PRCA Concerts take over the Cowboy Capital

LINDSEY HUGHES
Art Director

It is that time of year again, the season when cowboys and cowgirls come from all over to perform at the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo. This year the rodeo fell on September 17-26.  

The Cowboy Capital Pro Rodeo Association was formed in the winter of 2013 from the foundation of the Erath County Livestock Association. 

Since the founding year, the week of the rodeo has been deemed “Rodeo Heritage Days” and serves as a way to celebrate and appreciate the history of rodeo.

 Along with many fun events, “Rodeo Heritage Days” also includes a string of concerts, all of which happen after the days of rodeo events. 

The 2026 Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA rodeo is no exception and has featured a fantastic lineup of both up-and-coming and established names in the country music scene. 

Shows from Gage Gardiner and Jake Hooker started rodeo week off on the right foot, with performances from Kevin Fowler, Carson Jeffery and Wade Forester happening later in the week.

Gage Gardiner is a rising country music artist from a small town in Kansas and is experiencing much growth as he has performed on stage at Globe Life Field at the American Post Show. His motto is “Faith, Grit & a Six-String,” and that stands true to the way that he goes about his music career. 

Jake Hooker, from Jake Hooker and the Outsiders, is a rising country star with a lifelong connection to the Texas rodeo culture. He moved to Fort Worth in 1998, where he settled down as a Ferrier with his wife Sheila. 

He has won many awards throughout his career, including the 2019 Cowtown Society of Western Music Heroes Award, 2020 and 2024 Texas Country Music Association Western Swing Artist of the Year and 2022 Official Country Music Association of Texas Traditional Country Artist of the Year, among many others. Jake was also inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame as the 2024 Star of Texas. 

Kevin Fowler is a big Texas country music hit, known for honky-tonk, rowdy shows and was formerly a rock guitarist. He has released five albums and has had four singles chart on Billboard Hot Country Songs, and his single, "Here's To Me and You," peaked at No. 1 on the Texas Country Music Chart.

Carson Jeffrey is a Texas-born and raised country singer-songwriter from Cat Spring. He works full-time as a rancher and cowboy when he’s not on the road for his music. His single “Ranch Girl Dream” in 2019 was his breakout hit, with songs like “Mrs. Lonely” and “Need Your Love” gaining popularity in the following years. 

Lastly, Wade Forester, originally from Australia, began rising in popularity in 2022 when his first album came out. His single “Anytime, Anywhere, Antoinette” debuted at No. 17 on the Australian Artist ARIA Charts. 

His Aftermath Tour is currently in full swing, where he has taken his talents to North America for the first time. 

In July 2026, he also announced his first collaboration with Treaty Oak Revival, titled “Can of Worms,” which ended up becoming widely popular. Forster has amassed over a million monthly listeners on Spotify and Apple Music, and his music career is just starting. 

The PRCA Cowboy Capital Rodeo was a hit in many ways this year, but the music lineup certainly did not disappoint.