Friday Beach BBQ

Sponsored by HomoRodeo.com and CowboyFrank.net

Featuring Mike Shikora and other entertainers.

This is the motto songwriter/artist Mike Schikora has been living by for years now. Since then he has ridden his horse twice over the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, started a Half Arabian Sporthorse breeding business, founded and owns his own indie record label Front Range Records, and continues to write new songs for his own Publishing Company Tuck And Go Music.

Mike Schikora has come a long way since he first arrived in Nashville in 1987 where shortly after he landed a publishing deal as a staff songwriter. Fine tuning his writing paired with his powerful, unique high lonesome tenor Mike received a lot of attention during those 7 years spent in Nashville. Playing at all the clubs and getting passed on by all the major record labels didn't discourage his ambition. It made him stronger and more driven! Mike was ready to keep at it until a well known industry friend who he respected highly advised Mike he felt his songs were getting 'to Nashville' and some time spent off Music Row may do him some good. A hard decision, yet one Mike respected and honored.

A move to the Rocky mountains of Colorado proved to be exactly what Mike needed. Getting back to the mountains was reminiscent of Mike's youth growing up in the northwest logging town of Libby, Montana. Here Mike found inspiration to begin writing again!

Mike produced and self penned songs for his critically acclaimed debut CD released in 2008 titled WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN. Ventured outside of country in 2009 to co-produce a rocking blues CD titled ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS with friend and Colorado blues artist Becky Martinek. Then early 2010 Mike released his follow up sophmore CD to great reviews titled THIS COWBOYS IN LOVE.

Between his two passions, music and horses, keeping up with Mike these days is a fun challenge. His music seems to be dictating where he lands, and with what he is doing so far, the Colorado cowboy seems well on his way.

Friday Special IGRA Video Presentation followed by a Fashion Show and performances by the

DC Cowboys sponsored by Byusha Agave Drink.

As seen on NBC’s America's Got Talent season 3, the Closing Ceremonies of the Gay Games VII at Wrigley Field in Chicago, at the 2009 Sziget Festival's Magic Mirror tent in Budapest and on RSVP’s Caribbean Fantasy cruise, the DC Cowboys dance company is an all-male, performing arts organization for gay men in the Washington, DC–metropolitan area founded in 1994 by Kevin Platte.

Metro Weekly magazine has described the Cowboys’ style as a "trademark combo of Broadway-caliber verve, sizzling sex appeal and rugged good looks."

Internationally acclaimed, the DC Cowboys specialize in providing exciting, high-energy, professional dance numbers which span all musical genres from sexy club mixes to musical theater to contemporary country for all types of occasions. The company also provides free entertainment to HIV/AIDS charitable service organizations.

Founded in 1994, the DC Cowboys have been delighting audiences across the nation. "I thought that the idea of a ‘Cowboy-Broadway’ style dance group would be perfect entertainment for the Gay and Lesbian community", said founder and Artistic Director Kevin Platte. After their triumphant debut in Washington, DC at the 1994 Atlantic Stampede, the critical acclaim and extraordinary bookings have been continuous. Combining a little traditional country-western with jazz, musical theater, cabaret dance, and a masculine sex appeal which sets them apart from other dance groups, the DC Cowboys’ high-energy choreography thrills crowds wherever they entertain—around the Washington DC metropolitan area, across the US, in Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. As a grant recipient from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, the DC Cowboys have been honored for their valued contribution to the Washington, DC arts community.

Rockstar presents the Carter Twins

The Carter Twins Headline the IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals
by Joel Castillo

You may have heard them on the airways of country radio. Perhaps you’ve seen them featured in PEOPLE Magazine. You may have watched them on CMT. And now, you will get to know a little more about the up and coming Country Artists, The Carter Twins. These two fun and dynamic young men have a wicked sense of humor. When asked if they are identical or fraternal, Josh replied, "We are identical… I think... we never really found out but we say we are. We just cut our hair the same and people can't tell the difference... so, identical it is! Ha!"

Josh and Zach Carter made it to the heart of Country Music known as Nashville via their childhood in Akron, Ohio, and then Hilton Head, South Carolina. Or as Zach puts it, "by car... just kidding. No, we actually got singed to CMT half-way through our senior year in high school, we were living in South Carolina then. When we graduated, we move to Nashville three days later and started writing our album. Crazy but so fun!" Listed among their musical influences are a hodge-podge of music genres like Keith Urban, George Strait, John Mayer, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks and many more. Josh adds, "We are influenced by so many artists that it's hard to narrow it down."

