Wylie Gustafson and his band perform at the Ronan Events Center Jan. 17.
A true Montana original, Wylie Gustafson, and his band, The Wild West, swing by the Ronan Events Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, just a week before taking the stage at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev.
A native Montanan who grew up on the Hi-Line, Gustafson has recorded 24 albums backed by more than three decades of performing around the world. His 24th and latest CD, “Bunchgrass,” was released in 2023.
He remains distinct in country music as one of the few authentic voices of the genre.
Wylie says his muse is “the empty sprawl” of his home turf, where he crafts the words and music that reflect his life on the fourth-generation family ranch.
For the last 34 years, he and his band, The Wild West, have performed their refreshing blend of cowboy, western and traditional country. They are hugely popular on the festival and theatre circuit.
Stateside, they have performed at such prestigious venues as the National Folk Festival, MerleFest, the Bumbershoot Festival, The Stagecoach Festival, A Prairie Home Companion, The Conan O’Brien Show and made more than 50 guest appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Worldwide, their universal appeal has taken them to China, Russia, Australia, Europe, South America, and Japan.
One critic called him, “The coolest cowpoke around. Forget everything you hate about modern Country, this guy is old school cool without being a tired period piece.”
His voice has also echoed in millions of homes as the prominent yodel in the successful Yahoo! Advertising campaign with his trademark “Ya-hooo-ooo!” He has become a nationally renowned voice-over artist for the advertising, movie and TV world.
When not touring, he still gets up every day and tends to the livestock near the small town of Conrad, a pursuit that grounds him and is the backbone of his art. “The connection between my cowboy life and my music is extremely close,” he says.
In 2020 Wylie was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and in 2017 he became a member of the Montana Pro Rodeo Wall and Hall of Fame.
That worn belt buckle he wears wasn’t won on eBay. As an accomplished horseman, he has claimed several regional and national titles within the National Cutting Horse Association. In 2014 Wylie, along with his family members, appeared in the popular Dodge Truck “God Made a Farmer” commercial that appeared during the Super Bowl.
Asked to define his music, Wylie says, “We are a good-time cowboy band that hates to be boring!” His band members, guitarist Clayton Parsons, drummer Tim Lashley, and bassist John Sporman, are all Montana boys with winning personalities. The fans appreciate the band’s approachability and friendliness.
“Obviously Wylie makes phenomenal music,” says Minnesota State Fair Director Chris Tahti. “But he’s not just a good recording artist; he’s a great performing artist … Not only does he draw a crowd, he keeps them there.”
Tickets to the Ronan concert are available online and at the door.