Medicine Hat Stampede Queen, Emma Atkinson (right), and Princess Caitlyn O'Connor, pose with the newly unveiled show poster for the 2024 Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede set to take place July 24-27.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A little bit country, and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll… or, make that a whole lotta both in the lineup or the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s grandstand shows this summer.
Country acts Washboard Union and the James Barker Band will headline the annual night-show lineup, unveiled Tuesday morning, while ’80s rock legend Bret Michaels will provide an opening night performance at the late-July fair.
“The earlier we get going on it the better,” said Ron Edwards, the Stampede’s general manager. “We’re ahead of the game this year and pretty excited about all the entertainment, rodeo and chuckwagon races.”
The lineup was unveiled Tuesday morning at the Stampede board room for major sponsors and the media.
Three-night ticket packages for music shows at $199 per seat go on sale Friday.
That includes Canadian country and Juno award-winning band Washboard Union, which will perform Thursday night, following the early opening go-round of the professional rodeo.
The James Barker Band, another Canadian country act honoured the Juno and CCMA awards, performs on the closing night, Saturday, July 27.
Opening the week’s musical festivities will be Michaels, the frontman for hair-medal rock troupe Poison. The band charted a No. 1 hit with “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,’ along with other radio-friendly classic rock hits “Unskinny Bop,” “Talk Dirty to Me,” and “Nothin’ But A Good Time.”
Their sophomore album, “Open Up and Say Ahhhh” was certified five-times platinum, and sold 50 million copies.
Since the early 2000s Michaels has continued with a solo career and appearances on reality TV.
New board president Byron Cavan said the whole organization is looking forward to a slate of events in 2024, including the indoor rodeo and chuckwagon racing leading up to the fair from July 24-27.
Other major events for the coming year were also outlined Tuesday:
– The Broncs and Honky Tonks Spring rodeo will be held April 19-21 at the Cypress Centre fieldhouse.
– WPCA Chuckwagon tour will race in Medicine Hat on June 20-23.
Tickets for all events are available for purchase Friday.
