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* Here it is…
Aug. 8 [To be announced]
Aug. 9 Weird Al Yankovic
Aug. 10 Huey Lewis and the News
Aug. 11 Illinois Symphony
Aug. 15 Toyota Tundra presents ZZ Top/Brooks and Dunn
Aug. 16 Vanessa Hudgens
Aug. 17 Trace Adkins with Trent Tomlinson
…Adding… From the governor…
“Once again, the Illinois State Fair offers something for everyone,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “I encourage everyone to come out and experience all the great entertainers playing the grandstand this year.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:00 am
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Comment by Truth Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:04 am
Can we have a Question of the Day on who should play on August 8th?
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:04 am
I have to say, of everyone on that list, I am most excited about To Be Announced.
Comment by montrose Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:05 am
re: montrose
HAHAHA!!!!???
I concur!!!
Wow? Does that lineup stink, regardless of your background or musical taste. SHEESH!?
Comment by The Rookie Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:07 am
Doesn’t make REO & Styx look so bad now, does it?
Comment by God's Country Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:13 am
Hudgens will be HUGE. Adkins and Tomlinson will sell well. The rest is UNBELIEVABLY weak. Unfortunately, I think you will see a similar lineup at the fairs in nearby states as well. Let’s hope there is some good harness racing in the grandstand.
Comment by S. Illinois Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:15 am
The Brooks & Dunn concert will sell well. They’re quite popular.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:24 am
August 8th: Blagojevich will fiddle as Illinois burns.
Comment by Bruno Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:26 am
What was complained about heavily last year was several nights with nothing going on at the grandstand. So Aug 12th, 13th, 14th…have nothing to draw people to the fairgrounds midweek. Same mistake as last year.
Comment by Crimefighter Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:27 am
iowa state fair blows this one away. * in the interest of full disclosure this has been posted by a country bumpkin from iowa. it is true though regardless of any bias.
Comment by b-dogg Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:27 am
Bruno - I would watch that!
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:33 am
The nicest thing I can say about this lineup: That Trent Tomlinson song “One Wing in the Fire” is a good guilty pleasure. Also, a little-known fact: Huey Lewis’s pre-News band, Clover, backed Elvis Costello on his debut album.
Comment by Reality Check Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:39 am
August 8 - Elvis, in person or otherwise.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:44 am
What the deuce!? Seriously, year after year? Where does the root of the problem lay? I’m more inclined to go watch a one legged man in an [FROM RICH: Please, don’t swear in your comments in any shape or form] kicking contest than go watch Weird Al!
Comment by The Welshman Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:47 am
Go Bearsss - you are watching that. We all are.
Comment by Truth Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:59 am
Huh, neither ZZ Top nor Brooks and Dunn have Illinois State Fair on their web sites. Both have others fairs listed. The rest of the acts ….. beer tents, maybe.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:02 pm
Hey, the Beach Boys are touring again. Is Willie N. available?
Comment by BehindTheScenes Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:08 pm
Weird Al Yankovic! That’s great. Too bad it’s so darn far. It’s easier for us to get to Milwaukee for the Wisconsin State Fair…
Comment by elginite Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:30 pm
First Lollapalooza August 1-3, then TBA/Weird Al/Huey Lewis the next weekend! Illinois rocks! (At least the top half does)
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:37 pm
All of you nay sayers are missing the boat. I took my kids to see Weird Al at Navy Pier (yes, a sell out) and it was great. I’ll be at the fair this year - and I bet tickets are cheaper!
Comment by Inquiring Mind Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:49 pm
Isn’t that the same line-up that was at the Taste of Illiopolis last year?
Comment by Dirt Guy Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:54 pm
Inquiring Mind, I agree about Weird Al. I probably saw him the same time that you did, on July 26, 2003. He’s been my favorite singer since 1985. His best album is “Straight Outta Lynnwood,” which was released in 2006.
Comment by PhilCollins Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:12 pm
“Entertaining”, “Grandstand” — interesting and appropriate choice of words from the Chief Entertainment Officer. Most Governors could realistically refer to themselves as a the CEO of their state — the “E” for Illinois’ Chief Executive has taken on a laughable new meaning in the past 5 years.
