What better family entertainment can there be than a true piece of American culture that is as inexpensive as it is entertaining?
I'm talking about the Columbia River Cowboy Gathering set April 10-12 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.
How could you not enjoy spending an afternoon of real-deal cowboy entertainment with the likes of the Yahoo! yodeler himself, Wylie and the Wild West? Or you can watch Sour Dough Slim juggle his hat or twirl a rope in his teeth while playing his accordion, listen to the youthful Shiloh pluck the strings of her guitar, or listen to Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue.
There's nothing quite like a little cowboy poetry -- spoken and sung -- to make you laugh, think and smile -- all performed by folks who still believe that hard work and a handshake are alive and well in America.
I've met Wylie and his band members on numerous occasions and all are approachable and eager to greet their fans.
The songs are mostly original works about modern cowboy life, including heartbreak and tributes to horses and cowhands.
One of my favorites, 15 Hands Closer to God, speaks to the glory of being on a horse that stands 15 hands high.
Though young, Shiloh has paid her dues in country music. Her dad often drove her to every open mic call they could get to in the family's old ranch truck.
She has a mature stage presence and her playing style leaves me wanting to hear more.
Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue prove that good clean humor and song are fun. The husband and wife duo know how to interact with the crowd and have fresh material wherever they perform. They play lots of old-time Western songs and throw in stories about small-town life.
The best thing about all these entertainers is that none arrives at a gathering in a limo or walks off stage in a huff.
You'll hear a lot of please and thank yous, clean humor and see genuine smiles from these folks. It's definitely a family-friendly event.
The Cowboy Gathering will give you a sense that all is right in this country for a while, even if it might not be.
So come spend Easter weekend in the slow lane. Boots or hats are not required. ◗ Sam King is a cowboy poet and writer. She lives in Ellensburg.
