As we wind our way through the second Thursday of the Illinois State Fair, let’s see what we can find to do at the fair and otherwise. Fair enough?
With the wet and wild washout last Friday and more rain earlier in the week, this fair may become known as “the big wet one” or “the wash” or maybe even “the fair that went down the drain.” All kidding aside, things seem to be doing okay, considering it’s the first fair under our controversial governor and therefore new fair director and staff. Hopefully the Meghan Trainor-packed house at the Grandstand last Saturday helped out the coffers, as all older teenagers plus the adults in attendance with the many kids under 12 (they got in free) paid the $10 entrance fee along with the concert ticket price. It was a really good concert, by the way.
On the Lincoln stage at 6 p.m. Friday, bandleader and trumpet man Don Smith brings his group of accomplished musicians to the fair for a 36 th -straight year. Hopefully fair folks can get Don and band inside and near a decent dance floor in time for his 40th anniversary in 2020. Drummer Gene Acree started playing the fair at age nine with his dad, Andy Acree. Geno continues the run with Elvis Himselvis this Sunday at noon in the Miller Lite tent, keeping time on the skins for fair number 51 in succession.
Usually after this column comes out each year, I find out about other local musicians deserving attention for attendance records. Let’s salute all who perform music on a regular basis, especially those with a rare and spectacular continuity. Driving through the crowds to get gear and musicians to the stage along with generally hot, humid or otherwise not particularly pleasant weather conditions all add to the un-fun part of playing. But most will admit that the reward comes from jamming out and getting a reaction from the crowd. It’s really something when you can do that for decades and a lifetime.
Some may have noticed a new area in the south half of the Food-A-Rama called the Brew Garden. Sponsored by Hy-Vee, Illinois Times and others, the space finally brings craft beer to the fairgrounds along with some live entertainment (I saw Amy Benton on Saturday, but I can’t find an official schedule) and live radio station broadcasts. With a better stage area and sound system plus regular acoustic entertainment and a representative assortment of the burgeoning Illinois craft beer breweries, this could be really popular, cool and fill a need.
The Powerlight Fest, a Christian music (mostly rock) all-day concert, celebrates 25 years of existence (at the fair since 1997) at the Lincoln stage on Sunday. Two-time Grammy Award-winner for KING & COUNTRY along with Jordan Feliz headline the noon to 9 p.m. event organized and founded by local guy Greg Cooper. See the full schedule plus 25 years of photo highlights on the event’s Facebook page. The Grandstand act on Sunday, a world-famous, little ol’ band from Texas called ZZ Top, added 3 Doors Down to the bill, replacing an ailing Gregg Allman who cancelled all performances for the next few months. Fair admission is only $5 on Sunday.
Beyond the fairgrounds, the Curve Inn and sound man Skip continue the south side fair experience, bringing live music along with the finer aspects of the fair (including corn dogs) to the award-winning outdoor (sort of) music venue. Other clubs continue hosting live music as usual, but for this week we played it mostly fair.
Next weekend comes the Old Capitol Blues and BBQ and the Clayville Music and Art Festival. Yeehaa!
Contact Tom Irwin at tirwin@illinoistimes.com.
