Git Along, Lil’ Poetry Lovers

Les Buffham hasn’t broken a horse in a good long while, but the rancher’s son with the echo of a lonesome coyote in his voice hasn’t forgotten the cowboy way.

“I remember those times, you know. Some of them weren’t so good, but it’s always fun to talk about them,” said Buffham, who is among the cowboy poets appearing at Santa Clarita’s sixth annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival, beginning Thursday.

At least 15,000 fans of the Old West are expected to attend the four-day jamboree at the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, once home to Singing Cowboy Gene Autry.

Autry and Hopalong Cassidy starred in shoot-’em-ups filmed at the dusty ranch, the place to be this weekend to hear a score of spur-wearing poets and singers, eat peach cobbler cooked over a campfire, buy a bolo and slurp a beer at the Main Street saloon (one of several sets on the still-working studio lot).

As usual, the fest’s headline acts--Ian Tyson, Riders in the Sky, poet Baxter Black and others--sold out weeks ago. But everybody who pays the $7 entry will get to see some 30 entertainers, including Buffham, a 56-year-old Castaic resident, recite or sing all day Saturday and Sunday.

Also still available: $9 tix to hear veteran Texas and L.A. country rocker Rosie Flores play for as many two-steppers and swing dancers as can squeeze into the enormous Melody Ranch Theater on Saturday night.

The best thing about cowboy festivals--and Santa Clarita’s is one of the country’s biggest--”is that everybody appreciates good western dance music,” said Flores, who also appreciates the shopping opportunities. “You can find some cool cowboy stuff.”

For information, call (800) 305-0755.