Summer's biggest party in high gear

FORT MADISON – The summer party of summer parties is just weeks away and things are getting to be just a little crowded.
The Tri State Rodeo’s Summer Round-Up, and new to this year’s event, the Summer Smoke-Off, are just three weekends away and great tickets for this year’s eclectic lineup are still available, but going fast.
Event chair Tony Johnson said the event is growing in its second year and that’s reflected in the pace of sales.
‘We kind of changed things up this year with some non-traditional country and then some very traditional country,”  Johnson said. “We’re just trying to put together a show that has something for everyone in southeast Iowa.”
VIP tables for Friday’s show are completely sold out, but Johnson hinted that there may be a few spots left in the elevated, inclusive space for Saturday’s show.
It could a be Friday freak-out when Lil’ Jon hits the stage with the Ying-Yang Twins and Chiddy Bang. It’s sure to be high-octane and engaged when the rappers blow up the Shottenkirk Stage in the center of the C.E. “Eddie” Richards arena on the north side of Fort Madison at Rodeo Park.
Johnson and the TSR Roundup committee are building on the Tri-State Rodeo’s commitment to bringing national entertainment of all genres to southeast Iowa. At past rodeos, Johnson brought Nelly, who was insanely received at the rodeo, and Flo-Rida. Josh Denning kind of broke the mold when he brought in Smashmouth back in 2017.
Last year, the Summer Roundup tinkered around the edges with Dylan Scott, who would fit the non-traditional country music, but brought an electric show to the large crowd on the rodeo grounds.
“We've done the the hip-hop thing and Lil Jon was intriguing and available and we were looking to see what we could do a little different and I think this is going to be a great show,” Johnson said.
“It’ll be a great fit, you know, with them and Chiddy Bang and the Ying-Yang Twins. This is us continuing to see what's out there to offer more things for people than just country music. And I love country music. It’s all I listen to on a regular basis, but we wanna have something to bring everyone out.”
Saturday is back to the rodeo roots with Kameron Marlowe, Tyler Nance, and then Diamond Rio, who is certain to bring back the familiarity of the 1990s and 2000s when that ensemble was all over the country charts. Fans on the dirt and in the stands will harken back to those days and probably remember a few songs they’ve forgotten, Johnson said.
Marlowe has been around since 2019 when his debut single “Giving You Up’ ran up the charts. Johnson said Marlowe may have the most genuine voice in country music today and will impress those waiting for Diamond Rio.
“He is completely underrated and he’s been around for awhile.  He’s done some collaborations and now is really taking off on his own. If you look him up, there’s people that are saying that guy has the best voice in country music,” Johnson said.

The handle-barred Tyler Nance is also coming into his own with a style more like Tracy Lawrence, and just as strong song-writing.  He’s come into his own the last two years with hits “Keeps Me Sane”, “Whiskey Me or the Pain”, and “Here’s to Tomorrow”.
Diamond Rio will bring their epic playlist, including early stuff like “Meet in the Middle” released, unbelievably, 35 years ago. “Love a Little Stronger”, 1992s “In a Week or Two”, 1997s “Imagine That”, and 2002’s “I Believe.”
Remaining tickets can be found directly at the following link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/28207/tristate-rodeo.
The other new addition to this year’s event is the first annual Summer Roundup Smoke-Off. You don’t need to bring stogies, but if you’re in the campground that is quickly filling up for the weekend, go right ahead. This smoke-off is a professional BBQ competition on the grounds with a full slate of top notch area grill and smoke masters and you can stuff your face with samples from them all for just a $5 ticket. Attendees will also be able to vote on their favorite creations with $3,000 in prizes on the line. The event is sponsored by Josh Denning & Associates Ameriprise Financial and Fareway.
“We did add a new event this year, the TSR Smoke Out, our BBQ contest, and that’s been pretty well received. We have campers that will be rolling in for the weekend. I think we’re sitting around 30 campers already registered and we wanted to find something for them to do between Friday night's concerts and Saturday night's concerts so we decided to do a BBQ contest,” Johnson said.  
He said the event is something the rodeo committee has been looking at doing whether it was for rodeo and he felt the summer was a better place for a big BBQ.
“This is something I think we can grow, as well, just to kind of add to this whole summer roundup event. It will take place in the Bud Light stockyard pavilion on the south side of the grounds. And you get to vote for the People’s Choice Award," Johnson said.
And nothing goes off without some kind of music being pumped through the arena. Stumptown will be doing an acoustical set during the BBQ event which runs from 11 to 2 on Saturday. You can register for the BBQ contest at the following link: https://www.tsrsummerroundup.com/bbq-contest.
The rodeo grounds are then cleared for setting up the night show when gates will open back up at 5 p.m. for Saturday’s entertainment. A DJ will be pumping music in through the arena from the time the gate opens until the live music.
Food trucks and beverages will be available on site to keep everyone fed and hydrated.
The GM Giant Shottenkirk is the premiere sponsor of this year’s Roundup. Gold sponsors include Pilot Grove Savings Bank, City of Fort Madison, Baxter Construction, Golden Eagle Distributors, Josh Denning & Associates Ameriprise, Link Wealth Advisors Ameriprise, Connection Bank, Fort Madison Pallet Co., and NŨTRL.
Silver Sponsors include Huffman’s Farm and Home, Holtkamp’s Floors, Décor & Furniture, Menke & Company, W-M Johnson Truck Line, Catfish Bend Casino, Sullivan Auctioneers, Esta, Allen Blasting & Coating, Kempker True Value Rental.
Bronze sponsors include: Hy-Vee, Meller Excavating & Asphalt, State Farm-Jess Sutcliffe, Action Ag. Merit Auction, Kris and Tenneille Speer, Fareway Meat & Grocery, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, Dark Side Printing, and Seither & Cherry.
And Friends of TSR include: Schickedanz Construction, Farmers Savings Bank, Edward Jones-Tony Fullenkamp, Pen City Current, and All-American Sanitation.