On stage in Casper

* NIC at Noon

Green River singer and songwriter Bryan Ragsdale has lived the cowboy life - every word of it, in fact, he says on his Web site. His family has been in the Rocky Mountain west since the 1800s, living as ranchers, miners and war heroes. He writes about these experiences in his music.

"I guarantee if you want your guests to get a true taste of the Rockies, I am your man," he said.

Ragsdale will bring his Wyoming melodies to Casper for Nic at Noon, the Nicolaysen Art Museum's informal monthly concert series. All are welcome to stop by for a bite of lunch and some live music.

People enjoying the lunch time concert are also invited to view the museum's current exhibits: "Pulp Function," "Casper Collects" and "Linda Lugenbill: Material Matters."

When: Noon to 1 p.m. SEPT. 5

Where: The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center, 400 E. Collins Drive

Tickets: Free. Bring a lunch or call Grant Street Grocery at 237-2539 by 10 a.m. the day of the performance to have a lunch delivered.

Info: 235-5247. www.wyomingmelodies.com.

* Dance with SwingSounds

Grab your favorite guy or gal and dance the night away to music of a by-gone era. Show off your waltz, two step, swing and jitterbug to western and pop swing and old country tunes provided by seven-piece band, SwingSounds. All ages are welcome.

When: 7 to 10 p.m. SEPT. 6

Where: Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. Fourth St.

Tickets: $4 per person, cash only, with the first $25 to benefit the Senior Center

Info: 234-7239 or 265-4678

On stage around the state

* CHEYENNE: Americana Music Weekend

Cheyenne is the place to be for fans of Americana music this Labor Day weekend with two music festivals offering a variety of bluegrass and cowboy entertainment.

* The Cheyenne Heart of the West Festival will showcase cowboy poets, western musicians, storytellers and artisans TODAY through SUNDAY at the Plains Hotel, the Cheyenne Depot and the Atlas Theatre. The festival will celebrate historic traditions of the West with concerts, craft shows, a chuck wagon dinner and a cowboy church service.

Musicians include Prickly Pair, Long Road Home and Jon Chandler & the Wichitones, among many others.

Tickets range from $12 to $20, depending on day and stages.

The chuck wagon dinner is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza and costs $25. Cowboy church is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the Historic Plains Hotel Ballroom. Cowboy brunch is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Plains Hotel and costs $15.95.

* The Magic City Bluegrass Festival will feature four bluegrass bands SATURDAY and SUNDAY at the Lions Park Amphitheater. At 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be a public workshop for banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and bass. Bring your own instruments. The rest of Saturday and Sunday will be filled with music by High Plains Tradition, Long Road Home, the Matt Flinner Trio and Palmer Divide.

The bluegrass festival is free.

* Information: Concert schedules and ticket prices for various festival events are available at www.cheyennemusic.org or by calling the Plains Hotel at (307) 638-3311 or the Depot Visitor Center at (307) 778-3133.

Rodney Carrington plays Wyoming

Rodney Carrington has built a cult following with his hilarious and often crude stand-up that includes comedy and music about rednecks, women at bars and men acting like men. Songs like "Don't Look Now," "Little Things" and "Fred" have kept new and old fans coming back for more, a press release said.

His latest album, "King of the Mountains," is Carrington's first album of new material in more than four years. The album was followed by a Comedy Central special; his first DVD, "Rodney Carrington Live at the Majestic Theatre"; a book, "Coming Clean"; and a film released in select theatres Aug. 8 based on Toby Keith's hit song "Beer For My Horses."

Carrington's show is for mature audiences only.

* GILLETTE: Carrington plays at 7 p.m. SEPT. 17 at the CAM-PLEX Heritage Center. All seats are reserved and cost $40. Tickets are available at the box office, by calling (307) 682-8802 or (877) 4CAMPLEX, or online at www.cam-plex.com.

* CASPER: Carrington plays at 7 p.m. SEPT. 20 at the Casper Events Center. All seats are reserved and cost $40.75. Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 577-3030 or (800) 442-2256, or online at www.caspereventscenter.com.

Info: www.rodneycarrington.com or beerformyhorsesthemovie.com.

* Be sure to tell the Weekender about your upcoming concerts and CD releases so we can help Wyoming get in on the groove. Send information to features reporter Hannah Wiest. E-mail: hannah.wiest@trib.com. Phone: (307) 266-0535. Regular mail: Casper Star-Tribune, P.O. Box 80, Casper, WY, 82602.