ELKO, Nev., Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 29^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering —the nation's greatest celebration of the American West, its people, culture and traditions—will take place January 28 to February 2, 2013, in Elko, Nevada. Produced by the Western Folklife Center, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering features performances of poetry and music from the cowboy and ranching occupation, but also presents exhibitions, films, workshops, dances and discussions—all centered on land-based culture in the American West, its traditional arts and the challenges it faces in the 21^st century.

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The 29^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering will host butteri, cowboys from Italy, who have their own unique poetry, music, gear and traditional techniques, but still have much in common with their counterparts in the American West and cattle cultures across the globe. The Italian cultural exchange is part of the Western Folklife Center's ongoing effort to build understanding among herding cultures worldwide, and is exclusively sponsored by the E.L. Wiegand Foundation.

In addition to its Italian guests, the 29^th Gathering will present more than 50 poets, musicians and musical groups from the U.S. and Canada, performing on seven stages at four different venues. The line-up includes cowboy poets Baxter Black, Wally McRae, Paul Zarzyski, Waddie Mitchell, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Joel Nelson, Elizabeth Ebert and many others. Music is as integral to the Gathering as poetry; the musical line-up includes Don Edwards, Tom Russell, The Quebe Sisters Band, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Brenn Hill, Wylie & The Wild West, Dave Stamey, Corb Lund & The Hurtin' Albertans, Max Baca & Los Texmaniacs, Cowboy Celtic, The Saddle Cats and more. Visit www.westernfolklife.org for a full list of participating artists.

The Gathering also features hands-on workshops in traditional western arts such as rawhide braiding and cinch-making as well as songwriting, Italian cooking and rhythm guitar. The event also offers western dances, film screenings, open-mic poetry and music sessions, and discussions about subjects important in the West such as water and land conservation, horsemanship, and agriculture and the creative muse. For tickets and information, visit www.westernfolklife.org, call 775-738-7508, or toll-free 888-880-5885.

The 29^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is supported by the E.L. Wiegand Foundation, Edmund W. Littlefield, Jr., NV Energy, Eldorado Hotel Casino, Barrick Gold of North America, Newmont Mining Corporation, Blach Distributing, Zions Bank, Goldcorp Marigold Mine, Nevada Humanities, Wells Fargo Bank and many more foundations, businesses and individuals.

SOURCE Western Folklife Center