2025 Band Bios

Jalan Crossland - Ten Sleep, WY

You know him, you love him…Ten Sleep, Wyoming native Jalan Crossland is nationally acclaimed by audiences, critics, and his musical peers as being a premier acoustic guitarist, banjo player, singer-songwriter, and engaging showman. Along with dozens of regional contest awards, his extraordinary guitar work earned him National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship Runner Up honors in ’97 and the State Flatpick Championship title of his home state in 1999.

Jalan Crossland is an acclaimed American musician hailing from Ten Sleep, Wyoming, renowned for his masterful guitar and banjo playing, evocative songwriting, and dynamic performances that blend bluegrass, Americana, and alternative country. Often referred to as a “Wyoming treasure,” Crossland’s music captures the essence of rural Western life with both humor and poignancy.

Crossland’s debut album, Poor Boy Shanty, was released in 2000, followed by Moonshiner in 2004. In 2005, he formed the Jalan Crossland Band with bassist Shaun

Kelley and drummer Pat Madsen, releasing albums such as Trailer Park Fire & Other Tragedies (2006), Driftwood Souls (2010), and No Cause For Despair (2014). His 2017 album, “Singalongs For The Apocalypse”, won Wyoming Public Radio’s People’s Choice – Album of the Year award. In recognition for his contribution to the arts in Wyoming, he was bestowed the Governor’s Arts Award in 2013.

His storytelling, often compared to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, offers a sardonic yet affectionate portrayal of Western life. Critics have praised his virtuosic musicianship and engaging stage presence, with Panache Magazine noting that audiences are”made almost entirely of drop-jawed, glassy-eyed, altogether astonished listeners.”

Crossland continues to perform across the Rocky Mountain region, captivating audiences with his unique blend of music and storytelling.

Lily Henley - Nashville, TN

When singer, fiddler and songwriter Lily Henley set out to make an album of Sephardic Jewish ballads set to new melodies, she was looking for her own way to interpret a critically endangered tradition. On Oras Dezaoradas (out on Lior Éditions Records), Henley highlights the Ladino language, a threatened tongue that fuses old Spanish with Hebrew, Arabic, and Turkish elements that is spoken by less than 100,000 people in the world today. She found herself directly connected to centuries of women spread across a forced global diaspora. The album is not a reinterpretation project—Henley’s newly-penned songs and melodies are a reclamation and contribution, a living line between her musical roots in American and Celtic traditions and the rich history and culture of her Sephardi ancestors..

These songs carry the hopes and dreams, daily worries, and existential thoughts of the Sephardic people. They tell stories of everyday life, loss, exile, lovers quarrels and advice-seeking daughters. Known for her expressive songwriting, gifted fiddling, and bell-like vocals, Henley brings new life to these songs and the independent female characters in them—drawing from a well so deep that disparate listeners all feel a connection to their own heritage. 

With a repertoire encompassing both her Sephardi musical lineage and a broad expanse of influences from across the folk world, in concert Henley weaves ancient and modern languages, cultures and styles to reveal their interconnectedness, and ours.

Henley is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright award and was an Artist-in-Residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Caramoor American Roots Festival, and the New York Sephardic Music Festival. She’s currently touring with mystic-folk band Rising Appalachia and has played with Irish guitar virtuoso John Doyle, Americana Instrumentalist of the Year Brittany Haas, and Grammy winners David Krakauer, Rushad Eggleston, The Duhks and many more.

Ellie and Austin - Rock Springs, WY

Ellie & Austin are a pop/alternative duo from Rock Springs, Wyoming, known for performing a wide variety of music that appeals to audiences of all ages. In 2024, they recorded their debut EP at the renowned Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas. The duo recently signed with Westmoon Records, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are set to release new music this summer.

Prairie Wildfire, from Buffalo, Wyoming, sings bluegrass in the heart of cowboy country. With lead singer Sage Palser on mandolin, Morgan Blaney on bass, and Tessa Taylor on banjo, they offer tight harmonies and original instrumentation. The ladies have built a remarkable resume, performing at festivals, in the historic Occidental Saloon, at dude ranches, and at music venues throughout the region. The girls have opened for Greg Blake, Front Country, and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades,and Dale Ann Bradley at the Occidental Saloon’s January Jam.  Mentored by songwriter David Stewart (“True Grass,” “Blue Moon over Texas,” “Key of Love”), the girls are ‘frequent flyers’ at the renowned Occidental Thursday Night Jam.

North Fork Crossing - Bozeman, MT

North Fork Crossing is a new-age Bluegrass band that resides between the Traditional music world with their timeless fiddle tunes and ballads, and the Jamgrass community with their intricate improvisation and energetic peaks. With the addition of modern covers and old time country songs, they explore a vast terrain of genres. Their captivating shows are everchanging and will leave you dancing and wondering what they could possibly do next. 

