Thousands attend Wild Western Festival
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Thousands of western lifestyle enthusiasts this past weekend came out to enjoy the beautiful fall Arizona weather and plenty of cowboy shootin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, cowboy music and good eats.

D.R. “Buck” Montgomery bills his event as “Where History meets Hollywood.” Stars of the old westerns, including Whitey Hughes, Donna Martell, Peter Brown, Don Collier, Gregg Palmer, Bob Hoy, Marie Harmon, along with authors Cheryl Rogers‑Barnett and Charlie LeSueur, were on hand to sign autographs.

One man from Wittman says he came in to see some of his favorite entertainers from the golden age of the silver screen. “It was a time when the western reigned and the cowboy code was the way we lived.”

Donna Martel commented, “It was a simpler time.” Marie Harmon reminisced about all of the stars she had worked with, but sadly stated, “So many are gone now.”

From the moment you entered the western town, musicians greeted you with cowboy ballads. A mix of modern vendor booths selling everything from guided desert excursions to resort hotel vacations and beachfront properties in Mexico, stood next to the old west merchants with cowboy hats and sheriff stars for the kids. The big barbeque pit had burgers, dogs, ribs and chicken smelling mighty good. Traditional festival fare like snow cones and kettle corn were doing a steady business, too.

Decked out in classic cowgirl fringed riding skirt and shirt, Pistol Packin’ Paula entertained a good‑sized audience seated comfortably on the lawn. Her rope tricks, gun spinning and whip cracking had the crowds oohing and aaahing throughout her performance. Afterwards, she took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans.

Sourdough Slim and Dave Bourne took the stage at noon with a duet of piano and song. Bourne, known as the piano player in the HBO hit series “Deadwood” where his music is used as background in the Gem Saloon, shared his historical expertise as he told stories about each of the songs he played. Some were familiar, but most never made the top 40 list of hits, even back in 1880.

A group of award‑winning traditional cowboy musicians played at one of three stages throughout the weekend. Among the performers were Paula Strong and Walt Richards, who won the Western Music Association Best Duo Harmony of the Year in 2005; Tom Hiatt, known as an Arizona cowboy balladeer, along with his Sundown Riders; and Bill Barwick, “voice of the Western Channel,” sang and told his western yarns.

Moontee Sinquah, noted Native American flute player, drummer and vocalist, and his Indian dancers added to the traditional western flavor of the event.

Most popular were the gunfights with Kowboy Kal, Joey Dillon, Gary “Bad Dog” Bennett, DR “Buck” Montgomery, and Pioneer’s stunt cowboys shooting it out. Crowds gathered early for seats in the grandstand or to stake out a place along the fence to catch the action up close. These gunfighters used more humor than fear in their act, and the crowds enjoyed their antics.