Chancy J. Gatlin-Anderson
Special to Colorado Community Media
By the end of the June 2 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo concert, the Casey Jones Park rodeo arena was standing room only.
The evening of music began with Thomas Mac, an up-and-coming country artist. With 3.4 million followers on TikTok, he’s become a trending country music sensation. He was offered his first record deal at age 20 and performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage that same year. Mac entertained the Stampede crowd with several hilarious songs, most of which centered around his love for beer.
Kylie Frey was next on the Elizabeth Stampede stage. Frey is a third-generation rodeo cowgirl and has notched four No. 1 songs ones on the Texas Regional Radio Report: “Rodeo Man,” “Too Bad” (with Randy Rogers), “One Night in Tulsa” and “Spur of the Moment.” “Spur of the Moment” holds the title of the fastest-rising No. 1 hit by a female artist in the chart’s history.
Country music star Ryan Hurd headlined the event with his indie-country fusion style. Hurd has nearly 700 million career streams worldwide and continues his hit-producing path with “Chasing After You,” which has amassed more than 150 million U.S. on-demand streams.
Food was abundant and the beer garden was packed. The concert lasted well into the night with concertgoers finally working their way home by midnight.
