The Western Music and Songwriters Series will return to Tooele Valley this Saturday.
This will be the third annual show, held at Deseret Peak Complex.
This year, featured artists will include singer-songwriter Kevin Davis of Oklahoma, singer-songwriter Trinity Seely of Nebraska and 12-year-old cowboy poet Thatch Elmer of Wyoming.
Tickets cost $12 each and are available on www.westernsong.net.
In addition to the western music and cowboy poetry, a chili dinner will be available for an extra $5. Volunteers from Bit and Spur Riding Club, which is partnering with WMSS in Saturday’s event, have organized a Best of the West Chili Cook-off. A dozen chili chefs signed up to compete, said Cindy Elton of Bit and Spur.
In addition to the chili dinners, the junior rodeo princesses will run a concession stand, selling nachos, cotton candy and other snacks, Elton added.
The chili will be served at 5 p.m., with the show following at 6 p.m.
WMSS will donate all proceeds from the chili dinner, and some proceeds from the ticket sales, to the Bit and Spur Junior Riding Club. There will also be a raffle, with prizes such as Dutch ovens, gift baskets and custom-made cowboy hats, said Tyler Guy, Western Music Association vice president and local cowboy poet.
“This is our first time teaming up with them (WMSS),” Elton said. “We were really excited about it.”
Guy chose Bit and Spur to benefit from this year’s concert in recognition of the riding club’s 70-year history in Tooele County. Bit and Spur helps people connect to the county’s cowboy heritage by organizing rodeos and trail rides, Elton said.
Elton attended the WMSS show last year with her husband, and said they really enjoyed it. She believed adding a dinner option would allow people to enjoy a full evening out.
“Be prepared for a fun, relaxing night of western music and delicious chili,” she said.
Guy started WMSS in 2014 because he felt there was a need for bringing western music and cowboy poetry to Tooele County.
“It’s a way to get western music singer-songwriters together for one night for an all-acoustic show,” he said.