Ty Herndon featured at TGRA Music Festival
Announces Texas Tradition Rodeo venue change
(Dallas) The Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) has announced a venue change and entertainment lineup for the Texas Tradition Rodeo, Music Fest and Fair. With the addition of national recording artist Ty Herndon, Texas favorite Weldon Henson, other regional bands and a jackpot barrel race, weekend events are expected to increase traffic significantly. Therefore, TGRA events have moved to Fair Park Coliseum, 1438 Coliseum Drive, Dallas, Texas that will accommodate the larger capacity. Texas Tradition Rodeo events begin Thursday April 30 and run until Sunday May 3.
“TGRA is committed to producing an excellent rodeo and music festival for our contestants and spectators and we felt that the Fair Park Coliseum would more than meet our requirements,” said Dan Nagel, co-rodeo director, “We held our event there in 2014 and it worked out very well.”
Ty Herndon:Ty Herndon has had several country music hits ranging from “What Matters Most” in 1995 to his most recent, “Lies I Told Myself” in 2013. Altogether, Herndon has charted a total of 17 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list.
After graduation from high school, Herndon moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music and after several years moved to Texas. There he met with success on the honky-tonk circuit where in 1993, he won Texas Entertainer of the Year. In a People Magazine interview on November 20, 2014, Herndon came out as a gay man who is in a committed relationship with a longtime partner.
Music Festival: Also scheduled to perform is Weldon Henson, a favorite on the Texas music scene and frequent performer at famous Austin and Luckenbach Texas dance halls. Henson is known for his ability to get people on the dance floor with familiar and original songs ranging from country two-step, waltz, to polka. Henson highlights Saturday events with a barn dance at the Fair Park grounds. Regional favorites Big City Outlaws, Donovan Marcelle and Time Machine will also be a part of the weekend performance of bands and singers on the Coors Light stage.
Barrel Race: There will be a 5D jackpot barrel race on Friday May 1, featuring some of the very best racers in North Texas competing for the top prizes. This event has additional $1,000 prize sponsored for the race, which begins at 4 pm in the Coliseum.
Added Contestant Money: For the 2015 edition of A Texas Tradition Rodeo, TGRA has $6,000 in added prize money covering several events including rough stock, speed and roping events. This is in addition to the $2,000 shared added money with DSRA's Rodeo in the Rock for the high point speed event competitors at both rodeos. Details on added prize money can be found on the rodeo websites including www.tgra.org.
TGRA Royalty Competition: The annual TGRA royalty competition will be held this same weekend as well. It will feature and recognize the accomplishments of the 2014 team as they complete their reign and the new team steps up. The Round Up Saloon will host the first night competition on Thursday April 30 and the finale is to be held at the Coliseum in Fair Park Friday, May 1st. This is to be followed by the Oklahoma Tea Party hosted by Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association members.
Fair Park Coliseum:The facility has hosted many rodeos and music events over the years and is a 28,000 sq. ft. arena with 7,000 available seats. It is located in the 277-acre Fair Park, which is home to the world's largest collection of art deco exhibit buildings, art and sculpture. The Coliseum has a long history of hosting great rodeo competitions including: the first National Finals Rodeo, the Juneteenth Rodeo, Cowboys of Color, Black Invitational Rodeo, TGRA, Youth Rodeo competitions and Lipizzaner horse shows. The venue would accommodate vendors, beer garden, music stage, bands and performers who will be entertaining the weekend of the rodeo.
Tickets and Information: Ticket prices for the event are $20 per day or $30 for the weekend package, which includes access to the concerts; including Ty Herndon, rodeo, and fair. Special VIP passes with a personal meet and greet are also available for purchase.
For more information on TGRA and A Texas Tradition Rodeo visit www.tgra.org.
About TGRA: TGRA, Inc. is a Texas 501 c 3 non-profit corporation dedicated to elevating the image of women and men in the field of rodeo. Our purposes are to promote and stage an annual rodeo in Texas and to encourage the participation of its members in western-related events and to engage in charitable activities. Founded in 1983, TGRA has donated nearly 2.9 million dollars to charity organizations though out its existence.
The Gayly – April 18, 2015 @ 1:45pm.