Annie Wilson, author of the “Songs of the Flint Hills” column, has completed a major songwriting and recording project with her band Tallgrass Express. “Out on the Tallgrass Prairie” is a double album with 32 songs - an epic addition to their “Songs of the Flint Hills” series – now 88 songs in 6 volumes.
With all songs by rancher- songwriter Wilson, this album explores two sides of Flint Hills life on double discs of 16 songs each: Disc A, Land, Plants, & Animals and Disc B, People on the Land. Songs tell stories about cattle, wild horse rides, ranch families and local wildlife, while painting scenes of the beautiful landscape.
There are fun songs for “kids” young and old, such as “Turkey Buzzard Bob” and “Prairie Chicken Pete,” and heartfelt songs such as “Prairie Prayer” about the need to conserve this beautiful landscape.
This new album, as well as previous works, are available on CD or for download on their website www.tallgrassexpress. com. There website also features lyrics and photos that pair with the songs.
Listen online through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, I-Heart Radio, etc.
An Album Release Concert will be held on Sunday, March 24 at 3 p.m., at the Prairie Past-Times Gallery, 220 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls. Admission is free. During this concert, Wilson will share stories behind the songs and what inspired them.
The State of Kansas named Wilson “The Flint Hills Balladeer” for her songs celebrating the region, and she is a ten-time winner of the Walnut Valley Festival song-writing contest.
This is the 20th Anniversary of Tallgrass Express; they will be having a public celebration and concert later in the year at Pioneer Bluffs on Sunday, Sept. 8.
