• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    RodeoHouston 2018

    Here are the 10 hottest live music shows for RodeoHouston 2018

    Johnston Farrow
    Johnston Farrow
    Feb 28, 2018 | 2:48 pm

    For many, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is about the attractions, the midway, the animals, cowboys, and the food. However, central to all that is RodeoHouston, which will draw hundreds of thousands of attendees hoping to catch their favorite music act following the bull-riding, calf roping and chuckwagon races on the floor of the immense NRG Stadium.

    The organizers for RodeoHouston outdid themselves this year, not only bringing in a huge new stage with all the bells and whistles, but programming one of the most stacked country line-ups in recent memory. There’s also a mix of pop, soul, and Latin music to provide some variety for an increasingly diverse rodeo fanbase.

    Here are the shows CultureMap is most hyped to see over the course of the next 20 nights.

    Blake Shelton
    Thursday, March 1
    Blake Shelton was already pretty huge before he made it on television as a judge on The Voice. He's had 17 No. 1 country singles in a row, had that handsome cowboy charm and always pulled in gorgeous women. His turn on The Voice and tabloids made him a superstar, and it didn’t hurt that he continued to crank out the hits including “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” and “Neon Light.” This should be one of the biggest shows of RodeoHouston.

    For fans of: Reality singing competition shows, country ballads, rugged good looks
    Are there seats left?
    Yes, but they are either really expensive or really high up. Chute Seats & Upper Level are still available.

    Leon Bridges
    Friday, March 2
    Forget the controversy over this booking, Leon Bridges is a legit star, as anyone who saw him perform at Super Bowl Live can attest. Even though he has only one album to his credit, Coming Home, it’s a doozy that recalls a simpler time on the radio airwaves when Otis Redding and Sam Cooke ruled the airwaves. Don’t be surprised if this performance turns out to be one of the most talked about of the rodeo season.
    For fans of: Retro soul, killer vocals, oldies
    Are there seats left?
    Plenty. Chairman's Club, Chute Seats, Club, Loge & Upper Level

    Kelsea Ballerini
    ​Saturday, March 3
    Want to see a star before she goes supernova? Kelsea Ballerini is on the same track to blowing up like her predecessor, Taylor Swift. She started writing her own songs when she was a teenager, moved to Nashville before she could drive, and signed a record deal when most kids were graduating high school. She’s one pop record detour and a few celebrity boyfriends away from being massive. Be there to say you saw her before she is selling out stadiums on her own accord.
    For fans of: Tay-tay before she went pop, fresh new country faces
    Are there seats left?
    Yes. Chairman's Club, Chutes Seats, Club & Upper Level

    Alessia Cara
    Sunday, March 4
    The Grammy award winner for Best New Artist comes into RodeoHouston on a hot streak, having been featured on the extremely popular Moana soundtrack and the world beating, suicide awareness Logic track, "1-800-273-8255." Her R&B pop tunes add a nice change of pace in a sea of country performers and her positive message with make the Sunday slot one for families to attend, so expect a fun, entertaining set from the Canadian pop star.
    For fans of: The Moana soundtrack, pop radio, Canadians
    Are there seats left?
    Expect these seats to go fast closer to show time. Chairman's Club, Chutes Seats, Club & Upper Level

    Luke Bryan
    Thursday, March 8
    Few country artists make the audiences swoon more than Luke Bryan, who has brought some sexy back to the often earnest country genre that often prefers rein it in and let the songs do the talking. But Bryan's live show has brought the ladies flocking (and probably a few dudes too) and he's been rewarded with the CMT Award for Entertainer of the Year.

    And while Bryan can write a country ballad with the best of them, he's more apt to let the good times roll, evidenced by him naming albums, Spring Break...Checkin' Out. While that may draw the side-eye from country purists, those who bought any of his sevem million album sales will surely be ready to get down with him when he hits the stage at RodeoHouston.
    For fans of: Hip-grinding, a little spice with their country, nice smiles
    Are there seats left?
    They're going fast. Chute Seats, Standing Room Only & Singles

    Zac Brown Band
    Monday, March 12
    The Zac Brown Band makes a return appearance following their 2017 set and is widely revered as one of the better live country bands performing today. The eight-piece Atlanta-based outfit mixes a lot of sounds into it's brew of Southern roots music, which has found them writing songs with such varied artists such as Jimmy Buffett, the jam-focused String Cheese Incident, and the late rocker Chris Cornell. Expect to hear old favorites and new songs from 2017's hit Welcome Home.
    For fans of: Jamming out, eclectic sounds, tattoos
    Are there seats left?
    Lots to choose from. Chairman's Club, Chutes Seats & Upper Level

    OneRepublic
    Wednesday, March 14
    OneRepublic fits into the Blink-182 rock slot of this year's edition of RodeoHouston, offering up a palate cleanser after all the country ballads. This Colorado Springs, Colorado pop-rock band hit the big time with their 2013 hit "Counting Stars," but they've actually been making waves since their Timbaland remixed 2007 hit "Apologize." Both those songs hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 Billboard charts.

    While some country die-hards might be scratching their heads, asking themselves who these guys are, guaranteed you've heard their songs blaring from Top 40 radio stations for sometime now.
    For fans of: Rock and pop radio, the Mumford and Sons, astronomy
    Are there seats left?
    Plenty. Chairman's Club, Chutes Seats, Club & Upper Level

    Keith Urban
    Thursday, March 15
    It's not an awards show without seeing Keith Urban with his famous movie-star wife, two people who are way better looking than anyone has the right to be. But Urban was famous on his own right before marrying Nicole Kidman, the Australian infiltrating Nashville to be a country mainstay, with his 2002 album Golden Road being named by Billboard as the biggest country hit of the decade.

