Upcoming Events

Previous events

Date Event Location
 —  — The Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering Alpine, Texas Alpine, Texas
 —  — The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, Nevada Elko, Nevada
Cowboy Poetry and Song, Swalwell Style Swalwell Community Hall; 214 Main Street; Swalwell, Alberta Swalwell Community Hall; 214 Main Street; Swalwell, Alberta
 —  — Caroline Cowboy Rendezvous Caroline, Alberta Caroline, Alberta
 —  — The Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, Prescott, Arizona Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, Prescott, Arizona
Romance on the Range Strathmore United Church, Strathmore, Alberta Strathmore United Church, Strathmore, Alberta
 —  — National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, Nevada Elko, Nevada
New Year, New You High River Memorial Center, High River, Alberta High River Memorial Center, High River, Alberta
(MST, UTC-07) (MST, UTC-07) "Rendezvous with a Writer" Radio Show L.A. Talk Radio L.A. Talk Radio
 —  — Stony Plain Cowboy Gathering Stony Plain, Alberta Stony Plain, Alberta
Stampede Breakfast Red Deer Lake United Church, Calgary, Alberta Red Deer Lake United Church, Calgary, Alberta
Canada Day in Diamond Valley Black Diamond, Alberta Black Diamond, Alberta
Featured Entertainer Canadian Club of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Canadian Club of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
On the Edge Concert Series Red Deer Lake United Church, Calgary Red Deer Lake United Church, Calgary
 —  — Okotoks Food Bank Christmas Concert Evangelical Free Church, Okotoks, Alberta Evangelical Free Church, Okotoks, Alberta
 —  — Heber Valley Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Gathering Heber City, Utan Heber City, Utan
Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Show Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Association, Kin Coulee Park, Medicine Hat Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Association, Kin Coulee Park, Medicine Hat
 —  — Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering Ellensburg, Washington Ellensburg, Washington
 —  — National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, Nevada Elko, Nevada
 —  — Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering American Mountaineering Center, Golden, Colorado American Mountaineering Center, Golden, Colorado

The Daley News - November 2022

Even though I am not a reader of fantasy/speculative fiction, I love what famed American author Ursula Le Guin (who wrote in those genres) said about storytelling: “There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.”  I’m honoured to be heading to Elko, Nevada in January, 2023. It's the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where many of the west’s best poets and songwriters tell their stories in poetry and song. I’ll be performing throughout the week, including a ticketed show on Tuesday, Jan. 31 with Dave Stamey and Juni Fisher.  The following morning, come and join me for a poetry writing workshop, 9 – 12 noon. Details are at westernfolklife.org.  From Elko, I zip or crawl (depending on road conditions) right back to Alberta for "Romance on the Range:" Doc Mehl and I present a two-hour concert performance at the Strathmore United Church’s concert series (Saturday, February 11).

The world has opened up on both sides of the border; please be in touch if you want to book me for a performance (no campfire too small, no convention centre too big) or for emceeing your event. 

The Daley News - June 2020

Exciting news. My brand new book, That's a Good Answer, has arrived ahead of schedule and it exceeds my expectations in every way. Friends from across North America answered questions big and small, serious and funny. What makes a good pie? What do angels do? What's the difference between moms and grandmas? Find our whose parents saved money by convincing the kids that a trip to the dentist was a vacation. What happens when a dad folds his pizza in half? (Answer: Mom does the Heimlich maneuver.) Reading enthusiasts: one of the questions was "What's the best book you read last year?" (You'll get several great recommendations.)  The book is full of answers that are funny, reflective, thought-provoking and above all, entertaining. Cost $20, plus postage $4. (Calgary/Foothills/Okotoks residents, I can deliver to you in person.) To order please email me: ddaley@telus.net 

I embarked on this project as soon as social distancing/isolation became a reality. I'm so glad I did. I have wise, witty, thoughtful, creative an opinionated friends. Collectively, we have produced a barnburner book. Peace, love, and disinfect.

