We never would have imagined the “Cowboy State” would produce a promising electronic synth trio, but it did. It has also produced a variety of roots, rock, and country artists—one of which is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize—all worthy to be included in Paste’s 50 States Project.
Below are nine impressive musical discoveries from Wyoming.
1. The Bird and the Bear 
Hometown: Saratoga
Members: Mirthe Bolhuis and Garry Wood
Wood, the “Bear” of the duo, hails from Saratoga, while his fairer musical cohort and wife, Bolhuis, is originally from Groningen, Netherlands. The two met in Nashville at the Music City Hostel in the summer of 2011. They recorded and released their debut EP, Breathe, in February of 2012 and are working on their next EP, Build a Fire. The Bird and the Bear has appropriately drawn comparisons to The Civil Wars.
2. The Flannel Attractions
Hometown: Jackson
Members: Pat Chadwick, Emily Yarbrough, Lucas Nash, Jessie Lestitian, Leif Routman
The quintet met by playing the Jackson Hole Hootenanny, a decades-old Wyoming music tradition that has been graced by the likes of John Denver and Peter Rowan. Fans of modern folk revival acts, such as The Head and the Heart and the Punch Brothers, will enjoy The Flannel Attractions’ brand of folk pop and acoustic music. The band self-produced and released their debut self-titled EP in February 2013. They can frequently be heard on Wyoming Public Radio and also enjoyed a stint as a Featured Open Mic Artist of the Month at FolkAlley.com.
3. Greenhorse 
Hometown: Sheridan
Members: Chris Hackman, Shawn,Day, Joel Saur
Greenhorse, an electronic synth trio based in Los Angeles, first met at an antique music store in Wyoming in 2009. The band began throwing shows as Gumby Brown and the Nifty Critters before relocating to L.A. in 2010. Their sound incorporates ‘80s industrial, Chicago house, pop and experimental psychedelia. To date, the group has released three EPs, Transcontinental (2009), Happiness (2011), and The Shapes of Dragons (2013). The trio has performed at well-known L.A. venues including The Troubador, The Viper Room and Echoplex, and their music has been featured on Saturday Night Live and MTV.
4. Jalan Crossland
Hometown: Ten Sleep
It should come as no surprise that Crossland, who describes himself as “the country singer of the Apocalypse” and who cites his “old boss at the trailer house plant” as an influence, pens stark and humorous songs about 21st century rural life focusing on subjects such as hobos, mobile homes, strippers, motorcycles, and meth. Crossland accompanies his brand of old-timey Americana compositions with deft fingerpicking on both banjo and guitar (he finished second in the 1997 Winfield National Guitar Fingerpicking competition). He released his most recent album, No Cause For Despair, in June.
5. Jason Shogren
Hometown: Centennial
Shogren is a former advisor to both President Clinton and the King of Sweden and is a Nobel Peace Prize winner as a member of the United Nations team working on climate change. Now, he spends his time composing acoustic roots songs that he describes as “catawampus American music.” His most recent album, God Bless These Crooked Little Songs, was released in 2012, and he is currently working on his fifth album.
