Join Waylon for This ‘Post’ Country Jam Tradition

Country Jam is only 14 days away (as of May 31). Then what? Once Country Jam is over, there's one more concert event I want you to catch. It's something of a tradition for me, and you should jump on the band wagon.

Reba and Brooks & Dunn added more dates to their Las Vegas residency. These would be dates in addition to the dates which are in addition to the extended dates they've already played. Every time you turn around they add dates to the calendar. What started as a short residency in Las Vegas has turned into a multi-year gig. Here are five reasons why you should make a Vegas run to see Reba your top priority.

Reba and Brooks & Dunn have set up shop in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The venue is awesome, the acts are great, and the ticket price is hard to beat.

I caught this show two years ago during the second portion of their residency. By that time, they had created a third leg, and now, they've added even more. I was able to catch it again in late 2016, and then again in June of 2017, right after County Jam.

Making the trek last year, we experienced 120 degree heat on I-15 just after you emerge from the canyons in the northwest corner of Arizona. Do you recall the part where you come out of the canyon and begin to approach the Nevada state line? Right there.

Fortunately, we were in a fairly-new rented Toyota Corolla with low miles. If we'd been in my truck with bald tires and 200,000 miles on the odometer, we probably would have found ourselves walking.

You may be asking yourself, "Hey, Waylon, why drive? Why Can't we fly?" Well, you can. In my opinion, though, the drive is half the fun. It's a peaceful, stress-relieving drive. Grand Junction to Las Vegas comes in at just about seven hours. If you stop in Mesquite for the very awesome restaurant just off I-15, it takes a little longer. If you stop at the fireworks mega-outlet between Mesquite and Las Vegas, it takes longer yet.

Here are five reasons why you should stop what you're doing and get tickets to see Reba in Las Vegas.

• The Colosseum is an awesome venue; there isn't a bad seat in the house. This is the right way to SEE Reba.
• The ticket price is pretty hard to beat. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any for $59 like past shows. The cheapest I've found for August are in the $78 range.
• Reba is at her best RIGHT NOW. Four decades of material and an intimate venue in which to present it.
• The show is a bit nostalgic, reflecting the mid-90's when Reba and Brooks & Dunn used to tour together. You know... back when Country music was GREAT!
• Reba is a world-class entertainer, period. It's always great to see her, but it's even better up close and personal.

Reba and Brooks & Dunn have extended their residency in Las Vegas through December 2018. Show dates include:

• August 15
• August 17
• August 18
• August 22
• August 24
• August 25
• October 10
• October 12
• October 13
• October 17
• October 19
• October 20
• December 5
• December 7
• December 8
• December 12
• December 14
• December 15

That's a whole bunch o' Reba. Certainly one of those will fit your schedule. I still highly recommend going in August. Yeah, that's a pretty big window between the Jam and August, but it'll give you time to recuperate.

In addition to Reba, there's one more reason to make the drive to Las Vegas. After you enjoy the concert, head over to the Mandalay Bay. On Fridays the casino hosts a free event called Nashville Unplugged. You don't need tickets, reservations, or any of that stuff. It's simply a chance for you to sit down and enjoy "Songwriters in the Round" with some of the biggest names in Country.

For many people, Country Jam is the only concert event they want to catch for the year. For the most part I can go along with this. There's still this matter of Reba.

Make plans to catch these shows. I don't work for Caesars or Mandalay Bay, and I'm not getting paid to promote them. I was a ticket-buying member of the audience all three times I went to the Reba. Speaking as someone who's worked in the concert business for the better part of 20 years, I'm here to tell you, it doesn't get any better.

Jump on board and make the trip to Las Vegas to catch Reba. I'm afraid you're on your own when it comes to tickets and travel arrangements. I drive a two-seater, and live on a budget. Make 2018 the best concert year ever with Country Jam followed by Reba in Las Vegas.