BEHIND THE STAGE
Our mission, our team, and everything in between
OUR STORY
Palo Duro Entertainment Group was born out of a simple observation: the live entertainment industry needed a company that understood both sides of the stage.
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Co-founded by Wade Bowen, a touring Texas country musician who has spent decades in front of the mic, and Chris Thomas, a music industry veteran formerly of AEG Presents, Palo Duro brings together two perspectives that rarely sit in the same room — the artist's and the promoter's.
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That combination shapes everything we do. We know what it's like to walk on stage, and we know what it takes to build the business behind it. From artist management and booking to talent buying, event production, and sponsorship development, our team doesn't just fill roles — we build careers, produce shows, and grow brands with the same care we'd want if we were the ones on stage.
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Founded in Texas in 2026, Palo Duro Entertainment Group is still young — but it's built on decades of experience, real relationships, and a shared belief that live music deserves people who genuinely understand it.
THE PALO DURO TEAM
WADE BOWEN
PARTNER
Wade Bowen has been a touring artist for more than 20 years, since the release of his debut record, Try Not to Listen, in 2002. Since then, he has built a career as a mainstay touring act, playing thousands of solo shows across the country and sharing stages with artists such as Cody Johnson, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Robert Earl Keen, and Chris Stapleton, among many others.
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Bowen is also known for his collaborative project with longtime friend Randy Rogers, "Hold My Beer," which has brought the two artists together for shows and recordings loved by fans across Texas and beyond. His decades on the road give Palo Duro Entertainment Group a rare, firsthand understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a career as a touring artist.
CHRIS THOMAS
PARTNER
Chris Thomas brings more than 20 years of experience from industry-leading AEG Presents, where he built an extensive career in live entertainment and helped shape some of the country's premier music festivals and events, including Coachella, Stagecoach, Buckeye Country Superfest, and Born & Raised.
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In 2023, Thomas launched Live Loud Entertainment, focusing on the development and production of live events such as Born & Raised, Cotton Fest, and Rodeo Vegas, while also providing strategic consulting to festivals, artists, and other projects across the live music industry. That depth of experience now drives Palo Duro's approach to production, brand partnerships, and large-scale event execution.
JORDIN WESTBROOK
VP OF OPERATIONS/ARTIST MANAGER
Jordin Westbrook comes to Palo Duro Entertainment Group with an extensive background in operations, event production, and project management. She has overseen large-scale charitable events and foundations, as well as full operations for the Division I Baylor Bears and LSU Tigers women's college basketball programs.
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That experience managing at the highest levels has given Jordin a sharp, dependable skillset for leading complex projects and teams. She now brings that same approach to every aspect of Palo Duro's growth and expansion, helping ensure the company's operations run as smoothly as its shows.