The Friday night concerts at the rodeo have long been a tradition, but you might recall last year, the rodeo added a Thursday night show. The first one, was a 180-degree turn, going pop with “American Idol” winner David Cook. This time, the rodeo is back in its country comfort zone.
Both concerts start after that night’s rodeo. Tickets are available now, costing $20-$30 per show, or $50 for both. Tickets also include admission to the rodeo. Get tickets at clovisrodeo.com. For you buy-in-person types, get the tickets at the rodeo grounds starting March 5.
If you’re looking for a live country trifecta, don’t forget about the recently-announcedDierks Bentley show at Table Mountain Casino, which is happening just a couple days later, on April 29. Tickets for that one cost $25-$45. They, however, are not on sale until March 18.
Country legend Merle Haggard has lined up a May 23 show at the Visalia Fox Theatre. Haggard, who was sidelined by illness earlier this year, is back touring to support his latest album, “Working in Tennessee.”Tickets are on sale now and cost $50-$80.
Seventies rock band Toto is the newest addition to the concert calendar at Table Mountain Casino. The band, known for hits such as “Hold the Line” and “Africa,” will Sept. 17. Tickets cost $25-$45 and on sale starting Aug. 6.
Tex-mex rock trio Los Lonely Boys return to Fresno for an Aug. 3 concert at the Tower Theatre. The band is known for its hit “Heaven,” which won a Grammy in 2005. Tickets for the concert cost $48.50.
A few noteworthy comedy shows now on the concert calendar:
Jeff Dunham, a famed funnyman and ventriloquist, plays Table Mountain Casino on May 30. Tickets are on sale Monday, costing $25-$45. Act quick, as this oughta sell out.
Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam — a comedy tour organized by former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal — is coming to Fresno’s Saroyan Theatre on May 25. Specific comedians haven’t yet been announced, but tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, costing $39.75-$63.75.
Miller, well known for songs such as “The Joker” and “Fly Like an Eagle,” will play at the Friant casino on July 10. Tickets don’t go on sale until May 28, but when they do, they’ll cost $25, $35 and $45.
Lewis — with his band, The News, in tow — will perform at Table Mountain on Aug. 29. Tickets cost $25-$45 and are on sale July 16.
If you’re a big fan, you might want to circle those date on the calendar because tickets for Table Mountain Casino concerts sometimes sell out quickly. Tickets for the casino’s April 17 date with Crosby, Stills & Nash sold out in a week.
CINCO DE MEGA WITH MORRIS DAY AND THE TIME Fresno is about to get a dose of “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” right before Cinco De Mayo. Morris Day and The Time have been announced as headliners for the Cinco De Mega concert, organized by radio station Mega 97.9 on May 4 at Rotary Amphitheatre at Woodward Park.
It’s another busy Thursday night in and around Fresno. The casinos headline the local music options, but the entertainment doesn’t stop there. Here’s a look:
Table Mountain and Chukchansi have dueling country shows tonight — Table Mountain hosts alt-country vet Lyle Lovett while Chukchansi has the more Nashville-ish Craig Morgan, doing a pre-Veterans Day “Salute to Troops” concert.
Fulton 55 had a date scheduled with blues/roots rocker Shane Dwight, but it was canceled earlier this week. Sorry, Dwight fans.
On the club circuit: Million Too has the new “Take Over Thursdays” while NVS (the former Bliss) launches its Thursday night party. Apparently it’s not doing that 18+ thing anymore, shrug. Fliers below.
Can’t finish this post without a shout to the event you’ll all been waiting for — the Boats & Hoes pre-Veterans Day birthday party. (Huh?) Obviously it’s going to be a super classy affair.
British new wave group Tears for Fears makes a stop at Table Mountain Casino tonight, no doubt telling us about how “Everybody Wants the Rule the World.” While most Table Mountain concerts sell out in advance, I’m told there are still some tickets for tonight. You have to buy them in person, though, as online ticket sales have stopped. Tickets cost $45 and $55.
