The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo isn’t just about the ropin’ and ridin’ anymore.
For the past four years, the Santa Maria Elks Club’s annual rodeo has ramped up its entertainment offerings, scheduling live music before each rodeo event at the Elks Unocal Center just off Highway 101. This is all part of the new direction of the annual event, explained Elks publicity manager Johnna Clark.
“We’ve really re-invented the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo to be about family entertainment, so we’ve really strived hard to make sure there really, truly is something for everyone at the rodeo,” Clark said. “It’s about creating an experience for everybody, and of course music and entertainment is a huge piece of that.”
The Elks teamed up with Sunny County 102.5 FM to connect with big-name touring acts. This year will see performances by well-known country acts Josh Gracin and The Railers.
Gracin is a former U.S. Marine Corps member who became popular as a musician after placing fourth on the second season of American Idol. The Railers are a killer three-piece that play danceable country pop whose songs are making a splash on country charts.
“As the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo has grown, so has the reputation,” Clark said. “These artists are actually looking to come to this area because the rodeo is becoming so popular.”
But one of the busiest nights at the Elks Rodeo—that’s Saturday, which is on June 3 this year—will feature a local boy with some country twang.
JD Hardy is an Arroyo Grande-based country singer and songwriter who performed for the Elks at the rodeo dinner and dance event at the Elks Club last year.
“It was the first time I really realized that the Santa Maria and Orcutt area has a huge country following,” Hardy said. “They were a fun crowd, singing all the words to every song I was playing, dancing, and having a great time.”
Hardy was slated to play the at the banquet hall again this year, but was moved to the rodeo’smain stage at the behest of Sunny Country’s Jay Turner and Pepper Daniels, he said.
He has performed at other rodeos before, which have a different feel than other shows, Hardy said.
“It’s a guaranteed country crowd, and it’s a guaranteed party crowd because that’s what they’re there to do,” he said. “There’s nothing better for a musician or an artist, to play in front of that type of crowd. It’s the best feeling ever.”
Hardy said that his role as the pre-rodeo performer is to get everyone there ready for the show.
He’s even got a few rodeo songs handy, like one called “Ride On” that “really get’s you pumped.”
“I think it has a place in the whole lineup. It sets the tone and gets the audience prepared to enjoy the rodeo to its fullest,” he said. “It’s about bringing the good ole country music, getting them energized and ready to yell and scream for their favorite cowboys and cowgirls.”
Managing Editor Joe Payne can tickle some honky-tonk on the piano. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 1-8, 2017.