The Rodeo clowns taming the beast.

Eli Vastbinder of Statesville, NC rode his bull for the full 8 seconds with a score of 82.50.  Such an exciting event.

Photos by Sheila Loney

Photos by Sheila Loney, owner, Silver Negative Photography

Karen and I had the honor of receiving media passes through Cheyenne Frontier Days, to photograph the United States Airforce Thunderbirds, at Laramie County Community College. The excitement was palpable as the spectators came in and set up their perfect spots to observe all the action.  The talented Air Force band played a variety of music to help entertain the crowd while we all waited with much anticipation for the main event to start.  

  We were escorted to the rooftop of one of the buildings where we were able to be closer to the action without any obstructions. It was such an exhilarating experience to be able to photograph these talented pilots perform such amazing aerial acrobatics with their F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet planes. 

For more information on The Thunderbirds and their schedule check out their website at http://afthunderbirds.com/site/ 

Check back for photos of the parades, Indian Village, the Denver Post train No. 844,  and rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days 2016! On Wednesday we will be posting photos of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Show!!

Sweet as Cotton Candy will be conducting an interview with Ned LeDoux, son of the late country star, Chris LeDoux, who is making his own name in country music. Ned is honoring his father in the process of his tour while he is playing some of his dad’s hits at his shows. Ned is also featuring new songs that he wrote, and co-wrote, such as “The Hawk,” at his concerts like the one he just performed at the Daddy of ‘Em All!

Click on this link for: Ned LeDoux’s official website

Ned LeDoux performs to a huge crowd at Cheyene Frontier Days July 24, photo by Karen Cotton

Ned LeDoux sings one of his dad’s hits at Cheyenne Frontier Days July 24, 2016, photo by Karen Cotton

Backstage sign at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Contract acts, photo by Karen Cotton

All photos by, Sheila Loney, Silver Negative Photography

Tyler Scales from Severance, Colorado

Wyatt Bloom from Bend, Oregon

Rooney front man, Robert Schwartzman, showing off his belt buckle that CFD presented to him.

Rooney frontman Robert Schwartzman

My team and I will be covering Cheyenne Frontier Days, which kicked off today in Cheyenne! This photo of Sam Hunt was taken by Sheila Loney, my new staff member.

Sam Hunt is a huge country star and Grammy nominee. He performed in the first Night Show this year kicking of Cheyenne Frontier Days with openers Maddie & Tae.

http://www.cfdrodeo.com for more rodeo information about tickets!!!

Daniel Donovan, AKA Techno Shaman

Sampson Middel, AKA SamOurEye

Photos by Sheila Loney.

The next two Shamanic Booms are in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the Terry Bison Ranch.

July 30^th “Under the Stars”

and August 26^th, 27^th, 28^th “Journey”  Has been cancelled.

For more information about future Shamanic Booms go to either of the following pages.

https://www.facebook.com/Shamanic-Boom-800553136629142/timeline

http://www.befreehealing.com/

To listen to some of Techno Shaman’s music go to

https://soundcloud.com/techno-shaman

By Sheila Loney, photographer and writer for Sweet as Cotton Candy

(owner of Silver Negative Photos by S. Loney on Facebook)

On May 27th, 28th and 29th, 2016 The Shamanic Boom Immersion took place at Grant Farms CSA, just north of Wellington, Colorado.  The Boom is an eclectic combination of healing dance music, live art, alternative health modalities, workshops, food, performance art, yoga and creative play.  The festival is a place to be with people who encourage you to be yourself, to live through your creativity and show up with your vulnerabilities.  It was a three-day event where you could choose to camp or come and go as you pleased.  I chose to camp so that I could dive into the full experience of it all.

The loving community spirit that arose during the weekend was awe inspiring.  Spirits soared high with the looming storm clouds overhead.  People would walk up to total strangers, hugging and thanking each other for their presence.    If you needed food, water or even a cup someone would be open for giving.   Vendors were open to trading with people for their goods.  Cash was not always a necessity.

The weekend started with a Peruvian Fire Ceremony led by Mike Watts, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to officially start the boom.  Daniel Donovan, then called us in to form a circle and welcome everyone.  He challenged us all to delve deep within ourselves for self-discovery and releasing of false belief patterns, even if that meant having our buttons pushed by others.  We then went off to be our little creative selves and dive into the transformational music that would be going on for most of the weekend.  It was an overall uplifting experience.

