Award-winning country artist, John Michael Montgomery will headline at Harrahs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, in the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater. Tickets start at $25, call 702-298-8510.

This Kentucky natives exposure to music began at age five when he sang in his parents band. Since releasing his first debut single, Lifes a Dance in 1992, Montgomery has earned 15 number one singles and sold more than 16 million records. His album release in 2004 was Letters From Home.

Montgomery is known primarily as a balladeer and also as a skilled guitarist, who usually likes to close his shows with a searing guitar jam.

Roy Clark will perform at Don Laughlins Riverside Resort, Feb. 28-March 5. Tickets are $31, call 702-298-2535 or 928-763-7070.

Though he was raised in Washington, DC, Roy Clarks big break came in Las Vegas when he was asked to open for Wanda Jackson. His first hit was The Tips Of My Fingers, and more than 20 top twenty hits followed. Clark starred in the popular television show, Hee Haw, which premiered in 1969 and continued to air until 1992. Through all his fame, Roy Clark is still known for his down to earth personality and smile.

The Flamingo Laughlin's Flush on the River Poker Room offers daily Texas Hold Em one-hour, shoot-out tournaments starting at 8 a.m. with a $20 buy in. Between 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Dinner Hour Aces Cracked takes place and the winner takes home a $100 rack. From midnight to 2 a.m., you can play Late Night Aces Cracked for a $100 rack.

Another tournament coming up at the Flamingo will be Blackjack on June 10 and 11, with a $ 99 buy-in and a $15,000 prize. The Regional Million Dollar Three Card Poker Tournament will be held June 23 and 24. The buy-in is $249 and includes hotel room accommodations for three nights. The top 25 contestants in the tournament will compete in the finals that will be held in Las Vegas for a prize of one-million dollars.

During August, the Flamingo will host two more Three Card Poker Tournaments on Aug. 25 and 26, and Aug. 28 and 29. Buy-in to the August Three Card Tournaments is $199 and the prize is $40,000 per tournament. Next winter the Flamingo will be welcoming back their popular Let It Ride Tournament on Dec. 8 and 9 and Dec. 11 and 12. Buy-in before Nov. 1 is $149 and after that $249, and the prize money will also be $40,000 per tournament.

For more details, call 1-800-298-5111 or The Flush on the River Poker Room at 702-298-5055.

The Colorado Belle will hold its 6th Annual Battle of the Bands on Saturday, April 15, and feature a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes. Bands are invited to compete in one of three categoriesclassic rock, rock alternative or adult contemporary. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in each of the three categories.

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The outdoors Battle competition will begin at noon (PST) under a canopy in the Center Circle event area west of the casinos main entrance. Each band has up to 20 minutes to perform as many as four songs. First place in each category will pay $1,000 and two hours of recording time at Bump City Music in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Second place in each category will pay $500, and the third place band in each category will receive $250.

Also on April 15, the 11th Annual Colorado Belle Employee Chili Cook-Off will be held on the Riverwalk along the Colorado River and feature chili, salsa, and booth decorating competitions. After the judging, this event includes free samplings of salsa and chili.

The Riverside Resort will present Ragus, an Irish dance spectacular, March 14-19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $32, call 1-800-227-3849

The word Ragus is Gaelic for urge or desire and it captures the vibrant mood that this talented company of young musicians, singers and dancers create on stage. Inspired by the islanders of Inis in Galaway Bay, Ragus is a show of fast moving, traditional music and dance. This group is the torch-bearer of the culture of these celebrated and almost mythical islands of the West of Ireland.

Ragus reached an international audience with their live video that showcased their tremendous talent on stage. In an era where Irish trade has not only been revitalized in the country of its birth but has also become a box office smash on Broadway, Ragus encapsulates the newfound confidence in Irish heritage.

The Avi Kwa Ame Pow Wow will be held next weekend, Feb. 24-26, in the Special Events Area at the Avi or the new Event Center if its completed. This annual congregation of tribes from the Southwest has some events open to the public. Theres Bird Dancing on Friday at 7 p.m. in the River Garden Pavilion; Grand Entry on Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m.; and Gourd Dancing on both days in the afternoon. A two-day pass is $8.

In the South Parking Lot from March 3-19, the Spring Marketplace Extravaganza will take place and feature vendors selling all manner of wares and food. For vendor information, call 702-535-5536.

Entertainment in the River Garden Pavilion at 7 p.m. on March 3 and 4 will be Tennessee Three, which is a tribute to Johnny Cash. Tickets are $12.95 and Advantage Club members can buy-one and get-one ticket free.

Phoenix resident George MacDonald, LtCol USAF, Ret. will speak at the free American Veterans Program at the Ramada Express on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 a.m. (Nevada time). His subject is about living in a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines for three years as a child. Guests who attend the free speakers program and who donate $5 to the American Heroes Foundation receive a breakfast buffet coupon.

MacDonald was 11 years old and living in the Philippines with his American missionary parents and three siblings on Dec. 7, 1941. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, his family was among thousands imprisoned at Los Banos. Their spectacular rescue under a direct order from General MacArthur was accomplished by elements of the 11th Airborne Division. Every single prisoner was rescued and the incredible story is the subject of the History Channels documentary Rescue at Dawn: The Los Banos Raid.

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