Hal Cannon is best known as the founding director of the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. He has been collecting songs and stories from the people of the American West for the past three decades.

This self-titled CD is his debut recording as a solo artist, and it is impressive. Cannon wrote all of the songs here, and most reflect the landscape of the West: “That’s How It Is On The Range,” “Desert Home,” “Love The Place You Live.” These pieces show his deep roots in and love for the people and places in this part of the world.

The highlight is “Alone Town,” with lyrics based on an encounter Cannon had with a longtime resident of a small town. It’s a lament for a place that is changing too rapidly for the singer: “The coffee shop is closed up / It’s now just level ground / The Starbucks is a going in / The pride of this small town.” Cannon’s vocals have the perfect emotional effect. Backup from banjo, harmonica, and drum are also just right. The final verse reflects a sadness for times now lost: “And now I’m in the graveyard / Walkin’ down the lane / And every stone that I pass by / They’re all familiar names.”

This is a welcome CD from a long-time chronicler of the American West, and it’s great to hear him at the front of the stage, sharing songs of the West spurred on from a lifetime shared with its people. - Greg Harness

Hal Cannon and Teresa Jordan
Wyoming Tour, September 13 – 18, 2011

Outback: Songs and Stories 
from an Unsung West

Join Hal and Teresa for an intimate evening of music and tales from the Old West, the New West, and everything in between.

Wyoming Public Radio: Friday September 9, 2011
11 AM: Live broadcast, Morning Music with Grady Kirkpatrick

Basin, Wyoming: Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Basin City Arts Center, 117 S. 4th Street
Tickets: $10 adults, $8 Seniors, $5 children
5:30 PM: Meet the performers, with refreshments; 7:00 PM: Performance
For further information contact Mary Flitner, 765-2905; or Wendy Taylor, 568-2915

Buffalo, Wyoming: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Buffalo Senior Center, 671 W. Fetterman Street
12:30 PM: Concert. Free and open to the public
Buffalo High School, 29891 Old Highway 87
7 PM: Concert. Free and open to the public
For more information, call Sheridan College, 307-684-2001

Gillette, Wyoming: Thursday, September 15
Presentation Theater, Gillette College
7 PM: Concert. Free and open to the public
For more information, call Jessi Maurer, 307-686-0254 ext. 1100

Several interesting things happening this summer with Teresa, me and also my producing partner Taki Telonidis.  I hope you might find some interesting and if you are in the neighborhood stop by. Each live event will have some remote way to access it -- web, cd’s, telepathy….

Don’t hesitate to write me for more detailed information,

Happy Summer, Hal

June 10 – August 28 - Expressing Montana Exhibit  – Missoula Art Museum (MAM) featuring the art of Kristi Hager, Monte Yellowbird, Bill Ohrmann, Kate Davis, Wally Badgett, Dave Boggess, Toni Seccomb and Ray Jacobs.  Note: Taki and I curated this show of Montana artists who make social, political, environmental, spiritual statements through their art under the auspices of the Western Folklife Center.

Friday June 17 – Hal and Teresa perform western stories and songs at the Camas County Library in Fairfield, Idaho, 7 p.m. $15

Saturday, June 18 – Hal presents workshop and concert in Boise, ID. Workshop: “The Joys of Place-Based Music” 2-4 $25, Concert 7PM at home of Blain and Kathy Green in Boise, $15. Call 208-562-1966 for further information. Gary Eller will join the concert.

Sunday, June 19-25 – Wieser, Idaho Old Time Fiddle Contest and gigantic music session. A great place to hang around and hear wonderful music 24 hours a day. Many great players are already camping and playing and leave when the contest starts on the weekend. Participation triumphs.

Sunday, June 26, 2011, 4:30-5:00 p.m.
 Teresa at the Utah Arts Festival, Stories on the Big Mouth Stage
(SW corner of City & County Bldg.)
Library & Washington Squares
200 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, Utah

June 27– 7:30 PM -  Expressing Montana, 1-hour radio special airs on Montana Public Radio, featuring Michael Beers, Martha Scanlan, Ray and Shirley Jacobs, Sandy James, Kristi Hager, Kier Atherton and Jessica Kilroy, Wally McRae, Paul Zarzyski, Henry Real Bird, Dave Boggess and Christian Parrish Takes the Gun (Supaman)

End of June – www.westernfolklife.org features profiles, photos, an interview excerpt, and in some cases video from all 27 Montanans who were interviewed for Expressing Montana

July 6 – 7 PM - Expressing Montana, 1 hour radio special airs on Yellowstone Public Radio

July 7 – Expressing Montana - Opening Celebration –  MAM – free and open to public with open bar in lobby. 5-6 PM - Gallery Talk – Hal and Taki speak about the project. Also, all artists in the exhibit are invited to say a few words about their work.  6- 7:30 – Concert - Frost Gallery – 2nd Floor – 75 seats, free to the public featuring: Henry Real Bird, Crow Agency - poet, Ray Jacobs, Eureka - original old time country songs, Sandy James, Dillon, satirical ranching songs, and Martha Scanlan, Birney, Tongue River Stories (original songs)

Monday, August 15 – Red Rock Rondo performs at Salt Lake Cultural Center outdoor concert series.

Saturday, August 20 – Red Rock Rondo previews,  A Secret Gift Song Cycle in a house concert at Hal & Teresa’s just before going into the recording studio to make a CD. We have been arranging and rehearsing these songs for a year. The music is incredible. More information to come.