Saturday started with a plethora of workshops including, yoga, belly dancing, transformational breathwork, music and so much more.  Saturday evening the music started and went until sunrise on Sunday morning.  The headliners were Subaqueous, Antandra, Stratosphere, and Cualli.  The music, was mostly Electronic Dance Music with many different subgenres, however, they all had one thing in common, as Daniel told me….”they were all created by sound shamans.  Music that is based in sacredness to heal people and themselves through their music.”  It had a pleasing, blissful feeling that just made you want to flow and become one with it.

Sunday was more of a laid back day, continued with more workshops and music including the very talented Techno-Shaman accompanied by SamOurEye.  When the music ended in the early evening, everyone headed over to the fire pit for the closing ceremony.  It was a beautiful ceremony hosted by Gene and Jiiniikwe Mills from South Dakota and Mike Watts.

Shamanic Boom is the brainchild of Daniel Donovan, aka, Techno-Shaman.  Daniel discovered his love of playing music with the trumpet at age 11.   He participated in school band starting in middle school through college in which he majored in music.  Six years later, after leaving the Christian church, he traveled to Peru and was working with plant medicine ceremonies with a shaman named Javier.  During a ceremony, Javier told Daniel his spirit name is now Techno-Shaman.  He is named this because he is supposed to help bring Shamanism to our technology-based society.  After arriving back in the states he started going to raves.  At these events, the music moved him in a spiritual way, much like being at church.  He was so intrigued by this, that he started learning about the Chakra system and discovered that each Chakra has an animal sound, keynote, instrument sound, bija mantra and seed vowel sound to them.  While DJ’ing he started practicing and experimenting with using animal sounds and frequencies infused into his productions.  He then would use people’s feedback to perfect his craft.  He describes his music as “a journey through the chakras while making your booty shake.”

He came up with the idea of Shamanic Booms after going to numerous music festivals and on the following Monday feeling “hungover”.  He wanted a festival where he could go and leave feeling truly transformed.  He found himself feeling bitter about his festival experiences.  So, he asked himself, “are you going continue to complain about it or are you going to show up and change it?  If you want to create something, don’t wait for someone to do it for you.”   He wanted to evolve the transformational gathering.  “A representation of true freedom.”   He told me “it was all about me, everything I wanted in a festival, live art, healing music, food.  A place for people to hold space for free creativity and self-expression.”  He describes the Booms as “a transformative gathering to allow space to show up and be infinitely creative, co-create a space that gives people the freedom to show up however they need to.  An event that relentlessly allows you to grow, change, inspire, create and feel different on Monday without being hungover.  Every time it gets better and people level up.” His vision for these festivals has come into reality.  He has started traveling to additional states teaching others how to organize and carry out Shamanic Booms.

I asked him what inspires him.   “Everyone that comes to the Booms to create inspires me”.

I also had the pleasure of talking to Stephen Morton, aka, O.B.E. and Sampson Middel, aka, SamOurEye.  Daniel calls them his RHM’s (right-hand men).

Stephen is originally from Oklahoma City and Norman Oklahoma. He spent the early nineties in Dallas, Texas working, and Dj’ing.  He told me that he knew he was coming to Colorado for something, some kind of purpose “After meeting Daniel, I really wanted to play to people who really heard me and got the emotions I was putting out.”  He was tired of being background music for people to get numbed from alcohol consumption.  He and Daniel became roommates about a year after meeting.  Stephen helped co-create Shamanic Boom.  He loves the leveling up that is happening in his life since coming to Colorado.   His intention is to heal people through his music as he, himself gets healed in the process.

Sampson met Daniel about a year ago at the same site as the Boom was on this weekend.  They met around the fire while Sampson was playing his didgeridoo and beat boxing.  He always wanted to be a musician.  Was always wanting to learn the electronic side, DJ mixing and production.   They started working together, activating the ascension current for each other’s music.   “One night Daniel and Larry told me that we have a DJ name for you….Samurai,  I immediately saw the spelling of it plastered on my forehead, an insight… SamOurEye.”  He told me that “working with Daniel is ruthless, relentless and Rad.  It is awesome experiencing the welcoming into the vortex of this profession.”  He asked me to add “Thank you Techno-Shaman for holding space for me to initiate myself as a musician and this amazing journey of putting on these amazing festivals……AHO”

Ron Franscell will sign his new book that he co-authored, “Morgue: A Life in Death,”  from 1:00 p.m.  to 4:00 p.m. on June 12 at the Cheyenne Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1851 Dell Range Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more information call:  307-632-3000.

