September 2018 32 Sponsored by Cowtown Boots • Phoenix • Tempe • Tucson 96.3 Real Country Concert Page Venue: Ak-Chin Pavilion 2121 N 83rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85035 (602) 254-7200, ak-chinpavilion.com RASCAL FLATTS September 13, 2018 Known as the best-selling country vocal group of the past decade, Rascal Flatts has sold over 23.4 million albums, as well as earning over 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People's Choice and more, also making them the most awarded country group of the past decade. Don't miss them out in support of their tenth album, Back To Us! Venue: T-Mobile Arena 3780 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158 (702) 692-1600, t-mobilearena.com GEORGE STRAIT December 7 & 8, 2018 The success attained by the legendary George Strait has been virtually endless, and rightfully so. Affectionately known as the “King of Country,” Strait’s legacy is one that will be tough to top, as his long-running reign over the genre has resulted in insurmountable accomplishments that include numerous CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, a record-setting number of chart-topping albums and songs, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and he has been certified as one of the best-selling artists in the history of American music. Though George Strait claimed he would retire in 2017, he still tours and plays shows for his residency in Las Vegas. Venue: Ak-Chin Pavilion 2121 N 83rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85035 (602) 254-7200, ak-chinpavilion.com DIERKS BENTLEY September 29, 2018 Country music singer. Born November 20, 1975, in Phoenix, Arizona. Inheriting a love of music from his father, Bentley picked up his first instrument, an electric guitar, at age 13. After graduating from a prestigious East Coast prep school and attending Vanderbilt University, Bentley dropped out of college to pursue a career in music. Bentley became the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry when he was inducted on October 1, 2005. That year, he won the CMA Horizon Award. His first DVD, The Dierks Bentley Experience, was filmed in 2006 in Denver, Colorado. In 2009, Bentley released another hit album, Feel That Fire. He had two number one hits from the recording: the title track and "Sideways." His musical style has been compared to such country legends as Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. Bentley's sixth album, Home, released in 2012, featured a dozen new songs that the singer road-tested on tour. It was an eclectic and varied affair, with guest spots from Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild as well as Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush, among others. Capitol issued his self-funded EP, Country and Cold Cans, that summer, and before long he had begun sessions for what would be his seventh full-length release for the label in 11 years. "Bourbon in Kentucky," a duet with Kacey Musgraves, was the first single from the sessions, but it flopped upon its June 2013 release, going no further than number 40 on the Billboard Country charts. A second single, "I Hold On," quickly followed and went into the Top Ten, but the lack of success of "Bourbon in Kentucky" was a factor in pushing back the release of Riser; it didn't appear until February 2014. Bentley rebounded with Riser, however. The album debuted at number one on Billboard's Country charts -- it went to six on the Top 200 -- and generated three major hits: "I Hold On" and "Drunk on a Plane," which both peaked at three on the U.S. Hot Country chart and went platinum, and "Say You Do" which topped out at five. The title track sustained momentum on radio in 2015, and in early 2016, he returned with "Somewhere on a Beach," the first single from his eighth album, Black. Both the single and subsequent album topped Billboard's country charts with Black also landing the number two spot on the Top 200. Bentley returned in early 2018 with "Women, Amen," the lead single from his forthcoming album The Mountain. Venue: Chandler Center For The Arts 250 N Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ 85225 (480) 782-2680, chandlercenter.org TRAVIS TRITT November 2, 2018 Established country singer Travis Tritt has delivered a healthy dose of mainstream country with Southern rock influence to ticket holders nationwide since his 1990 arrival with the double-platinum debut “Country Club.” The only hat-less country star of that era (consider his counterparts Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson, for example), the Georgia-born performer has stayed busy ever since. His extensive discography is comprised of 11 studio releases and 39 singles that made it onto Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “Can I Trust You With My Heart,” “Anymore” and “T-R-O- U-B-L-E” are among the most popular Tritt hits.