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Western Country Music in Paraguay The American musical trio The Wyoming Pals, composed of Skip Gorman, Connie Dover, and Tom Sauber, visited Asuncion and other cities in Paraguay from August 23rd to the 28th, under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy in cooperation with the Centro Cultural Paraguayo-Americano (CCPA). The Wyoming Pals revive the

tradition of the cowboys of the western United States through music that recalls the simple and melancholy melodies the settlers listened to around campfires at the end of the 19th century. 

On Friday, August 24, The Wyoming Pals played at the Shopping del Sol, Friday, August 24 at 9:30pm.

Other concerts, venues and dates:

Saturday, August 25^th at 5:00pm– American Corner, San Lorenzo

Sunday, August 26^th at 7:00pm – Auditorio de la Gobernación de Itapua, Encarnación.

Tuesday, August 28th at 8:00pm – Concert in Villa Hayes, Centro Cultural Melodía 

Also, on Saturday, August 25th, Ambassador Cason and Mrs. Cason will hosted a BBQ for the more than 300 students who have been granted scholarships to study English at the CCPA at which the Wyoming Pals played.

About The Wyoming Pals:

Skip Gorman brings back to life the workaday World of the old “waddie” cowboys of the American West. His music is the simple yet poignant music that was performed around campfires by cowhands and westward settlers in the late 19th century.  Along with an exquisite touch as a singer, guitarist, fiddler and early Bill Monroe-style mandolinist, Gorman brings to the music a scholar’s knowledge of the cowhands Celtic, Spanish and African-American  roots as well as personal experience gained as a working cowboy on Wyoming ranches.  Gorman has performed on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”, and documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, has featured Skip’s music in both his “Lewis and Clark” and “Baseball” specials on PBS.  He has also earned the nation-wide honor of being one of the three bluegrass mandolin instructors chosen to teach at the first Bill Monroe Mandolin Workshop weekend at the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro KY on September 2007.  Gorman has several award-winning CDs on the Old West, Rounder and Folk Legacy record labels.  His latest release is “Mandolin in the Cow Camp” with artwork by the renowned Western artist, William Matthews.

Connie Dover is an American treasure who has rediscovered the musical synergy that existed between the British Isles and the American West.  Born in Arkansas of English, Cherokee, Mexican and Scots/Irish decent, she discovered the wealth of the Celtic music traditions as a teenager.  Yet, her crystal clear voice easily conjures up vivid images of Appalachia and the old American West as well. Described by the Boston Globe as, “the finest folk ballad singer America has produced since Joan Baez”, Dover’s evocations of Anglo-Scottish, Irish and American cowboy ballads are melodically exquisite.  She has produced four award-winning recordings on her Taylor Park label, and her voice can be hear on film and television soundtracks including the PBS programs “Last Stand of the Tall Grass Prairie”, and “Water and Fire”.  She is featured with Skip Gorman on their Indie award-winning recording, “Lonesome Prairie Love.” Her latest release is “Border of Heaven, Celtic Music on the Western Frontier.

Tom Sauber is one of the most versatile musicians playing old-time American music today.  He is a masterful fiddler and clawhammer-style banjo player in the oldest American traditions.  He has spent countless hours with older generation cowboy and mountain musicians such as Oklahoma fiddler Earl Collins and Round Peak banjoist Eddie Low.  Tom has also played Cajun music with the likes of Jo-el Sonnier, Creole accordionist Wilfred Latour and the group Balfa Toujours.  Currently known for his work with his group, Tom, Brad and Alice, his music films credits include “Bound for Glory”, “Geronimo”, and “The Long Riders.”