The iconic group, widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in Red Dirt Music, will take the stage in place of country superstar Tim McGraw who has been forced to cancel his Fort Collins performance due to a recent back surgery. After a 15-year hiatus, Cross Canadian Ragweed played their first concerts in April at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, welcoming more than 185,000 fans at 4 sold-out shows. Known for their renown live performances, the band will open the two-day event at CSU pairing PBR with full blockbuster concerts. PBR and Cross Canadian Ragweed first crossed paths in 2005 when the band played at the official PBR After Party in Bentonville, Arkansas, following a PBR premier series event in nearby Springdale. PBR and Cross Canadian Ragweed partnered up at several other PBR events after that.
“Twenty years ago, Cross Canadian Ragweed brought the house down with an unforgettable after-party, and we immediately recognized the power of this up-and-coming band,” said Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of PBR. “We couldn’t be more pumped that the band is back together and have agreed to open the Last Cowboy Standing event in Fort Collins. It’s going to be an epic night of great music and the greatest bull riding on earth.”
The Western Sports Festival begins on July 21 at 7:30 p.m. MT with Round 1 of PBR’s Last Cowboy Standing. In this intense, ride-to-survive showdown, 35 of the world’s top bull riders will battle through a challenging two-night competition for their shot at a $100,000 first-place prize from the $200,000 total purse. The action continues July 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT with the dramatic conclusion of the grueling event, where only the toughest and most committed will remain in the hunt for the title. Each night wraps up with full 90-minute concerts: Cross Canadian Ragweed takes the stage after Round 1, while Jon Pardi brings the festival to a celebratory close following the championship round.
About Cross Canadian Ragweed
Formed in Yukon, Oklahoma in 1994 by band members who were childhood friends, Cross Country Ragweed is known for their blend of country and rock music, particularly within the Texas Red Dirt scene. The band consists of Cody Canada (lead vocals, lead guitar), Grady Cross (guitar), Randy Ragsdale (drums), and Jeremy Plato (bass). Blending different elements of rock, country and jam band music, they released seven studio albums and three live albums between 1994 and 2010, achieving significant success and helped define the Red Dirt genre. At their peak, the band played over 250 shows a year. While the band disbanded in 2010, they reunited in 2025 for sold-out stadium shows in Oklahoma and Texas.
About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 1,000 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. In 2022, the organization launched PBR Teams—10 teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship—as well as the PBR Challenger Series with more than 50 annual events nationwide. PBR events are broadcast on CBS Television Network and Paramount. PBR is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, X at X.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
