Comedians, country stars, rap and rock heading to Tucson casinos

About a dozen years or so ago, Tucson was a once-every-other-year stop for comedian Carlos Mencia.

We haven’t seen him here since he played Casino del Sol right before the 2016 presidential election, but he’s finally coming back. He plays Desert Diamond Casino on May 25 one of several new shows added to the lineup of the casino’s Sahuarita venue, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road.

Mencia joins bluesman Boney James, whose May 31 concert was announced months ago.

The casino also is hosting the fifth annual Waila Celebration on May 18 and a fireworks display June 29.

But it’s the concerts that have us really excited. For tickets and more details, visit ddcaz.com.

This might sound odd on paper, but on July 26, Southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band will share the stage with 1980s pop rockers Jefferson Starship. We’re chalking this up to pure 1970s-’80s Top 40 nostalgia, “Purty Little Love Song” from MTB and “With Your Love” courtesy Jefferson Starship.

There’s something about the month of August and Desert Diamond that resonates with Nicolas Reyes and The Gipsy Kings. They seem to pencil us in nearly every August — this year on Aug. 10.

Country crooner Josh Turner kicks off the fall with a show Sept. 21.

AVA at Casino del Sol adds country shows

Get ready to rock the Applebee’s theme when the AVA at Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road, hosts pop-country singer Walker Hayes on June 14.

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Hayes landed a monster hit with his pandemic-era ditty “Fancy Like,” which became a viral TikTok phenomenon and the theme song for the national Applebee’s restaurant chain.

How can we forget: “Yeah, we fancy like Applebee’s on a date night/Got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake/Get some whipped cream on the top, too/Two straws, one check, girl, I got you.”

Yep, yep, you’re singing it now!

Tickets ($35-$125) are on sale now through casinodelsol.com and we would not be surprised if they went fast. Although his music falls into the country bin, his pop-leaning, tongue-in-cheek songs — “You Broke Up with Me,” “AA,” “Good With Me,” “Craig,” “Shut Up Kenny” — have universal appeal.

A couple other new shows added to the AVA’s 2024 lineup:

Rappers T.I. and Chingy are here June 29.

Guns ‘N Roses guitar great Slash is bringing his “S.E.R.P.E.N.T. (Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance) Festival — A Celebration of the Blues” to Tucson July 14. In addition to the guitar legend, the lineup includes Warren Haynes Band, Samantha Fish and Eric Gales.

Arizona shock rocker Alice Cooper is here Aug. 17.

Latina legend Gloria Trevi brings “Mi Soundtrack On Tour” Sept. 6.

Country singer Dustin Lynch is here Sept. 13.

Multiplatinum-selling Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández brings his “Fiestas Patrias 2024” show to Tucson Sept. 19.

For tickets, visit casinodelsol.com/venues/ava-amphitheater.