Britney Spears is coming to town, and she’s bringing a lot of baggage.

“The Circus Starring Britney Spears” is not a concert, it’s more of an extravaganza.

“The stage alone costs $10 million to build as an intricate jigsaw puzzle, and it costs $6 million a week just to keep the tour running with its road staff of 220 — plus the cast of circus performers! The stage gear, including sex swings, love couches, unicycles, stripper poles, a gold cage and giant picture frames, travels in some 3,000 rolling cases packed into 32 semis — plus wardrobe for Britney and the onstage performers,” according to the Las Vegas Deluxe.

The ringmaster will perform Tuesday at the BOK Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the show slated to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $39.50 to $497 plus fees.

This is her sixth world tour – the first in five years since The Onyx Hotel Tour. To date, The Circus Tour is the highest growwing tour of 2009. It was recently nominated for Billboard/Eventful Fans’ Choice competition for “Best Concert of the Year”

The Circus is split into four acts – Circus, House of Fun – Anything Goes, Freakshow/Peepshow, Electo Circ.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, the show “featured a plethora of outfit changes that ranged from revealing to very revealing — she donned a naughty policewoman’s outfit for closers “Womanizer” and “Circus,” a Madonna-esque swirl bra for “Radar” and an Indian-inspired look for her Bollywood remix of “Me Against the Music.”

The tour kicked off in New Orleans and eventually will include North America, Europe and Australia with plans to add Asia later. To date, Spears has sold more than 60 million albums. The latest – Circus – was released on Dec. 2, her birthday.

To purchase tickets, click here.

When four seriously legendary rockers form a band, they need a serious name.

And what’s better than Chickenfoot? Seriously?

As the band’s own web site states, “It’s a silly name for a band — and album — that kicks a donkey’s ass six ways to Sunday and back again. Maybe that’s because long before the four men who comprise Chickenfoot came together they already filled the pages of rock history with enough individual mind-blowing chapters to boggle the mind.”

Playing Monday at the Brady Theater, the group brings together some of the best rockers around.

There’s lead singer Sammy Hagar, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and former lead singer of Van Halen; guitarist Joe Satriani, a guitar god that great guitarists hope to be one day; Michael Anthony, founding member and former bassist for Van Halen; and drummer Chad Smith, of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame.

Their debut album – “Chickenfoot” (naturally) – sold more than 225,000 albums in one month. It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Indie charts and No. 4 on Billboard’s Album charts.

Their first television appearance was June 5 on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. And they’ve never looked back. Their North American tour started Aug. 2 and continues throughout the summer. They’ve constantly added dates, including a free show held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Chickenfoot’s first album is being hailed by critics. As Guitar Player states:

“The band’s bombastic debut CD pretty much proves Chickenfoot is a cohesive unit of amazing players who truly enjoy zoning into each other’s musical passions, and having one huge blast churning out rock and roll thrills.

“Modeled after Led Zeppelin’s riff-and-rhythm propelled onslaught, Chickenfoot evokes the raw, electric energy of the ‘70s bands expanding the vocabulary of blues rock, while simultaneously keeping the tones and grooves sharp and modern.”  

The band, like many, came together almost by accident.  They started with playing together at jam sessions at Hagar’s club, Cabo Wabo Cantina, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“After just a few songs, it became stunningly obvious that we shared an overall musical agenda. The only question was could we make a great album?” said Satriani in an interview.

Ticket Information:
Available at Reasor’s and Starship Records in Tulsa and Buy For Less locations in OKC. Charge by phone @ 866.977.6849 or online @ protix.com.
Tickets are $37.50 and $45.
 Doors open at 7pm.

For more on the band, visit their site at: http://www.chickenfoot.us

The inaugural Rock ‘n Rib Festival, a four-day food and music blast, kicks off Thursday adjacent to the BOK Center.

Presented by Rib Crib BBQ & Grill, the event starts at 11 a.m. and runs through Sunday. Patrons can enjoy four days of championship barbeque and performances by 13 regional bands.

Admission is free Thursday through Saturday before 1 p.m., courtesy of the Tulsa Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. It’s $3 any other time and kids under 12 get in free. The festival takes place on Third Street and Frisco Avenue. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Seven award-winning “pitmasters” from around the country will showcase their championship rib recipes and unique barbeque sauces. One vendor, Desperado’s BBQ of Hinckley, Ohio, took the top trophy at the “Best in the West Rib Cook-off” – the “Super Bowl” of the nation’s rib contests held annually on Labor Day Weekend in Reno, NV.

 “We’re pleased to partner with the BOK Center to present the first annual Rock ‘n Rib Festival,” said Bret Chandler, president and CEO of Rib Crib. “Tulsa has a rich history in quality barbecue cuisine and great music, and we look forward to the city of Tulsa enjoying both with us.”

There will be food for everyone, including barbeque ribs, shrimp, beef, and chicken, soft drinks, and Anheuser-Busch products available for purchase.

Guests to the festival are invited to stop by the Rib Crib Welcome Tent for appearances by the “Rib Crib Girls” and free giveaways including coupons, bibs, barbecue sauce, and gift certificates.

 Visitors can register for a chance to win a variety of prizes:

    * A catered party for up to 50 people hosted by the Rib Crib Competition BBQ Team ($1500 value)
    * A private suite for the Creed concert on October 9 at the BOK Center

Free live entertainment is scheduled daily on ONEOK Outdoor Stage, with Eric and the Blasters kicking off the event on Thursday, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Twelve other regional bands are slated to perform including Admiral Twin, Turnpike Troubadours, My Solstice, the Fabulous Midlife Crisis Band, and The Red Dirt Rangers.

 On Friday, at 7 p.m., “Live Bait,” a Jimmy Buffett tribute band from Tampa, will treat the crowd to a beach party atmosphere, complete with beach balls, a limbo stick, and colorful leis.

More information on the Rock ‘n Rib Festival and profiles of all rib vendors and an entertainment schedule are available at www.bokcenter.com.