Ron Franscell’s official website:http://www.ronfranscell.com

by Tanya Rene Martin Abernathy, reporter for Sweet as Cotton Candy

Morgue: A Life in Death, by Ron Franscell and Dr. Vincent Di Maio

When “Morgue: A Life in Death,” the newest book by true-crime author and former Wyoming journalist Ron Franscell, was released on May 17, readers got their first glimpse of the life and career of his co-author, renowned pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio. The book covers some of the most famous cases such as the Trayvon Martin case, the exhumation of Lee Harvey Oswald, the murder case against music icon Phil Spector, and even a case here in Wyoming. Yet of all the dozen cases in the book he found those involving people that were not as well-known to be the most enthralling.

Franscell began to build his interest in true-crime stories as a young reporter. Franscell explains, “I had a couple of forensic texts by Dr. Vincent Di Maio on my reference shelf. The books were invaluable, but he was just a name. Over time, I learned just how influential he’d been in forensic pathology, the discipline practiced by medical examiners.”

After watching Di Maio’s pivotal testimony in the 2012 Trayvon Martin shooting, Franscell proposed a book project to the doctor. Although Di Maio had authored some of the most influential forensic medical texts, no books had ever examined his life and work. But Franscell quickly discovered why: Di Maio didn’t see himself and his work as more or less important than any other.

Piercing the emotional walls that most in the field of pathology tend to build in an attempt to shield themselves from the images of their work was a challenge. “The real world behind the morgue doors is very different from Hollywood’s depictions, so our real-life expectations of forensic science can be unfairly impatient and unscientific.”

Not only do Franscell and Dr. Di Maio explain the process and role of the pathologist in death but weave the basic human emotion of what death and the human race is capable of at their worst. Franscell explains, “Unlike a lot of other true-crime writers, I’m not especially fascinated by mass murders or serial killers, except as the catalysts that set greater human stories in motion. I’m far more interested in the people who are splashed by this horror and who must deal with it. The greater the evil, the greater the hero.”

Franscell states that the stories, out of the thousands that Dr. Di Maio has worked on, were chosen based for their reflection of our basic human faults and the level in which they would intrigue.

“Morgue: A Life in Death” not only brings a true perspective of the process that the pathologist precipitates within the criminal justice system but also gives an intimate look at the individuals who are a part of the story itself including family, law enforcement, community, the courts, and the media. It gives the reader a broad perspective of details that connect with both the factual and emotional aspects of these horrific crimes.  The book is well written and offers the reader a chance to see through the eyes of pathologist Dr. Di Maio as he explains the challenges and individualized perspective with each case.

               Franscell will sign his new book 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. June 12 at the Cheyenne Barnes & Noble.  If you like “Morgue: A Life in Death,” then please check out some of Franscell’s other books, “The Darkest Night” about a 1973 Casper crime, and “Delivered from Evil: True Stories of People Who Faced Monsters and Survived,” among others.

Read the in-depth interview with Tim Montana on this post …

Tim Montana and the Shrednecks will perform with ZZ Top on April 13 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For ticket info go to Tim Montana

www.facebook.com/shrednecks

www.twitter.com/timmontana

www.instagram.com/timmontana

www.youtube.com/user/officialtimmontana

Tim Montana and his band, the Shrednecks, have something in common with ZZ Top. He and his band are rockin’ beards and are on tour together with ZZ Top.

                Tim Montana actually grew up in Montana where he was discovered by David Letterman in 2008. He and his band now live in Nashville.  Together Tim and ZZ Top’s lead singer Billy F. Gibbons co-wrote “This Beard Came Here To Party,” which became the anthem for the Boston Red Sox during the 2013 World Series, according to a press release. That video was the most viewed on the Major League Baseball websites.

Tim Montana and the Shrednecks are on tour promoting their newly released self-titled album. 

Tim is a father of three kiddos, one is only a few weeks old has a lot to celebrate and he elaborated about his success over a phone interview

When he was first discovered by David Letterman Tim Montana said it was pretty cool.

