You can still make Cheyenne

Hey Seeker readers!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Happy belated Star Wars Day! And for all the moms reading, an early Happy Mother’s Day. (Psst to everyone else: did you get those brunch reservations yet? It’s this Sunday.)

Oh, us? We had a pretty rad weekend, thanks to the musical wonderland that is the Shabang festival in our hometown of San Luis Obispo, California.

Sunday wrapped with Chris Lake, an EDM mainstay and remixer for Taylor Swift and others, turning a local dairy farm into a full-on rave under the stars. Quite the Shabang, and it won’t be our last.

Where are your musical travels taking you this month? We’d love to know. Drop us a line at editor@musicroadtrip.com.

Wherever you end up, bring the Music Roadtrip app along. It’s a live guide to the best music spots, right in your pocket.

Download the app now for iPhone and Android devices.

Now, on to this week’s city, and a classic from the King of Country.

Cheyenne, WY

Ever heard “I Can Still Make Cheyenne?”

A big hit for George Strait back in ’96. It’s about a rodeo man who calls home from the road, only to learn his partner’s had enough of the constant travel and is moving on.

His response?

“There’s so much about you that I’m gonna miss. But it’s all right baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.”

Plenty of cowboys know exactly where he’s coming from. Cheyenne’s rugged charms have a powerful pull, especially during Cheyenne Frontier Days, a massive rodeo and concert series that takes over the city each summer.

But there’s more here than the grandstands: dancehalls on the edge of town, a restored movie house that now brings in touring acts, a metal-obsessed record shop, and more. So grab your lasso, because we’re rounding them all up. 

Frontier Days (and nights)

They call it the “Daddy of ‘em all.” If you’re a cowboy, Frontier Days is your Coachella. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo brings together the top riders, the biggest prize purses, and the toughest events in one place.

But once the sun sets and everybody’s dusted themselves off, Frontier Nights provides a major-league country music festival. This year’s headliners include Blake Shelton, Riley Green and “Ordinary” pop phenom Alex Warren — and don’t sleep on newcomer Zach Top, a Gen-Z traditionalist who picks up where Randy Travis left off.

Beyond the competition and concerts, Frontier Days has a world of options: a carnival midway, pancake breakfasts, a Western art show and parade-day street events all keep things galloping along.

The 2026 event runs July 17–26 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with full details at cheyennefrontierdays.com.

Ernie November

Cheyenne has rodeo culture and country music in spades — but what if that’s not your bag? Well, if you’re Keith Coombes, you take matters into your own hands. 

“I wanted something different for my boring, lame, cowboy town,” he said in 2022. In 1996, he started booking metal and punk bands at the then-new Cheyenne location of Ernie November, a regional record chain.

30 years and hundreds of shows later, EN is a misfit mainstay of Downtown Cheyenne, and Coombes is still crowd-surfing to touring hardcore and metal acts like Ohio’s Ringworm. Over the decades, the shop has expanded into a full counterculture supply stop, where vinyl sits alongside guitar strings, lava lamps, backpacks, hats, incense, pipes, and books.

And hey, you’re either into it or you’re not — and that’s just fine with them.

“Ernie November was never for the masses,” Coombes said. “We pride ourselves on being brash at times.”

Blue Raven Brewery

This is Sam’s old place—Samuel Corson, who immigrated from Scotland about 150 years ago and became a major figure in Cheyenne business and politics.

His Queen Anne–style cottage stayed in the family for generations, but it’s now in the hands of a new group who had the good sense to throw open the doors and install a bunch of beer taps.

Blue Raven covers the full range, from hop-forward IPAs to pilsners, hefeweizens, sour ales, and porters—whatever you need to work up the nerve for open mic, held the last Wednesday of every month.

Local singer-songwriters cycle through regularly, along with food trucks like Bangkok Bites. It’s a low-key way to settle into the real Cheyenne.

The Bunkhouse

If cowboy culture is what draws you to Cheyenne, this is the kind of joint you’re likely picturing.

The Bunkhouse serves up sizzling steaks and a house band playing classic country every weekend for a dance floor packed with boot-scooters (but not before the entire room rises to observe the national anthem). 

The music is thoroughly country, but can drift into blues and the occasional rock cover as the night goes on. Sundays bring an open acoustic jam, and in the summer, Saturday afternoons move outside to the deck for laid-back, blues-leaning sets.

The place has been knocked down and rebuilt more than once over the years (including a couple of fires) and stands as a working roadhouse with deep local roots.

The Lincoln

Opening a live music venue in September 2020? That’ll separate the wheat from the chaff real quick.

Luckily, the folks behind the Lincoln had what it took to transform a century-old theater into the Cheyenne community’s favorite place to take in a show.

This 1250-capacity room also quickly proved it had serious range, too: Ice Cube, Tanya Tucker and Animal Collective have all found an audience here. This summer sees visits from Lord Huron, The Dead South and Wiz Khalifa.

More Cheyenne spots

Curt Gowdy State Park
Granite outcrops, reservoirs, and wide-open trails just outside town for hiking, biking, and climbing.

Cheyenne Civic Center
Primary performing arts venue hosting touring concerts, comedy, and community productions.

Fridays on the Plaza
Summer concert series downtown with free live music and a local crowd.

Cheyenne Depot Museum
Railroad-era landmark in the heart of downtown that traces the city’s origins.

Downtown Vinyl
Local record shop focused on vinyl with a mix of new and used releases.

Event Center at Archer
Multi-use venue hosting rodeos, craft shows, tournaments, and rotating local events.

Wyoming International Film Festival
Annual July festival bringing indie screenings and events to Cheyenne.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
Deep dive into rodeo history and Western culture tied to the city’s signature event.

Visit Cheyenne
Official tourism hub with up-to-date info on events, attractions, and things to do around the city.