With a name like the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, you’d expect an eclectic group of people.

And certainly, this new band has some varied roots — the bass player is from upstate New York, while the guitarist is from Tennessee. Musically, the band draws influence from traditional bluegrass and jazz, but also from the rock and world genres.

However, the Orchestra also has plenty of ties to this area, a big reason for hosting their Jan. 31 CD-release concert in Blooming Prairie.

“It’s my hometown,” fiddler and promotional director Lisi Wright said. “People always asked when we’d come play there.”

Formed about a year ago and releasing their first CD just this past November, the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra is hoping to quickly make a name for itself in the music industry.

“What we’re trying to do is to build a fanbase one fan at a time,” Wright said.

Band members generally describe themselves as “goofy,” but they all have serious musical credentials.

Wright, who played in the Austin High School Orchestra from 2001 to 2003, also played with Martin Zellar, an accomplished Austin guitarist and former member of the Gear Daddies.

GCO guitarist Dan Neale spent a number of years playing with Zellar as well, including a number of stops in Austin.

Bass player John Wright, from Syracuse, N.Y., has played in the Celtic folk-rock band Lehto & Wright for 10 years.

And drummer Mark O’Day graduated from the Musicians Institute of Technology in Hollywood California, studying with many well known musicians.

This talented quartet came together when the three male members of the group were looking for someone to play fiddle. Enter Lisi Wright.

The four started as a “jam band,” Lisi Wright said, but they all wanted to challenge themselves musically and do more.

And before they could embark as a true “band,” a good name was needed.

True to their personalities, the members wanted something “goofy.”

“An eye-catcher,” Lisi Wright added.

O’Day said the word “galactic” popped into his head one day, and he thought it had potential.

“Then, somehow ‘cowboy’ got married to ‘galactic’,” the drummer added.

With the wheels turning, John Wright next thought of adding “orchestra” onto the end.

And with that, the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra was officially born.

The quirky name has been a big plus, band members said. Not only does it fit their styles and personalities, it also makes them stand out.

“We actually got three gigs without (the show organizers) ever hearing our music,” Lisi Wright said.

At a GCO show, the audience can expect plenty of variety, band members said. Generally, the band focuses on instrumental material, but they aren’t afraid to incorporate vocal covers of artists such as Hank Williams and Willie Nelson.

“It kind of depends on what the audience wants to hear,” Lisi Wright said.

In addition to the music, the Orchestra also likes to incorporate video into its performances. Drummer O’Day has a passion for making short films, and these often quirky bits work well with the shows.

“I just like the idea of creating something people can remember visually,” he said.

With so many interests and talents, the four members of the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra all seem to have bright future. They jokingly said if they don’t take over the world, their goals are more modest — keep making records, booking new shows and drawing fans.

And the four agree that they’ll have fun doing it.

“We’ll have a few good stories in a year or so,” Lisi Wright said. “We all have a good time. We’re goofy.”