This Father's Day weekend, treat Dad to a true taste of the West. The valley's favorite Idaho singer and songwriter, Muzzie Braun—of the Original Braun Brothers fame—rolls back into town from his family stead in Clayton to host Hailey's first-ever "Best of The West Cowboy Concert."
Featuring Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist Don Edwards and America's best cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell, the concert will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, at The Mint in Hailey.
Tickets for this evening of classic Western entertainment cost $35, which includes a BBQ catered by Zaney's. There will also be a raffle and silent auction to support Wood River Fire & Rescue Firefighters' Association with prizes donated by local supporters.
So, Muzzie, what exactly is a Cowboy Concert?
"Well, Don and Waddie are real cowboys and they are going to be performing real cowboy music and telling tales and stories of cowboy life," Braun said. "There will be songs about the old West—all the old cowboy songs. In all honesty, Don is the best cowboy singer out there."
The National Cowboy Hall of Fame agrees, having just awarded Edwards his seventh accolade from the institution. Assistant director of the Hall of Fame, Bobby Weaver, called Edwards "the best purveyor of cowboy music in America today."
Mitchell is a founder of the successful National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, held every year in Elko, Nev. This cowboy poet came to the medium the traditional way, growing up on remote Nevada ranches immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining. The art of spinnin' tales in rhyme and meter that became known as cowboy poetry took hold of Mitchell at a young age.
"I'd never done anything else," Mitchell said. "Never made money without horses or cows until I started telling cowboy poetry."
His calling turned out to be a true one. People magazine's glowing review of his album, "Waddie Mitchell Live," concluded "Bottom line: horse sense and humor from America's best known cowboy poet."
"If you like the old cowboy stuff—authentic real cowboy stuff—this is the show you should see," Braun said.
You should also go along if you like firefighters. Following on the heels of the success of the "Wild West Music Fest," held for the past two years at Hailey's rodeo grounds, the Cowboy Concert is a fundraiser for Wood River Fire & Rescue Firefighters' Association.
Founded in 2002, the non-profit organization provides financial assistance to local people who have suffered from tragedy. Proceeds are directed to a burnout fund for fire victims, donations to scholarship funds for children who have lost a parent and direct donations to victims of vehicle accidents or other traumatic events. The association also provides funding to help firefighters obtain additional training and safety equipment.
"This is the third year that we've done an event for the fire department," Braun said. "For two years prior, we did the show at the rodeo grounds, that was with my sons' bands (Reckless Kelly and Micky & The Motorcars), but they weren't able to come this year, and I wanted to continue the effort."
The Cowboy Concert will have a different feel from the "Wild West Music Fest"—the audience will be seated for the show and the limited seating (200 maximum) will create a more intimate atmosphere in which to enjoy the talents of these superb entertainers.
"If people are familiar with Don or Waddie they will make an effort to come—they are of that caliber," Braun said. "It's going to be a treat to see them together."
For those who can't make it to the Saturday gig, the trio will be performing at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls on Friday, June 15 at 8 p.m., and at the Community Stage in Challis on Sunday, Father's Day, at 2 p.m. Tickets will be available at the gate.
"For the Hailey show, I would encourage people to buy tickets in advance, as they will be limited to 200," Braun said.
To donate to the Wood River Fire & Rescue Firefighters' association, call 788-5577 or visit wrfrffa.com.
Best of the West
The "Best of the West Cowboy Concert" begins at 6 p.m., June 16 at The Mint, Hailey. Tickets are $35, which includes a BBQ, and are available at The Mint or by calling 788-6468. The evening also features a silent auction and raffle. Participants do not have to be present to win and all proceeds benefit the Wood River Fire & Rescue Firefighters' Association.
Raffle tickets are on sale at $5 each or five for $20. For more details, call 788-5577 or visit wrfrffa.com.
Grand prizes include a top-of-the-line Evo Grill donated by Fireplaces Etc. ($2,700 value), $1,000 to spend at Summit Auto and a year of lawn weed and fertilizer from Environmental Resources ($500 value).
Silent auction items include a Thomas Mangelsen limited-edition photograph ($1,500 value), 18 holes for four at the Valley Club, a two-night stay through Resort Quest, a one-day Idaho Angling Services' guided fishing trip and 18 holes for four at Bigwood Golf Cours.
Muzzie Braun performing earlier this year at the Cowboy Poetry Festival in Elko, Nev. Braun will host a ?Best of the West Cowboy Concert? at The Mint this Saturday featuring Elko alumni Don Edwards and Waddie Mitchell.
Photo by Brian Tuohy
