The road less traveled...

The Main Street of North America is in the Heartland; home to hearty souls, colorful characters and more than one salty tale. And between Canada and the Republic of Mexico is a single ribbon of highway where a traveler will find it.

U.S. Highway 281 begins at the International Peace Gardens in North Dakota; then covers the ground that the Lewis & Clark Expedition traveled over in South Dakota; it takes those on the road less traveled to the world’s largest shamrock in Nebraska; and on to the Home on the Range in Kansas where the song originated; to the Indian Capital of the Nation in Oklahoma and finally to the famous wildflowers and cultural border towns of Texas

Now imagine that journey in song.

“Seeing it through your windshield is like watching an ever-changing canvas,” says western and folks singer/songwriter Kerry Grombacher of his Hwy 281 Troubadour Tour.

“The open range and farm ground of North and South Dakota, Nebraska’s Sand Hills and Kansas’ Gypsum Hills, the prairie of Oklahoma and the Hill Country of Texas.” Traveling the mostly two lane highway through rural America, Grombacher sees his role as one of a modern-day troubadour. “In taking stories in song from town to town, it’s a reminder to us all that there are others who have stories to share from places much like our own – wherever we might call home.”

The Heritage of the American West Performance Series will host the debut performance of the US Highway 281 Troubadour Tour, as Grombacher sets his sites on The Buffalo City (Jamestown, ND) to begin an 1,800 mile odyssey of exploring rural America…in music.

Set for Thursday, May 20 at the High Plains Western Heritage Center, Spearfish, the 90 minute live stage performance begins at 7 p.m., and also features a pre-show exhibit and reception beginning at 6:00 p.m.

A book signing with educator, historian and author Donovin Sprague will introduce his newest book in the Images of America Series, titled Ziebach County: 1920 – 2010. Sprague, a recent nominee to the prestigious USA Artist Fellowship, has also traced and recorded the histories of four Plains Indians Tribes as well as the history of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. In addition to the Ziebach County centennial edition, he was a contributor to the Timber Lake: 1910-2010 Images of America centennial edition.

The Heritage of the American West Hwy 281 Troubadour Tour debut performance and Images of America book signing will open its doors at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Center. Tickets are $7 for seniors/kids and $12 for adults. For more information, call 605-642-9378.