If you want to call before heading up there, the number is (559) 822-7777.
The other big show of the night is rap hero Pharoahe Monch at Fulton 55. Or perhaps I should I say unsung rap hero.
I wrote a bit about Mr. Monch last week. In brief: He’s one of the most-slept-on hip-hop greats. Many people might know him from “Simon Says” (warning: language NSFW), which is his biggest commercial success, but his whole catalog is impressive. Local hip-hop fans should support this, if they want more shows of this caliber to come to town.
Tickets are still available, cost $15 and are available in advance at TicketFly, Iron Bird Cafe and The Laundry Room.
Tickets to see Goo Goo Dolls cost $45-$65 and go on sale May 2. Tickets for Tears for Fears aren’t on sale until Aug. 8 and cost $35-$55.
Also added to the concert lineup: Lao pop singer Alexandra Bounxouei (June 5, prices TBA, on sale May 2) and Latin/tropical singer Luis Enrique (July 28, $25-$45, on sale June 20).
It still remains to be seen whether Kris Allen becomes an “American Idol” winner of the Carrie Underwood variety, the Taylor Hicks variety, or somewhere in between.
If you wanna see him with your own eyes, then head down to Tower Theatre tonight, where Allen is headlining. As of a few minutes ago, tickets were still available, according to the Tower. They cost $22.
It’s a GA show, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the show starting at 7:30. Rock band Thriving Ivory is opening.
It’s something of a star-studded Monday, which is rare because Monday nights are usually pretty quiet around here. Up at Table Mountain Casino, Latin legend Julio Iglesias is playing. That’s sold out.
ROB THOMAS
It feels like we’re saying this every week: Table Mountain Casino lands another notable concert. Today, the casino announced an Aug. 9 date with Rob Thomas. Thomas, in addition to his solo work, is known for fronting Matchbox Twenty.
Tickets go on sale July 5, costing $25-$45. He joins Lenny Kravtiz and Hall & Oates as recent additions to the Table Mountain calendar.
THE BIG FRESNO FAIR
The Big Fresno Fair told us the first three concerts on the schedule for this year’s fair, which runs Oct. 6-17.
Country acts Julianne Hough (Oct. 8) and Montgomery Gentry (Oct. 15) are locked in, as is a classic rock show with Foghat & Blue Oyster Cult (Oct. 12). No tickets prices determined yet. Expect ticket sales to start “mid-summer.” More concert should be announced in the coming months.
Looks like another big country concert is headed our way. Toby Keith and Trace Adkin’s tour is slated to stop in Fresno on Aug. 1, according to an itinerary on Keith’s site.
The tour list doesn’t name venues, just “Fresno.” It’d be hard to imagine it going anywhere but Save Mart Center. I asked the arena, and haven’t heard back. I bet we’ll hear something official once Brad Paisley comes and goes.
If you’re keeping track that gives us the following upcoming country shows — April 10:Taylor Swift | May 18:Carrie Underwood | May 25:Tim McGraw | Aug. 1: Keith/Adkins.
Looks like local Harry Connick Jr. fans are in luck — the crooner is due back in the area on Jan. 27, per a list of tour dates on his Web site. Connick will be performing at Table Mountain Casino. UPDATE: Tickets cost $25-$45 and go on sale Dec. 21.
Connick was last here in 2007 and 2005, both times performing at Saroyan Theatre. His most recent album is “Your Songs,” which came in September.
David Cook is at Table Mountain Casino tonight, and that heads up a nice list of happenings tonight in and around our great city. Cook’s show is long sold out, so if you’re a David Diehard, hope you already got some tickets. If you haven’t yet, you can read my Q & A with the “American Idol” winner.
I’m a big fan, so I was thrilled to find out this morning that John Legend will soon be performing in the Fresno area again. He’s locked in for a Sept. 15 date at Table Mountain Casino. Tickets are set to go on sale Aug. 3, costing $25.$45.
The above photo is from Legend’s May 2007 tour stop at Saroyan Theatre. You can re-live more of that here.
