Arizona Folklore Preserve

News

February 17, 2005

Hello and Happy February to everyone. The energy at the Arizona Folklore Preserve has been riding high the last couple of months. "An Evening With Baxter Black" on December 18 at Buena Performing Arts Center was truly a memorable one. What a fabulous performance! The audience was in a perpetual giggle. We know our faces hurt on the way home. We are so grateful to Baxter for all his help with our fundraiser for the Arizona Folklore Preserve . . . he is such a darling man.

Dolan's special Christmas show, "Home for the Holidays", held on December 29, drew such a wonderful crowd of folks, we had to take the tables out of our theatre in order to fit everyone in. Great show, really up-beat crowd, great music and high spirits. It proved to be a fun way for so many folks to spend an afternoon with family and friends during that week between Christmas and New Year's. Hope to do the same next year!

We've been so lucky to have had Dolan Ellis on his stage at the AFP every weekend throughout the month of January. So many out-of-town guests as well as local residents have had the opportunity to see Dolan perform and hear that golden voice for the first time . . . very special . . . good month.

On Friday, February 4 we held our annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering kick-off events here at the Preserve with four sold-out shows through the day. Dolan Ellis opened the day at 10 am with a high-energy show . . . has anyone out there ever tried to sing, with THAT kind of energy, to a room packed with people, at TEN AM!?! He was wonderful. Then, at 11:30, Andy Hedges, cowboy poet and musician from Texas, performed for our audience. Andy, at the age of 25, is well known for his colorful and perfectly prepared cowboy poetry delivery and being a genuine western gentleman and cowboy. He excellently represents the new generation of western poets and musicians and is one of the most sought-after artists in the industry today.

After our lunch at the Preserve, Brenn Hill opened at 1:30 . . . ahhhh . . . Brenn Hill . . . what a delight! Another young, handsome, western musician in his twenties, bringing on the next generation. This young gentleman has such a wonderful demeanor, a killer smile, and a voice that stays with you. Brenn has been nominated for numerous awards and has won several, to include song of the year and album of the year. Most recently, he was awarded 2004 Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. If you were fortunate enough to see him on that Friday, then you know why.

And guess what! . . . . . . . Brenn's coming back! He'll be performing the entire weekend on April 30 and May 1 at the Arizona Folklore Preserve!!!

Make reservations early!

Our fabulous day of entertainment on the 4th ended with Liz Masterson & Sean Blackburn from Denver, Colorado performing at 3 pm. Their contagious smiles, good music, and spontaneous comedy left our audience in high spirits. They have proven to be true favorites of everyone after their performances at the AFP the last couple of years. On February 12 & 13, The Desert Sons from Tucson, Arizona played to two packed houses. Folks always enjoy their true western traditional and contemporary music, played with excellent instrumentation, and sung in beautifully blended four-part harmonies.

On Monday night, February 14, we held a special Valentine's Day Dinner Show with Dolan Ellis. We had a lovely catered meal, including appetizers and desserts. After dinner, Dolan sang a program of easy listening music and special selections for the evening. We will be having another dinner show in March or April. This dinner show was sold out three weeks in advance, so watch for the dinner show date to be announced. It really does make for a nice, special evening.

This coming weekend, February 19 & 20, Wyatt Earp will be with us again for his third engagement at the AFP. He will be portraying his famous relative in a one-man play entitled "Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier", a play written by his wife, Terry Earp, who is an award-winning Arizona playwright. Wyatt has been performing this play since 1996. He has performed the play all over the Southwest as well as in Scotland, Ireland, England, Hungary, Alaska, and aboard cruise ships.

The next two weekends, Feb. 26 & 27, and March 5 & 6, Dolan Ellis returns to the stage. March 12 & 13, expect a guest artist to be announced. So the upcoming schedule shapes up like this:

Sat. & Sun., Feb. 19 & 20 . . . Wyatt Earp!

Sat. & Sun., Feb. 26 & 27 . . . Dolan Ellis, Arizona State Balladeer

Sat. & Sun., March 5 & 6 . . . Dolan Ellis, Arizona State Balladeer

Sat. & Sun., March 12 & 13 . . . guest artist to be announced

Watch for Dinner Show Announcement

Remainder of March & April to be announced

Sat. & Sun., April 30 & May 1 . . . Brenn Hill, 2004 AWA Male

Vocalist of the Year

All Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 pm with doors open to the public at 1 pm. Admission price for the shows is $12.00 for adults, and (new price for young people) $6.00 for students 17 & under. If the weather is nice, bring a lunch and enjoy our beautiful deck out under the old Sycamore tree or eat at the picnic tables down at the Moffett House. Our little kitchen is always open where all drinks and snacks are $1.00. For reservations for performances, or information on reserving our facility for private events, call

520-378-6165

Leave a message, and we’ll call you back. Or . . . email us at

folklore@email.arizona.edu

Hope to see you soon at the Arizona Folklore Preserve . . . and, as always, . . . . . . . we thank you all for your support.

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