 

The Daley News - May 2020

Vistas of the West continues to garner accolades. "...an attractive hardback to grace the coffee table of many a western home for years to come...a good gift to mail to any puzzled easterner who wants to know why westerners claim to live in a modern-day paradise." writes Sid Marty in his book review (March, Alberta Views magazine) I was honoured to write the forward and to have three poems included. Email me to order, ddaley@telus.net

Here's the news from one little corner of the west in May, 2020, and I promise not to use the "p" word (pandemic) or the "u" word (unprecedented). Instead, how about P for poetry and U for understanding. Jobs, gigs, festivals and appearances are all understandably cancelled for the near future, making poetry and music (and all the arts) more important than ever. I am working on a new book. Writing song lyrics. Getting by at home with Kick-Ass coffee, cribbage, gardening (sunflowers are up six inches), baking, reading. None of the preceding is "punishment" for an introvert. Still, I am missing our tribe of cowboy poets, the fans, the activity, the energy and the grand heartbeat of it all.

Because I write an acrostic poem every month (unrelated to my cowboy poetry life), here is my poem for April, 2020. 

Social Distancing

Sorry I haven't been in touch but

Oh, what a month!

Can't believe how busy

I've been. For the first several days I was under house

Arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. Then I

Laboured on a Mississippi River boat,

Drove a getaway car through Finland and Norway,

Immersed myself with tigers in Siberia,

Shoved 2,000 head of Longhorns up the trail to Montana, and

Tracked O-Six in Yellowstone. I

Ate, prayed, loved.

Next, Alan Doyle and I toured Canada.

Crazy busy! Frantic pace! What a whirlwind! But

I can't take much more. Please,

No more exotic travel or fabulous adventures! I just want the grand excitement of

Going to my local library.

The Daley News - August 2019

Love the west? Love poetry? Here's a brand new book you will want to own and give as a gift. "Vistas of the West" anthologizes poems of all traditions (free verse, rhymed, haiku, sonnet, others), each beautifully paired with breath-taking colour artwork from some of the west's best contemporary artists.  Three of my poems are included, plus pieces from Doc Mehl, BJ Smith, Pat Frolander, DW Groethe, John Wort Hannam, Cori Brewster, Neil Whitman, Della Dickie, Jan Burney and many others. It's a stunning visual masterpiece and even though the official release is in September, it has already been selected for the Frankfurt 2020 book fair in Germany. Cover is pictured below; if you squint you can see who wrote the foreword.  More information at:

http://durvile.com/site/poetry/vistas-of-the-west/?fbclid=IwAR2w8weQFIFu2qqjy-RWlbOzwZ31Ak0BR0jTfHucvYjwARMGQf1jheUZE9U

The link provides information about upcoming "Vistas of the West" readings throughout Southern Alberta.

The Daley News - June, 2019

Vistas of the West is a brand new (to be released in August, 2019) anthology published by Durvile Publications that celebrates the beauty and spirit of the Rocky Mountains, western foothills, prairie landscapes and the natural inhabitants of these special places. Book launches will be held in Calgary, Edmonton, Banff and the Diamond Valley. This book is a beauty, with top notch curated artwork illustrating every poem. Foreword written by a cowboy poet you all know (me). Visit www.durvile.com for book launch details (and to order a copy).

I launch into a summer where almost every Saturday night, and most Monday nights, are booked for private events in Calgary. I will see you coming and going on the road between Black Diamond and downtown cowtown. Still room on my calendar for house concerts (I love those!) and weekday events. 

If you're looking for a Canada Day celebration with western flair, visit the Bar U Ranch just south of Longview on the historic Cowboy Trail. I won't be there (already have two jobs that day) but many top western entertainers will be at the Bar U on the Stampede Stage including Doc Mehl, Eli Barsi and Jim Reader.

Standing on guard for thee in the true north strong and free, wishing you a great summer and a record hay crop.

The Daley News - January 2019

The Daley News

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