Beer, broads & bucking broncos

CultureMap's first-ever Night at the Movies uncuffs the convict sweethearts ofthe rodeo

Behind the walls of an Oklahoma prison, there's a cowgirl a-brewin'.
Rodeo practice makes rodeo perfect.
Director Bradley Beesley will be on hand to chat with you at CultureMap's Nightat the Movies.
Photo by John Anderson
Go behind the scenes of the only behind-the-walls rodeo in the world.
The women have described the rodeo experience as "the first time ever in my lifethat I've felt free."
Foxie, one of the inmates, said, "There's more to life out there."
Oklahoma is the number one state to send women to prison.

When you hear "Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo," do you chuckle? Scoff? Snort? Guffaw?

CultureMap's resident cinephile, Joe Leydon, understands completely.

"I thought it was ridiculous," Leydon admitted about the name of the film. "But the title was enough to grab my attention. And when I found out director Bradley Beesley was associated with it, that made it a no-brainer must-see."

Now he wants share with you why what could've been a "freak show" of a flick was so unavoidably compelling.

Starting this Wednesday with Leydon at the helm, we launch the first-ever CultureMap Night at the Movies.

The monthly series, convening at the hallowed Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks, will "bring films to Houston audiences that haven't made it onto the radar," according to Leydon. With the Angelika Film Center closed, nights like these take on added significance.

If you're of the savvy movie-goer variety, we know you already religiously refresh the Rice Media Center and MFAH websites. And we know you're first in line at events like the Cinema Arts Society Festival. We wouldn't even dream of luring you away from those stalwarts of motion picture mastery.

"But many features are like Cinderellas that never get taken to the ball," explained Leydon. And CultureMap Night at the Movies wants to celebrate those wallflower beauties with a glittering spotlight.

Enter the belle of our inaugural ball — Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo, a surprisingly poignant film that skirts the prison walls with convict cowgirls in their quest to compete in the only "behind the walls rodeo in the world," the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo.

"Beesley demonstrates a real empathy for his subjects, and remains objective at the same time. He presents the characters more vividly than most fiction," Leydon said.

Indeed, if you've ever seen Beesley's work — a little video about The Flaming Lips comes to mind — then you'll understand how well the anti-Will Rogers of Oklahoma connects an audience with the personalities on screen.

But why convicts? Why Oklahoma? Was Beesley ever afraid for himself? Was he afraid for the safety of the convicts in the wild, wild world of rodeo?

We're not sure, partner. But Beesley will appear with Leydon at the Wednesday evening screening, and take questions following the show. So why don't you go ask him yourself?

Only at CultureMap Night at the Movies can you pair beer, broads, and bucking broncos. Broaden your horizons outside the loop, and flex the film fanatic in you.

See you at the cinema.

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Concert New

British pop star Niall Horan invites Houston to his Dinner Party tour

Photo courtesy of Niall Horan

Pop singer Niall Horan will play at Dickies Arena on May 2, 2027.

British pop singer Niall Horan will go on the road with the North American leg of his Dinner Party Live On Tour in 2027, which will include a stop at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, May 1.

The all-arena tour will travel to 26 cities in the United States and Canada over the course of two-plus months, starting in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 27 and ending in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 29.

The tour, which will also go to Fort Worth on May 2 and Austin on May 14, is in support of his Horan's new album, Dinner Party, which will be released on June 5, 2026.

It officially kicks off in England on September 22, 2026 with a 25-date U.K./Europe leg lasting until November 16.

Horan is also co-headlining two stadium shows with Thomas Rhett this summer: At Nashville’s GEODIS Park on July 9 and Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania on July 18.

Since One Direction broke up in 2016, Horan has released three solo albums, with each making the top 5 on album charts in the U.S., the U.K., and his native Ireland. His biggest hit in the U.S. remains "Slow Hands" in 2017.

Tickets for the tour will be available starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, May 12 at 10 am, followed by an artist presale on Wednesday, May 13 at 10 am.

Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, May 15 at 10 am at livenation.com.

NIALL HORAN DINNER PARTY LIVE ON TOUR – NORTH AMERICA 2027

3/17 – St. Paul, MN – Grand Casino Arena
3/19 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
3/20 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
3/23 – Chicago, IL – United Center
3/26 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
3/27 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
3/30 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
4/2 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
4/4 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
4/8 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
4/12 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
4/13 – Hartford, CT – PeoplesBank Arena
4/15 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
4/17 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center
4/28 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
4/29 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
5/1 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
5/2 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
5/14 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
5/16 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
5/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
5/20 – Phoenix, AZ – Mortgage Matchup Center
5/22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
5/25 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
5/27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
5/29 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

concerts music