“I played at a rodeo in Montana and I heard that he had a ranch down there,” Tim Montana said. “Out of curiosity he just showed up to the concert.”

Letterman had his family with him at the time of the concert.

“I thought he was a cool guy and as he said goodbye to me, I said, ‘Maybe one day I’ll see you on your show,’ and he said, ‘I hope so.’”

A month later Tim got a call from Letterman’s musical director in New York.

“It was an awesome experience,” Tim said. “It was amazing being on the show. I was pacing in the hall-way because I had so much adrenaline.”

He said he was nervous, but it was a blast going out on stage and performing.

“I got to wave to my mom and my family and from there I became good friends with Paul Shaffer,” Tim said. “He worked with me on two records.”

 Later on Tim met his band members the Shrednecks.

“I went to music school in Los Angeles and I met Brian Wolf down there,” Tim said.

Wolf was drumming for a metal band that got picked up by Capitol Records.

“I didn’t seem him for years and he looked me up on Facebook and I was living in Nashville,’ Tim said. “He asked me what I’m doing now. He was living in Chicago. I was wondering what’s the best drummer in the world doing living in Chicago? He moved down to Nashville.”

The Shrednecks were missing a bass player, which they met in a coffee shop, of all places.

“There was a guy with a big beard that looked like me and my drummer and we asked him if he played bass and if he wanted to gig with us,” Tim said. “He said yes.

Tim added, “We always get asked if we’re all brothers. Sometimes we wear the same shirts and sunglasses and we try and trick people. We’re a little beard army here.”

Tim met Billy F. Gibbons through his manager.

“I met him at a recording studio and we wrote the song together called, ‘This Beard Came Here to Party. He was in the studio with us and it was a great day.

“My mom called that day and she found out that she was breast cancer free. Then Billy walked in and what an amazing day.”

When the Red Sox picked up that song and it blew up all over the internet Tim said, “I was like wow – that worked out. We write songs together now and we put together a good songwriting team from a lot of great people in Nashville.”

Tim has been writing songs since he was a kid and he was living off the grid with his family.

“I was talking while we were playing in Florida about how I was always too lazy to learn the whole song, and it drove my mom crazy,” he said. “I always learned the first chorus to the song, but I never finished it, or had enough attention to learn all of the lyrics.”

It took nine years for Tim to be taken seriously in Nashville as a songwriter until he said he finally landed his first publishing deal with Spirit Music Group.

“I wrote a ton of songs, but the timing was right, and they set up co-writes and I’d write songs, demo it and pitch it. They’re a very good publisher and a good team.”

Now Tim said he loves performing live and engaging the crowd.

“Just now in Florida we were singing a new song and the crowd had never heard of us before, but by the end of it were singing along,” he said. “I was like — wow. Being able to tell story through the song, and I do a lot of talking in a concert and I talk about where the song came from.”

Billy F. Gibbons co-wrote four songs on Tim Montana and the Shredneck’s new album.

“He also played on the record,” Tim said.

 ‘Rust and Red’ is a new song on the album about Tim’s Chevy pickup that he did a lot of work on.

“I would fix barbed wire fences and I saved up all of this money for it,” Tim said. “But I had to go to music school and in order to be able to afford it and go to L.A. I sold it to a rancher up the road and it was a sad moment when I put the keys to the truck in his hand.”

But Tim actually got his truck back when a divorced woman sold it back to him.

“That truck was part of my childhood, so I called the song ‘Rust and Red,’” he said. “It’s a crowd favorite.”

Tim and his band were recently on a cruise with Kid Rock.

“It was awesome,” Tim said. “Thousands of his die-hard fans were there and they were also interested in the bands that he picked for the cruise. Kid Rock is very personable and we enjoyed hanging out with him. We got to go to Jamaica and see other bands and get crazy on the high seas.”

Tim’s family wasn’t on the cruise because his wife just had a baby. But his wife and family go on the road when they can.

“She also is on the road, too because she works for a candy company and travels,” he said. “So, we juggle the kids. She’ll be on a business trip and I’ll take the kids. Or, I’ll be home from tour. It’s a constant struggle. But, the good thing is if I keep her pregnant all of the time then she’ll always be on maternity leave,” he joked. “We just had number three. Two was one thing, three is different. I once thought two, three, four, what’s the difference. I learned that three is the reason why that I have two hands.”