Arizona was built on the back of a horse, and we never let you forget it. Our rodeos are some of the oldest, biggest, and most authentic in the country — and they’re also where I do some of my favorite playing. Here’s your year-round guide to the ones worth saddling up for.
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros — the Tucson Rodeo — is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame event and one of the largest outdoor rodeos in the country, held every February. It turns the whole city into a western party for a week. Right around the same time, the Parada del Sol in Scottsdale brings a parade and rodeo that’s pure old-west charm.
As it warms up, the smaller community rodeos take over, and honestly, these are my favorite. They’re where you meet real ranch families and kids who’ve been riding since they could walk. Watch your local county fair calendars — these pop up across the state from spring through summer.
Come November, Florence hosts the Jr. Parada Rodeo at the Charles Whitlow Rodeo Arena — one of the oldest youth rodeos in the country, and a tradition I’m honored to play each year. If you want to feel small-town Arizona pride in its purest form, this is the weekend. You’ll find me on that stage.
The year wraps with the Arizona National Livestock Show in Phoenix, a massive celebration of ranching, 4-H, and FFA. Bring the family, walk the barns, and remember why this state runs deep in country roots. Want to know where I’m playing next? Check the shows page.
And if you’ve never watched the grand entry at a Tucson rodeo, do it once — then raise a glass to the cowboys and cowgirls who make it happen. My song Whiskey When I’m Gone has become a rodeo-night staple for me.