown Prescott band, Spur of the Moment is a three piece acoustic country western band consisting of Scotty Baker on guitar and lead vocals, Creighton Miller on banjo and dobro, and Ken Donnell on the big daddy upright bass. They are an upbeat, fun band with a good mix of cowboy music, western swing and old country, and add in some toe tappin banjo and you got a good time. They are always full of surprises! They can usually be found playin around downtown Prescott, but also have traveled to concerts in Cave Creek and Phoenix. They do play for special events and parties, as well ranch BBQs, and dances. So look for Spur of the Moment in your neck of the woods!!!!!!!!

POETRY

Mike Dunn
Mike Dunn's Arizona heritage goes back to the 1800s. He’s worked his Granddad’s ranch, the Rail "A" brand ranch much of his life and now part owner, he spends as much time there as life allows. His original poetry, shared in the book entitled “Somewhere Between Earth and Heaven,” reflects his own experiences, along with the experiences and stories passed down – widely accepted as a tribute to the ranch family.

The Academy of Western Artists named it as a recipient of the Will Rogers Medallion Award shortly after its publication, with CDs by the same name. He received the Gail I. Gardner Award at the Arizona Cowboy Poet’s Gathering in 2009.

Gail Steiger
Gail Steiger comes from both a ranching and songwriting background. His grandfather, Gail Gardner, wrote several well - known cowboy songs, including "Tying the Knots in the Devil's Tail" (or "Sierry Pete's"), and "The Dude Wrangler". Gail Gardner was once named "Poet Lariat" [sic] of Arizona.

Gail Steiger worked on his father's ranches off and on while growing up, and later worked full time on the Cross U and Spider Ranches in Yavapai County, AZ for several years. He's also worked for the Yolo Ranch, the 7UP, the DC Cattle Co., and the O6 Ranch.

In 1987, Gail, his brother Lew, and some friends Gail had worked for and with made a film about cowboys called "Ranch Album", which was released as a national PBS special. The film was awarded a CINE Golden Eagle, TV Guide called it "cinematically brilliant and wonderfully constructed" and the Wall Street Journal said it was " a gorgeous film". Ranch Album was included in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts/ UCLA Film and Television Archive Series of Outstanding Documentaries.

Gail has been the foreman of the Spider Ranch since 1995. He continues to work part-time with Lew on various film and multimedia projects. He's sung songs and told stories at cowboy poetry gatherings around the southwest.

Gail has recently traveled to Mongolia, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain and Hungary with the Western Folklife Center in connection with their cultural exchange program, working on a documentary project about cowboys around the world.

Official Website: http://www.visit-prescott.com/details/798-prescott-western-heritage-days.html