Their mother worked in Country Radio and encouraged their musical interests. Zach stole time at her piano, "I would always take to it, write my own songs, and play for hours. I knew right away that music is what I wanted to do." Meanwhile, she taught Josh the Classic Rock hit "Stairway to Heaven" on the guitar and he has not put it down since.

The Carter Twins will be taking the Rockstar Main Stage by storm at the IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals at the AVI Resort in Laughlin, Nevada on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 8:00 PM. This is not the Twins’ first time at the rodeo. They performed at NFR last year in Las Vegas. "It was a blast," Josh said enthusiastically. When asked about their GLBT Fans, Josh said, "We’ve had lots of gay fans at our shows and hopefully they will come out and see us in Laughlin too! We’re always really excited to meet fans – whether it’s somebody new or a familiar face!" Zach adds, "You know, the cool thing about music is that it is universal.. it crosses all social borders. We are just a country band playing country music and we hope everyone likes what they hear!"

And we do. Their first single "Heart Like Memphis" has been well received on the charts. Their EP is available for download in iTunes and is worth every penny. I took a listen and I love it. I found a nice balance of melody, hook, and a beautiful harmonization of their voices. They loved hearing that review and Zach added, "We are so glad that fans took to it and liked it and made YouTube videos and fan pages and all different kinds of things. Such a cool thing. We are so blessed to have such great fans. We love all of them!"

Their follow-up smash "So What" has been released… accidentally. Josh said, "Well, we actually only released "So What" as a fan video on CMT about a year ago." Zach added, "We never really planned on it being a single or anything like that, we just wanted to make a fun video that catered to the fans. But, it did actually get played on radio a bit so we were excited!" Rounding out the Carter Twins EP are "Wish I Would’ve Kissed Her" and " Photo Booth."

Still settling into their new digs, Josh & Zach spent the summer months working with some of Music City’s best songwriters and crafting as many as 30 songs in just three months. Under the helm of Frank Rogers, Billboard Magazine’s #1 Country Music Producer, The Carter Twins are working hard on their debut full-length album. Josh continues, "We are still writing and recording the album now, so we don't have a release date yet. But, we will let you know as soon as we do!"

When asked about IGRA’s popular Camp Events like Wild Drag, Steer Decorating, and the crowd-favorite Goat Dressing, the Twins said, "We have not seen those events before! I bet those events are definitely entertaining though! Guess we’ll get to see it in October. We wish everyone the best of luck in each of their categories. And as for the aspiring musicians out there, we always say, play out as much as you can, in front of everyone… like they say, you never know who’s listening! We happened to experience that first hand."

Tickets for Saturday, October 23, 2010 are $15, $22, & $30. For online sales and more information about eh World Gay Rodeo Finals go to igra.com/finals.

Grandma Lee

BONKERZ COMEDY STATEMENT:
Joe Sanfelippo of Bonkerz Comedy:

America's Got Talent: Grandma Lee was seriously hurt this past weekend during rehearsals for the upcoming America's Got Talent Tour. On stage, Grandma Lee fell breaking her hip, shoulder, and wrist; three surgeries later, she is now healing in an Los Angeles hospital. Grandma Lee is deeply saddened that she will not be present at the World Gay Rodeo Finals, however she wishes all the contestant's the best of luck and appreciates the NGRA staff inviting her to be apart of the weekend festivities; she definitely wants to come back in 2011! Grandma Lee has asked Las Vegas' 2010 Excellence in Entertainment: Female Comedian of the Year - Kathleen Dunbar to fill her shoes.

Rockstar presents Kathleen Dunbar

Born in Wisconsin Kathleen is now located in fabulous Las Vegas. In 2004-2005 she starred in "Kathleen Dunbar's Divas of Comedy Show" at the Sahara Hotel. Jerry Fink of the Las Vegas Sun called Kathleen "one of the brightest comics". Las Vegas "What's On" magazine said "I think she's a sitcom waiting to happen". Currently she is headlining clubs and casinos across the country. Audiences love her edgy sarcastic style and is one the funniest female comics to hit the industry in years.

Many have said, "She's must be Karen Walker's double twin from Will & Grace!" "Outrageously Funny!" Recent Awards:

• 2010 Excellence in Entertainment: Female Comedian of the Year
• 2008 Excellence in Entertainment: Female Comedians of the Year
• 2007 Excellence in Entertainment: Female Comedian of the Year
• 2006 Favorite Comedy: Kathleen Dunbar "Divas of Comedy Show"
• 2003 Winner of Las Vegas Star Search