2008 Rodeo Concert Lineup announced

http://blogs.chron.com/handstamp/archives/2008/01/rodeohouston_li.html

RodeoHouston 2008: John Fogerty, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Fergie

The 2008 RodeoHouston lineup is here.

View, grumble and discuss:

• Tim McGraw, March 3: This will be the country hunk's fourth RodeoHouston appearance. He was last 'round these parts in October as the closing performer for the inaugural Big State Festival in College Station.

• Faith Hill, March 4: The crossover diva last stepped onto the revolving RodeoHouston stage in 1999. Since then, she's scored huge hits but has recently come crashing back to Earth. Recent singles have flopped, she scolded a fan for manhandling her hubby -- and then there's Carrie Underwood. Hill reacted angrily backstage when Underwood was named CMA female vocalist of the year in Nov. 2006. Hill insisted she was joking. We're still not convinced.

• Kevin Fowler, March 5: The Austin singer seems next in line for breakout national success. Recent disc Bring It On was full of mainstream hooks, and Fowler has the osntage energy of Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney.

• Alan Jackson, March 6: Another year, another appearance from this country stalwart. Jackson has been hitting RodeoHouston since 1992. A new disc is due in March.

• John Legend, March 7: The elegant R&B crooner makes his debut RodeoHouston performance during Black Heritage Day. A new disc is due sometime this year.

• Martina McBride, March 8: This year marks McBride's eighth consecutive as a RodeoHouston performer. (She also performer in 1996). Her material has morphed from vibrant feminist fare to greeting-card sentiments over the years, but her powerful voice never disappoints in a live setting.

• Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, March 9: Season and mini-season ticket packages are the only tickets available for this show. In an attempt to divert scaplers, individual tickets were sold for a limited time via an online raffle system.

The tween titan's debut RodeoHouston performance (alongside the Cheetah Girls) in March 2007 broke the attendance record (73,291) and fried the sound system. This will be Cyrus' fourth Houston show in less than 18 months. She first performed with the Cheetah Girls in Oct. 2006 during a sold-out show at the Reliant Center, and her headlining tour played to a sold-out crowd in November at Toyota Center.

Cyrus is also on the verge of legitimate radio success. Current single See You Again, which borrows heavily from Corey Hart's Sunglasses At Night, is climbing the Billboard Hot 100.

• Sugarland, March 10: Country music's dynamic duo returns for a second year. Maybe Beyoncé will join them for a repeat cover of Irreplaceable, a la November's American Music Awards. After all, it is Houston.

• Rascal Flatts, March 11: The country-pop whiners cancelled a sold-out performance last year because of lead singer Gary LeVox's "severe bronchitis." Clay Walker, Jack Ingram and Joe Nichols were called in as replacements just a few hours before showtime. Many fans were miffed, which makes this year's show a pivotal one for the group.

• John Fogerty, March 12: The CCR frontman enjoyed newfound buzz with the release of last year's Revival solo disc. He returns after a 2006 performance.

• Toby Keith, March 13: Appearance No. 6 for the gruff country boy, whose recent Love Me If You Can was a chart-topper.

• Clay Walker, March 14: The Houston native makes his 15th appearance. Last year, he performed a week after his grandmother's death and was overcome by emotion.

• Brad Paisley, March 15: Paisley is one of the biggest -- and best -- names in mainstream country. This is only his third appearance but should be a highlight.

• Duelo/Los Horoscopos de Durango, March 16: Go Tejano Day pairs Duelo, who performed in 2005, with the female-fronted Horoscopos, who are making their debut. Technically, however, neither group falls under the "Tejano" banner.

• Miranda Lambert, March 17: The Longview-born, Lindale-bred singer makes her RodeoHouston debut on the heels of sophomore disc Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, one of last year's best albums. Her searing, assured performance at October's Big State Festival was a perfect teaser.

• Big & Rich, March 18: Nashville's tiresome party boys return for a second RodeoHouston date. Save yourself, go another night.

• Fergie, March 19: Radio's most ubiquitous female singer brings her disposable pop to the Rodeo masses. At least Will.i.am won't be there.

• Dierks Bentley, March 20: Bentley is one of contemporary country music's most engaging performers. His tunes (thankfully) don't rely on cheap sentiment or naive patriotism to sway fans.

• Pat Green, March 21: It's year No. 7 for the Texas music hero, whose fans are split between those excited by his breakout success and those who think his sound was dulled by national exposure.

• Brooks & Dunn, March 22: This year's vets have played RodeoHouston since 1992, with only minor changes to their set. Don't expect anything different this year.

Individual tickets are $16-$300 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at ticketmaster.com or by calling 713-629-3700.

Tickets will also be on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Macy's, Fiesta and select f.y.e., Wherehouse Music and HEB stores. Outlets will distribute linestubs beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

There is a 10-ticket limit for McGraw, Hill, Rascal Flatts and Fergie.

The Reliant Park box office will begin seilling tickets Monday with no service charge.

 

I saw Duran Duran and Def Lepard there in the same year. Two great concerts. I saw Beyonce last year and enjoyed that as well. Nothing excites me about this years lineup.

 

And when I think of Fergie I think of...

 

I don't know where the rap/hip hop came from:

• Dierks Bentley, March 20: Bentley is one of contemporary country music's most engaging performers. His tunes (thankfully) don't rely on cheap sentiment or naive patriotism to sway fans.

 

Tell me about it. Where the f is Tay Zonday????