A George Strait show basically sells itself. He’s the King of Country music after all, and you could probably sell 10,000 tickets to see him tune his guitar and sing a line and a half during a soundcheck. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, however, is a little more giving, and has announced the two openers for his big, rodeo-closing performance next March. Joining him on the bill are two more talented Texans: Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett.
Although he hasn’t released an album since 2012, Lovett’s deep catalog has kept him as a touring mainstay over the past few years; he’s actually getting ready to hit the road with Keen next month.. He last played Rodeo Houston way back in 2002, right around the time he showed up in The New Guy, which is a movie I’m not going to pretend to remember, but maybe you do. Did you know he also has an honorary degree from the University of Houston?
Hailing from Houston, Robert Earl Keen is one of those names you know even if you’ve never heard a lick of his music. He’s one of the Texas Country artists that’s been around forever and is still going strong; if you can’t wait until March to see him on the spinning stage, he’ll be over at the House of Blues on December 21 for one of his Cosmic Cowboy Christmas shows, which is sure to be a hoot. This will be his first Rodeo Houston performance since 2006.
It’s very cool that longtime friends Keen and Lovett are both on the bill. Not only are they hitting the road together, but back in 2012 they both entered the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“We are proud to close out the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with three of the Lone Star State’s most influential music artists,” said Joel Cowley, Rodeo Houston president and CEO said in a press release.
Strait. Lovett. Keen. Sounds like such a stacked night you won’t even miss the mutton-bustin’; as a reminder, while you’ll be able to ride rides and stuff yourself silly on fried food the day of the show, there will be no rodeo performance before the concert. The rest of the 2019 Rodeo Houston performers will be announced on January 3, and tickets for all performances go on sale January 10.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2018.
