Greeley Stampede kicks up the dust with additional free concert

Along with the Greeley Stampede’s packed schedule of events that includes the SuperStars Concert Series, PRCA ProRodeo, Carnival Americana and Heritage of Mexico Rodeo, visitors to the 2023 Greeley Stampede can enjoy free live entertainment on the CIVITAS Park Stage. This year, organizers of the Stampede have added Red Dirt Day to the lineup of free performances.

Red Dirt Day will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 2 with five up-and-coming artists.

Red Dirt country is considered a blend of Americana, folk, country, rock honky-tonk and bluegrass. Some simply refer to the genre as “country music with attitude.”

The genre’s name pays homage to the color of the soil in the area where and is where many acts got their start in bars surrounding Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Stillwater is considered to be the center of the rise of Red Dirt music.

Some of the instruments used in Red Dirt music are the fiddle, steel guitar, Dobro, harmonica, mandolin and banjo.

The Turnpike Troubadours, Kayla Ray, Whiskey Myers, Jamie Lin Wilson, Kaitlin Butts, Stoney LaRue, Mike McClure and Read Southall Band are just a few of the contemporary Red Dirt country artists.

“The Red Dirt Day is going to be a lot of fun featuring some very talented up and coming artists in one of country music’s most popular genres,” said Cory Sample, chairman of Music Production for the Stampede. “The best part, all of the music for Red Dirt Day is on the CIVITAS Park Stage which means it’s included with park admission.”

Artist Kylie Frey kicks things off at 5 p.m. followed by Tyler Halverson at 6:15 p.m.

With her single, “Red Dirt Cinderella” Frey showcases her melodious voice with flowing lyrics that have a hint of yodeling in them.

Hailing from South Dakota, Halverson puts a new spin on classic country and western music. Armed with a guitar and harmonica, Halverson weaves tales of life on the road traveling from rodeo to rodeo.

Oklahoma native Wyatt Flores takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. to introduce music fans to the style of music he grew up with traveling with his father who was a drummer in a Red Dirt music band. Flores is in the process of recording his first full length album, which is set for release in September.

“Losing Sleep, the album, is a time and place in my heart. I learned that sometimes not everyone can be loved,” Flores said on his website. “It’s homegrown and Oklahoma made and I hope folks see the originality behind it. I hope this project helps people get through the rough times in their life”

Kody West, a product of the state of Texas, is set to perform at 8:45 p.m. West began his foray into the music industry in 2014 taking on every acoustic gig he could get and entering numerous songwriting competitions. He released his first EP, “Higher Ground,” in 2016 and later went on to form a full band. West’s music style is classified as a “mix of Texas country and bluegrass with some good-for-the-soul-grooves.”

Tanner Usrey, who performed at the Moxi Theater on Feb. 24, wraps things up at 10 p.m. Usrey has been featured in “People” magazine and has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring

Jimmy Fallon.”

His single, “The Light” was featured in the fourth season the popular television series “Yellowstone.” Usrey is also a native Texan who offers music fans vocal stylings all his own, providing a wide range of songs from soft and soulful ballads to barn-burner jams.

Music fans can get a sneak peak of all the artists performing on Red Dirt Day, as well as artists appearing in the SuperStars Concert series, by checking out the Stampede’s custom iHeart playlist provided by Big 97.9 at ihr.fm/3L1YUAi.

Admission into the Greeley Stampede Park is $5 per person or if you plan on attending the Heritage of Mexico Rodeo for the day, admission to the rodeo and park is $15-$25 per person.

For more information on the 2023 Greeley Stampede, including announcements, schedule of events, FAQs, parking and more, go to www.greeleystampede.org.