Murphey's WestFest returns to Red River

Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Last Bandeleros, RW Hampton, Robert Mirabal and more will appear during Michael Martin Murphey's American WestFest® when it returns to Red River July 11-13 at Brandenburg Park. Other artists on the bill include Carin Mari, Ryan Murphey, Andy Hedges, Gary Roller and Dennis Rogers. Presented by Murphey Western Institute, the festival also boasts Guli Dancers, Mountain Men, Western Artisans and Trail Ride, a press release states. "WestFest® is a festival about the continuance and the promulgation of the American West culture and all cultures and diversity that we experience in American West history," Murphey explained in a statement. "We're a festival that's about Native Americans, ranchers, cowboys and pioneers, and we're about the arts of the West. Our exhibitors are fine artists and craftsman who sell authentic stuff. We don't do it any other way." An active environmental and cultural statesman, according to the press, Murphey created the Murphey Western Institute (murpheywesterninstitute.org) in 1986, which is dedicated to the preservation of the arts, culture, history and legacy of the American West. "This is a concept lifted directly from the old Buffalo Bill Cody Wild West Shows," Murphey continues. "The only difference is that we want folks to interact with the participants so they can really experience a personal taste of life in the Old West." Like the legendary showman's spectacles of 100 years ago, American WestFest® features historical re-enactments of life on the frontier and a full cast of authentic Western characters including cowboys, Indians, mountain men and cavalry troopers. Included will be booths featuring the works of Western artists and craftsmen, and numerous food-stands...MORE