Ring, ring the banjo! The merry sounds of ye ol’ banjo, accompanied by the the sawing strains of fiddles in full screech, were familiar sounds to the early inhabitants of the valley and Red River City. For the men who came from distant places like New York, Virginia, Ohio and Missouri to dig all day in the hard rocks with picks and shovels hoping to find precious shiny metals, the chance to dance a waltz or a quadrille with a lovely lady was nothing less than blessed relief. The dance halls of Red River reverberated with the melodies of life.Today, music is still a vital part of high country living, although the miners have been replaced by visitors from exotic places like Amarillo, Tulsa, Wichita and Clovis seeking relief from the summer heat or to satisfy the desire for some winter excitement in the snow. A trip to Red River is not complete without hearing some of the finest music to be found anywhere.
The Cowboy Evening on Bobcat Pass provides the opportunity to experience the Cowboy Way: horseback riding and roping, a dinner of cowboy grub at its finest (steak, chicken, Sue’s special beans and Dutch Oven biscuits), topped off with some cowboy campfire singing. Henry and Sue Lewis will also be continuing the tradition of providing the finest in Western entertainment. Hear the legendary Dulcimer Dan, who has been entertaining Cowboy Evening friends and neighbors for over 15 years, or catch the campfire sets of David Michael Smith, Jeff “Fingers” Fagan, Fritz Davis and Fritti Fonteneau, as well as the duo of Mike Addington and Paul Gatton. Plus, Red River’s saddle pal and America’s favorite Cowboy Singer Michael Martin Murphey will make his annual appearances in July and August - call for dates and times.
The Red River Community House will be providing a revved-up schedule of activities throughout the summer, including a Concert Series with a diverse lineup for musical tastes, from Americana to Barbershop and maybe some Dixieland Jazz. In addition, Red River’s favorite son of the British Isles, Philip John Brooks, will be making several appearances, including a big show on the 4th of July. Don’t miss it.
The Motherlode Saloon and The Lodge At Red River have become the headquarters for great performers and songwriters. In addition to a great lineup of Red River talent such as Mike & Paul, Rick Fowler and David Michael Smith, performers from around the world are finding The Lodge to be a great stopover.
The Bull O’ The Woods Saloon will be featuring an expanded lineup of live music this summer and is the spiritual home of the Hiway 38 Houndogs. Don’t miss Plaid Stanley, either, P.S. Karaoke does break out on occasion, but it usually recedes without significant psychological damage.