Singing Cowboy a Hard Time to the Fans of Line Dancing : Art Green makes it clear he’s an acoustic man who loves couples dancing, waltzes and singing slow, ‘tear-jerker’ ballads. And he’s packing the house.

In the midst of all this “Boot Scootin’ ” ballyhoo, you’ve got to respect a musician who lists on his resume the following goal: “to play clubs where line dancing IS NOT encouraged.”

Professional suicide, you might think. But ever since Art Green, 32-year-old team-roping, filly-breaking, cattle-raising musician wandered into the Galleon Room in Goleta six years ago looking for work, he’s been making a living as a real singing cowboy.

By choice, Green currently plays at only two nightclubs--Zaca Creek Restaurant in his home town of Buellton and at the Galleon Room. But if we’re lucky, Green will extend his appearances to Ventura County. Are you listening, club owners?

For now, run--don’t walk--to catch Green and the Posse (Steve McPeters, lead guitar, fiddle; Richard Diaz, vocals, bass; John Rasmussen, vocals, drums) tonight through Saturday at the Galleon Room. And dance fans will want to arrive at 7 p.m. to learn the Schottische. Then stay for Green’s music, which is well-suited to the couples-oriented dancing at the Galleon.

Bathed in warmly diffuse pink light, “Santa Barbara’s original country music nightclub since 1980” is a comfortable place that feels more like someone’s living room. Seating is conveniently arranged around the dance floor and stage. Lessons and music are geared for couple dances. But the club is also popular with singles.

And owner Susette Warynick prides herself on catering to the musical tastes of local fans. Currently featured groups include Sky King, the Fender Benders, Swingin’ Doors (most of the Cache Valley Drifters) and Spaghetti Western. And the Rhythm Rangers, who got their start a few years ago as the club’s house band, recently returned to join the rotation.

But the most popular draw, Art Green and the Posse, is still a best-kept secret to most Ventura County folks. Yet he packs the club whenever he appears and those in the know happily travel to Goleta to hear him.

“They would stay all night with Art but we have to kick them out at 1:30,” said Warynick.

Make no mistake: Just because Green was raised on traditional country music and dislikes line dancing, doesn’t make this Doug Supernaw look-alike a fuddy duddy in a white Resistol hat. The band covers tunes by Merle Haggard all the way to Alan Jackson and George Strait.

It’s just that he’s an acoustic man who loves couples dancing, waltzes and singing those slow, “tear-jerker” ballads. And his beautiful voice is perfectly suited to that style. But Green can also infuse oldies such as “Brown-Eyed Girl” and Marshall Tucker’s “Fire on the Mountain” with new blood.

In addition to performing, Green has written some lovely songs. Listen for a pleasing ballad, “The Eye of a Hurricane,” the up-tempo “She’s Gotten Outta Hand,” co-written with his brother, Marv, who recently accepted a songwriting job with Gold Wheat Productions in Nashville.

Green, who has opened for many national acts including Steve Wariner, Doug Stone, Kenny Rogers and Sammy Kershaw, modestly mentioned that in 1991 he and his band were local and Southern California winners of the “True Value, GMC Truck Country Showdown,” the nation’s largest amateur country music talent contest.

But when you listen to Green, don’t expect smoke and mirrors. Just let him strap on his beloved blond Gibson J-200 Jumbo Country acoustic guitar recently autographed by his idol, Merle Haggard.

“People come up to me and say I should move around more or tell jokes between the songs. But that’s just not me,” said Green. “Music is my job. So I let the music do the talking. My motto is pretty much, ‘Shut up and sing.’ ”

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It seems that out-of-towners are raiding our area for local talent. Santa Barbara-based Spaghetti Western played Saturday afternoon at the Great Western Rodeo in Inglewood--Mark Collie and Trisha Yearwood headlined the evening concert.

Darlene O’Connell & the Dixie Flyers were invited to open for Radney Foster on Saturday at the Desert Empire Fairgrounds in Ridgecrest. A $69 package includes room for two and tickets. Gates open for barbecue and dancing at 6:30 p.m., show time is 8 p.m. For details or tickets, call 619-446-4118.

And the Rhythm Rangers were recruited to perform Oct. 1 in Santa Monica for the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Country & Western Night saluting David Horowitz, honorary mayor of Brentwood and television consumer activist. Our own Rick Henderson will teach the line dancing. Advance tickets, $75 per person, $95 at the door. Call 310-358-8787.

Details

* WHAT: Art Green and the Posse.

* WHEN: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. tonight, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

* WHERE: Galleon Room, inside the Orchid Bowl, 5925 Calle Real (Highway 101 at Fairview), Goleta.

* CALL: 967-0128.

* ETC.: Art Green will also perform from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the family-style barbecue, Paradise Store, located at San Marcos Pass and Paradise Road in Santa Barbara, 967-3254; Sept. 30 he’s at Zaca Creek Restaurant in Buellton.