Nickelback at Choctaw Grand Theater

Nickelback needs little introduction. The Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta has sold tens of millions of records behind an unbroken string of rock radio staples: "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Rockstar", "Far Away", and "Burn It to the Ground". They have headlined arenas on every continent, and their shows are known for big lights, loud guitars, and a crowd that sings every chorus back at them.

The band has been touring steadily behind its latest material, and the December 19 stop at the Choctaw Grand Theater is a holiday-season headline show in an intimate-for-them room. For Northeast Texas rock fans used to catching this band only in Dallas or Houston, the drive to Durant is a real upgrade.

Getting there from Arthur City

The Choctaw Grand Theater is just off US-75 in Durant, Oklahoma, about 60 minutes from 3870 County Road 45080. The show falls on the Saturday before Christmas, which makes it a natural night out before the holiday rush. The resort has plenty of dining on site, and the theater's mid-size footprint means even the back rows are a good view.

Why it matters for the area

Durant has quietly become the concert hub of this corner of the country. When rock acts like Nickelback route through a casino theater an hour from Paris, it changes the math on what entertainment looks like from an acreage in Lamar County. It is one more reason the country life here keeps its city conveniences within easy reach.