Poets, musicians take stage for 3 nights

Cowboy poet Ken Moore, shown in this 2004 file photo, will be a featured performer for three evenings this week in Gallup. Moore, from Ramah, N.M., will perform at three downtown coffee shops along with other poets and several local singer/songwriters. [Independent File Photo]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — An eclectic mix of poets, singers, and songwriters will be taking over a number of intimate stages in downtown Gallup this week.

Cowboy poets Merle Roehr and Ken Moore, area singers and musicians Bronco Martinez, Pat Neff, Stewart Byous, and Roy Howard, and what should be a lively poetry slam will be featured at three different venues on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening.

The performances are part of the Gallup Multicultural Festival 2006, which sponsors cultural events in Gallup throughout the calendar year. All of the performances will begin at 7 p.m. each evening, except for Friday's "Potatoes and Spam Poetry Slam," which begins at 8 p.m.

On Thursday, local cowboy poet Merle Roehr will be featured at the Puritan Bakery and Sandwich Shop, 206 W. Coal Ave. He will be accompanied by local singer and musician Dr. Roy Howard, who is the primary organizer of the multicultural festival. Cowboy poet Ken Moore and Navajo singer Bronco Martinez will be featured a few blocks west at Billy Dee's Coffee Experience, 601 1/2 W. Coal Ave.

A Songwriter's Circle, featuring local musician Pat Neff, will replace the usual Thursday night Old Fashioned Hootenanny at The Coffee House, 203 W. Coal Ave. According to Howard, Neff has won several awards at the Santa Fe Traditional Folk and Bluegrass Festival and the Silverton Folk Jubilee. Neff is also a member of Rusty Stings and the Flat Tones of Gallup Hootenanny fame. Other singer/songwriters are welcome to the share performance time at the Songwriter's Circle.

On Friday evening, Ken Moore and Bronco Martinez will switch locations to the Puritan Bakery and Sandwich Shop, and Merle Roehr and Pat Neff will perform at Billy Dee's Coffee Experience.

The "Potatoes and Spam Poetry Slam" will take over The Coffee House at 8 p.m. on Friday night. Hosted by Rowie Shebala, the poetry slam may feature poetry pieces with adult themes and language. Poets wanting to perform their work need to bring three original poems and their $3 entry fee for the 7 p.m. registration.

On Saturday evening, local singer/songwriter Stewart Byous will perform at Billy Dee's Coffee Experience, while at The Coffee House, Ken Moore, Bronco Martinez, Merle Roehr, and Pat Neff will combine musical and poetic forces for a final evening of performances.

In an interview on Friday, Howard encouraged community members to visit the different venues and support the creative talents of local performers. All the poets and musicians are performing for free, Howard added.