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​Calvin’s love for music began at an early age when he used to mimic his father Art "Lefty" Vollrath with two butter knives. Calvin was twice crowned the Grand North American Old Tyme Fiddle Champion. To date, he has composed near 700 tunes, many of which have become standard contest and dance tunes across North America & Europe. In August 2005, Calvin received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Association. In 2011, Calvin was inducted into the 'North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame' in the state of New York.

Calvin is a pleasure to watch on stage, his love for music is contagious and he can bring an audience to their feet. Calvin is now producing recordings for fiddlers from across the country in his home studio in St. Paul Alberta.

Wayne O has been bringing the gift of music to young and old for more than 20 years. He performed in more than 150 venues from Alberta to Alabama. His heart is with country music but loves much of the old time rock and roll. He MC‘D and entertained at last year’s cowboy festival  in Vilna Alberta and we are delighted to welcome him back.

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D Dub Mac, short for Daniel Wallace MacMullin, of Norse/Welsh descent, hails from Nova Scotia - Glacé Bay, in fact, where musical tradition reigns supreme. Because of his Celtic background, music has always played a role in his life. His mother was Mary Joy of the Country Court in the 60’s and 70’s and was even invited to play the Oprey, but declined as she couldn’t leave her 9 children. Arriving at the very end of the line, this youngest son arrived accompanied with a twin brother, and they both played in band since grade 6. Trumpet led to guitar and then led to flutes, whistles, percussion and then singing. Daniel then entered the Illusionist trade, performing for almost 40 years on stage all over Canada, Hawaii, cruise lines, and parts of the US!

His interest in Country stems from Celtic Folk Music  and his love for poetry derived itself from acting and songwriting. A big city boy, he feels he’s come home to his true rural roots. It’s been a long journey, but one that is filled with tales.

Since taking up guitar at 10, it’s been a non-stop journey towards what ended up being a life-long career of making music for Steve Hillis. Rehearsing with the band was the norm as a teen. Eventually touring nationally and internationally, he added vocals and a tribute to his repertoire.

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Today he is a self-contained, one-man show who can cater to events and situations of all kinds. Versatility and variety are key. So is being interactive and personable. Find out for yourself why Steve Hillis is one of the more sought after entertainers in western Canada.

Travel back in time with the classic country sound of Ryan Snow, an Alberta-based artist who has been sharing his heartfelt music since receiving the Bev Munro Rising Star Award in 2018. From performances at seniors' lodges to rodeos, Ryan brings the timeless melodies we know and love to every stage.

Backed by The Ryan Snow Band, one of Edmonton's favorite traditional country dance bands, he's on a mission to share the soul of real country music with a new generation.

Born and raised in the Alberta foothills, Doris Daley is a favorite on cowboy poetry stages throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has twice been named top female cowboy poet in North America.

“Doris writes like Fanny Sperry Steele rode broncs—with skill,  grace and a lot of class” says California cowboy singer-songwriter Dave Stamey.

Al “Doc” Mehl, from Westminster, Colorado, weaves the history and the mystery of the West into his original “west-clectic” poetry and music. Doc has published three CDs of original music, and two of original cowboy poetry. His spoken word CD “The Great Divide” was named the “Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year” by both the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists. Doc Mehl’s poems and musical lyrics have been featured on cowboypoetry.com and his poems have been published in “Rattle” magazine.

In the words of Rick Huff, “There’s a unique mind at work here… one of a kind in the Western Music arena.”  And songwriter Jon Chandler comments, “Listening to Doc is like having Lyle Lovett in one ear and Tommy Smothers in the other!”

Bryan (Bj) Smith is a Western Entertainer and winner of the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award for best cowboy poetry CD of the year. His performances have been featured at Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and Festivals across western Canada, the USA, and on cruise liners.

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Bj has authored three books and is often featured on radio and television shows.

An Equine Canada & Certified Horse Association riding coach, he is also an experienced horse trainer, riding coach, packer, guide, clinician, survival expert, and Canadian Ski Patrol instructor. He routinely guides groups of wilderness travellers on horseback through the Rockies, often on week long trips of a hundred miles or more.

Rose Bibby, aka The Hayshaker’s Wife, came on the Cowboy Poetry scene at Pincher Creek in 1991 where she soon learned there was an audience for her stories in rhyme, telling what she says were stories about how the country couples work side by side every day and still get along. Her husband Garth drove her to gigs all over Alberta where she told stories on him.  The audience laughed at him. He was getting a bit tired of this, and, not wanting to lose her driver, she began to write from both sides.

The popularity grew in He-said–She-said format. Travelling into three provinces and into the U.S., Rose says they just about made enough money to afford a reliable car to get from place to place. But money wasn’t the “driving” force, it was the fun, the laughter and the people they met along the way that they enjoyed.                

Rose lost her side-kick last year to a debilitating muscle condition but, after 62 years married, she still wants to tell folks how a partnership “really” works, sharing their “work” experiences with fine folks they’ve met and others she will surely meet along the way.

Veteran cowboy Hugh McLennan is a man of many talents - a horse trainer, rancher, working cowboy, radio personality, musician and cowboy poet. The first episode of his weekly syndicated radio show “THE SPIRIT OF THE WEST“ aired in 1962 and has enjoyed a faithful and growing audience as it enters its 33rd year. Among the many awards the show has received include The Will Rogers Award as broadcaster of the year from the Academy of Western Artists in 2001, and the American Cowboy of the Year award in 2008.

The group’s latest CD, “A Little Past Our Prime”, was released in the fall of 2024, a project the boys are very proud of.

Jackson has had the pleasure of entertaining, mostly for seniors in the greater Edmonton area, since 1998. He was hooked on the cowboy and country theme from childhood and the first LP he bought at age 12 was “A Country Boy Looks Down That Lonesome Road”. Slow out of the gate, he first started playing guitar at age 43 and has been singing, playing and composing ever since. (Old musicians never die - they just decompose!). He was introduced to Cowboy Poetry in Stony Plain in 2001 and performed there for 20 consecutive years.

Inspired by people like Doris Daley and Bj Smith, he also began to dabble in poetry, writing and performing his own material and sneaking in material from others as well. He also helped organize Cowboy Fest at Vilna for 7 years. He’s delighted to be a part of Cowboy Fest In The Pines 2025.