Founded in 2021, North Fork Crossing was formed out of a rekindled friendship formed at Montana Fiddle Camp. It has since grown into a powerful five piece band. The quintet — Cade Slayden (guitar), Ryan Kelly (mandolin), Rabi Phelan (upright bass), Silas Rea (fiddle), and Matt Hickey (banjo) — are drawn to having Bluegrass reach a new generation, priding themselves on their unique sound as the evolution of string band music. They have quickly made their presence known around the West, most notably in the beautiful Gallatin Valley where they are based. 

North Fork Crossing has recently released their debut, self-titled album. North Fork Crossing (2024) explores the Bozeman band’s origins, consisting of songs played live since their inception. This includes original fiddle tunes, high-paced exploratory bluegrass, and ballads focused on songwriting and precision. Although they are known for their live performances, the album is a well-rounded and powerful introduction to the band’s studio work.

Prairie Wildfire - Buffalo, WY

Prairie Wildfire, a bluegrass trio born in the heart of cowboy country, hails from Buffalo, Wyoming. Composed of Sage Palser on mandolin, Morgan Blaney on bass, and Tessa Taylor on banjo, the band quickly became known for their tight harmonies, spirited instrumentation, and deep roots in traditional American music. Over the years, they built an impressive resume, performing at regional festivals, the historic Occidental Saloon, local dude ranches, and various music venues throughout the Mountain West. Their talent and stage presence led them to open for national acts such as Greg Blake, Front Country, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, and Dale Ann Bradley at the Occidental Saloon’s January Jam.

Now, after spending time pursuing individual paths, Prairie Wildfire will reunite for a special performance at Saturdays in the Square. The lineup will feature original members Sage and Morgan—who now reside in Nashville, Tennessee—joined by guitarist Brady Holzemer and Nashville-based fiddler Ella Thomas. This long-awaited reunion promises a powerful blend of nostalgia, musicianship, and new musical energy that honors their roots while celebrating how far they’ve come.

Wes Urbaniak - Billings, MT

Wes Urbaniak is an amalgamation of the arts and sciences all pushed through the pinholes of storytelling via songwriting. He displays a beautiful oddity of human expression in music and presence, and does fine work moving his songs and guitar around the microphone. There is a depth of musicality that reaches into the profound without being less than approachable - it is a fair work of musicianship that is stretched over the bones of genre, practice, and talent.

Pleasure People - Casper, WY

Pleasure People is an alternative/folk band based in Casper, Wyoming, known for their genre-blending sound that incorporates elements of Americana, bluegrass, and indie folk. Their music is characterized by moody, emotional tones and poetic, sometimes dark lyrics, earning them the self-described label of “gloom-grass.”

The band was formed by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Nick Cantine, who collaborated with local musicians to bring his compositions to life. The ensemble includes Julia Rottmann (vocals, ukulele, banjolele), Chris Weydeveld (mandolin, banjo, guitar, resonator), Charles Benson (cello, guitar), Amy Gieske (bass guitar), and drummer Chad Lore, with Dale Krasovetz contributing percussion on earlier recordings.

In May 2024, Pleasure People released their debut full-length album, All Black & Blue, featuring ten tracks that showcase their distinctive sound. The album includes the single “Shaky Ground,” which was previously released in 2023.

Pleasure People continues to perform across the Rocky Mountain region, captivating audiences with their unique blend of music and storytelling. They have been featured on Wyoming Public Media’s “Wyoming Sounds” and maintain an active presence on social media platforms.

Trout Goggles - Sheridan, WY

Hailing from Sheridan, Wyoming, Trout Goggles is a bluegrass band known for their upbeat tunes about fishing excursions, mountain life, and good times with good friends. Comprised of four talented individuals, each a dedicated songwriter in their own right, Trout Goggles creates music with lively rhythms, flowing instrumentals, and lyrics that resonate with life in the mountain west.

Formed along the base of the beautiful Bighorn Mountains, Trout Goggles were brought together by a shared love for creating music and a passion for songwriting. Whether playing songs about the joys (and frustrations) of fly fishing or raising spirits with upbeat anthems about heading up the mountains in search of good times, Trout Goggles is sure to engage audiences with a modern and engaging approach to bluegrass.

Drawing from influences spanning jam grass, Canadian and Irish folk, and modern rock music, the band embraces a wide range of genres with open arms. Don’t be surprised if you hear a penny whistle or some chunky riffs amongst tales of fishing, pub crawling, and nautical exploration.

Chad Lore - Casper, WY

Since an early age Chad was involved with as many music programs in school and church as he could, and everybody around him could see not only that he was talented and unique, but also that his connection with the audience was out of the ordinary.

When he got to high school he went to Germany as an exchange student and ended up staying there for a while, busking his way around Europe. He met a great number of talented musicians and learned a lot of the techniques that he would later use when he returned to the US and made entertainment his sole career. He also lived some great experiences (good and not so good) that you can hear about in some of his lyrics.

When he returned home in Wyoming, he knew that music and entertainment were his true vocation so he set up a home studio and focused on building up an audience around the state. While he started only with a weekly show, the list of shows grew to where playing music became his full time job. He performs every type of show from bars to weddings, and for every type of audience, from a small family gathering to large conventions or festivals.