Arts & Entertainment
 

Mayer kicks off Rodeo festivities

Strait, Inglesias, Knowles, Nelson highlight two weeks of musical variety

by Mario Gudmundsson
the daily cougar

RodeoHouston enters its 72nd year. From Tuesday to March 21, the world's largest livestock show and rodeo makes its home at Reliant Stadium, where hair-raising cowboy sports and world-famous entertainers gather to create a unique experience that can only be found in Houston.

The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest starts the spectacle with a sizzle, as 359 teams compete in a massive three-day picnic with live entertainment and a carnival.

The following week, rodeo sports events start. Overseen by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping are guaranteed to raise pulses before every night's performance.

RodeoHouston's superstar line-up has never failed to please, and 2004 is no exception. The 29 entertainers featured have won a combined 97 Country Music Association awards, 87 Academy of Country Music awards and 49 Grammy awards.

This year's superstar performances kick off Tuesday with an appearance by John Mayer followed by perennial favorite George Strait. Black Heritage Day, March 5, brings Bow Wow to Houston, accompanied by the You Got Served Tour featuring Omarion, Marques Houston and the You Got Served Dancers. The second week of events begins with a Saturday matinee by Martina McBride; Reba McEntire sings on Sunday.

Enrique Iglesias has a March 8 appointment, while Alan Jackson will serenade March 9. Vince Gill and Amy Grant share the bill March 10, with Clay Walker singing the following evening.

That Friday, March 12, Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens will carve up the stage with Marty Stuart and Connie Smith. Randy Travis sings the Saturday matinee, and Sunday, March 14 is Go Tejano Day -- Bronco, "El Gigante de America" and Jennifer Peña bring Tejano flavor to the rodeo.

2004's five-day-long Spring Break Stampede, March 15-19, has pop superstars Beyoncé, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey and Kelly Clarkson in attendance along with Pat Green, Kenny Chesney, Robert Earl Keen and Dierks Bentley. The carnival also opens at 2 p.m. during that week to welcome vacationing youngsters.

The RodeoHouston Finals promises some of the best rides and thrills of the sport March 20 with country favorites Brooks & Dunn. Willie Nelson will close out the rodeo March 21 with a great show right after the Xtreme Bulls sporting event.

All weekday performances begin at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday performances begin at 4 p.m. Each performance begins with the grand entry, rodeo events and the calf scramble and ends with the concert entertainer. Tickets are $16, available at any Ticketmaster location or at the gate. 

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a charitable event, committed to benefiting youth and supporting education throughout the state. Since presenting its first scholarship in 1957, the show has committed almost $100 million in scholarships, graduate assistantships, endowments and grant contributions for the youth of Texas.

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