    He's produced over 20 No. 1 country singles and continues to produce at a prolific rate that almost matches his awards show appearances. Oh yeah, and the 2017 CMT Favorite Male Country Artist puts on one helluva show too.
    For fans of: Academy award-winning actresses, country dudes with hipster haircuts, funny accents
    Are there seats left?
    Yes, but they are going quickly. Chairman's Club, Chutes Seats & Upper Level

    Chris Stapleton
    Friday, March 16
    No other C&W star is making bigger waves than Christ Stapleton, who has made friends with the world's biggest pop stars in Justin Timberlake, even appearing on the former boy band star's new album. But it's his music and killer, old-time country voice that is winning millions of new fans.

    Having spent years writing songs for country hitmakers, Stapleton hit the jackpot with the excellent 2015 release Traveller and the two volume 2017 set From A Room. RodeoHouston smartly brought him back after a well-received 2017 set. Expect this show to sell out by the time March 16 comes around.
    For fans of: The Highwaymen, '70s rebel country music, Justin Timberlake
    Are there seats left?
    Hardly. This is one of the most in-demand shows of RodeoHouston. Standing room only.

    Garth Brooks
    Sunday, March 18
    This is how you start and end with a bang — by booking not only the highest-selling artist in country music, but the highest selling solo artist of all time (170 million albums sold) for not one, but two shows. (As we reported, Brooks brought the house down on RodeoHouston’s epic opening night.)

    How did the unassuming Oklahoman get to be so massive? For starters, he knows his way around a melody and his numerous hits showcase an aptitude to pluck the heartstrings of the common man better than anyone else. Expect to hear all your favorites from “The Dance,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Two Pina Coladas,” “Friends In Low Places,” and many more.
    For fans of: The merging of old and new country into a powerhouse mainstream crossover behemoth
    Are there seats left?
    The resale market is the only place to find them, going for as little as $59 plus fees for nosebleed seats and as much as $473 plus fees for prime spots down front.

    The Voice judge and Gwen Stefani beau Blake Shelton performs on Thursday, March 1.

    Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo RodeoHouston entertainers January 2015 Blake Shelton
      
    Photo courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
    The Voice judge and Gwen Stefani beau Blake Shelton performs on Thursday, March 1.
    concertsmusichouston-rodeo
    news/entertainment
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    Movie Review

    How to Train Your Dragon remake puts a fresh twist on the original

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 12, 2025 | 4:14 pm
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon
    Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon.

    Let’s get it out of the way right at the top: The new live-action How to Train Your Dragon, coming a mere 15 years after the original animated film, serves no real purpose other than to make more money for Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures. However, unlike Disney’s approach toward remaking their animated movies, this attempt manages to succeed on its own merits instead of being a half-baked vessel for nostalgia.

    As fans will remember, Hiccup (Mason Thames) lives in Berk, a town on a remote island populated by Vikings who constantly have to defend themselves against rampaging dragons. Hiccup’s dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is the community’s vaunted leader, with a legacy that seems impossible for Hiccup to measure up to, especially since he’s stuck in the armory alongside Gobber (Nick Frost).

    But Hiccup has a knack for inventions, and his use of one new weapon during a dragon attack takes down a feared Night Fury. Finding the wounded dragon deep in the forest, Hiccup decides against killing it, leading to an unexpected bond between the two of them. Most of the film shows Hiccup trying to prove himself to his townspeople, including the fierce Astrid (Nico Parker), while also nursing the dragon he dubs Toothless back to health with the help of another one of his ingenious creations.

    Written and directed by Dean DeBlois (who’s had the same roles on all four HTTYD films), the film is most notable for how engaging it is despite it retelling a story many already know and love. The biggest reason for this is a pivot away from telling a story mainly for kids toward one that feels like an extremely light version of Game of Thrones. Almost right away, there are real stakes for the people in the film, and the way DeBlois and his team stage the scenes, the danger can be felt by the audience.

    This sense of “realness” comes through especially well in the scenes between Hiccup and Toothless. The design of Toothless is faithful to the original, but the CGI makes the dragon feel amazingly believable. And when they start flying, the film literally and metaphorically takes off. At multiple points, the camera seems to have trouble keeping them in frame, a smart move toward verisimilitude when the filmmakers clearly could have made it an overly smooth watching experience.

    Even though it’s more serious than the original, the film still has plenty of fun to offer. Characters like Gobber (who replaces his two missing limbs with odd contraptions) and the ragtag group of teenagers who come to be in awe of Hiccup’s skills at taming dragons provide more than a few laughs. Hiccup isn’t quite as goofy as he was when voiced by Jay Baruchel, which turns out to be a good thing as his sense of purpose amps up the drama of the story.

    Thames’ performance gets better and better as the film goes along, as Hiccup goes from town whipping boy toward hero. He really shines in the last act when he’s given a few scenes that show off his acting range. Parker is equally good, demonstrating the girl power needed for the role, but also the softness of a potential love interest. Butler, the only actor reprising their voice role, is a great presence who sells the outsized personality of Stoick.

    Against the odds, this new version of How to Train Your Dragon is equal to the success of the first film, accomplishing the goal of making it feel like you’re watching the story for the first time. If live-action remakes are going to continue to come out, future filmmakers should study this film for how to respect both the history of the franchise and the audience paying good money to be entertained.

    ---

    How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters on June 13.

    moviesfilm
    news/entertainment
    Loading...