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Western tradition expands for first time
Bastrop County’s cowboy heritage will share the spotlight with western legends next year when the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering makes its first-ever stop outside Alpine.
The four-day event, scheduled for Feb. 18-21, will ride in with western music, poetry and stories for more than 30 ticketed shows at venues across Bastrop. Organizers said the expansion is both a cultural win for the county and a chance to highlight the region’s deep cowboy roots.
“Cowboy poetry is living history. It’s how cowboys remembered their work, their horses and their lives,” said Bob Saul, gathering producer and a seventh-generation Texan helping organize the event. “Cowboys resonate strongly with modern audiences — the cowboy is the American hero.” “It’s cowboys getting together, and it’s like they know one another already because they know the job they’ve been doing.”
— Bob Saul, gathering producer
The gathering kicks off with a one-man show by celebrated actor Barry Corbin, known for his roles in “Yellowstone” and “Lonesome Dove.” According to organizers, Bastrop’s accessibility and history made it a natural choice for the expansion.
“The city invited us, and it was the right fit. Bastrop was a stop on the old cattle trails,” he said. “We’re very happy with Bastrop because it’s 25 miles from the Austin airport.”
Saul said he expects the event to draw visitors from across Texas and beyond. The Alpine gathering already attracts international audiences from Switzerland, Japan, Australia and Germany.
“Some people call it a family reunion — it’s really a celebration,” he said. “It’s cowboys getting together, and it’s like they know one another already because they know the job they’ve been doing. They know how much effort it takes to take care of cattle and horses, and they love their animals.”
The lineup features a slate of nationally recognized cowboy poets and musicians, including Mike Blakely, Juni Fisher, Dave Stamey, Deanna Dickinson Mc-Call and The Rifters. Bastrop-based poet Dakota Robinson, who recently won honors at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Nevada, will also take the stage.
Tickets are available now for gathering members, with public sales opening Friday, Oct. 10. Membership details and ticket access available at lonestarcowboypoetry. com.