Comment by SuperDave Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:24 pm
The Missouri State fair is offering the following “Big Name Concerts”:
Air Supply • Thursday, Aug. 7
Charlie Daniels with .38 Special and Shooter Jennings • Friday, Aug. 8
Josh Turner with Pat Green • Saturday, Aug. 9
The Country Gold Tour • Wednesday, Aug. 13
Sara Evans with Trent Thomlinson • Friday, Aug. 15
WARNING: An August 8 show in Springfield would fit right into the Air Supply tour.
Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:30 pm
To: S. Illinois….Hudgens (High School Musical 1,2,3,4,5…et al star) will NOT be a huge draw. The only people going that night will be tweeners from the rhubarbs whose towns are 2 or 3 years behind the rest of the world, and pedophile-looking, creepy old men. TWO YEARS AGO it may have been huge, but just a passing fancy.
When I lived in Springfield (’91-’98), I went to more shows at the Sangamon COUNTY Fair than the state fair (although watching the Violent Femmes/B-52s from the Governor’s Box was sweet!).
I too am VERY afraid of that open night on Air Supply’s calendar.
Comment by Vote Quimby Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:51 pm
Ok, let me throw some ideas out here in no particular order:
1) This is Springfield. Springfield has a long history of “Why can’t we get decent shows in Springfield?”, followed by a big show which is a dismal failure, followed by no more big shows. Rinse-Repeat.
2) If they sign a big act at the State Fair and the show loses money, the hounds will howling “Why are you wasting our tax money on a the State Fair when we have potholes to fix and Medicaid payments to make and…!” Hence they tend toward less risky bookings.
3) Many of you are far from Springfield. Let’s say they signed your favorite act (whatever that may be.) Would you come all the way down here to see it? (Potential “Question of the Day”…what acts could they sign that would get you to go to Springfield to see?)
4) If the answer to #3 is “No”, then they’re forced to adjust the line-up according to the tastes of the people who do come, which may not agree with yours.
5) The State Fair is a family-oriented event, so acts like Disturbed or Linkon Park or Emminem probably wouldn’t be high on their wish list.
6) Weird Al Rocks. Period. If you don’t believe me, come on down, watch him and prove me wrong.
7) The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is a perinnial visitor. A little bit of “cul-chah” never hurt anyone. And the music is beautiful too.
Thank you, I’m done.
Comment by What planet is he from again? Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:57 pm
Didn’t Indiana go to “all country” state fair lineup format a few years ago? Why doesn’t Illinois? Theze geezer acts are almost beyond belief. Jeesh! is right. This lineup is an abomination. Reminds me of a couple of years ago when one-hit wonder Deep Blue Something played here—-and they were tagged with the fitting monicker “Deep Brown Something.” This year’s lineup is deep—and it is brown. Holy Cow, this lineup isn’t worthy of Decatur celebration, it isn’t worthy of Lincolnfest, it isn’t worthy of the Blessed Sacrament Church garden party and strawberry festival. For crying out loud, why don’t they just see if they can book Paul Williams and Mac Davis on a double bill?
Comment by anon2 Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:59 pm
Why not just have seven days of Cheap Trick?
Comment by Tony Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:07 pm
To bad the power was restored, just cancel the Fair, all you need to do to feel like you are at the Fair is visit Walmart!!!
Comment by Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Now, that’s the lineup for the DuQuoin State Fair, right?
When do they announce Springfield’s?
Comment by jerry 101 Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:23 pm
Any of the following Fair/Street Fest acts appropriate for a steamy August night in Springfield
Molly Hatchet — “Flirtin with Disaster”
Temptations: “Ball of Confusion”
Tony Orlando “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”
Susy Boggus “In the Jailhouse Now”
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:24 pm
I remember Stone Temple Pilots putting on a great show years back, and now they’re reuniting. Maybe they are the TBA? One could only hope for something like that or Van Halen.
Comment by Douglas M. Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:27 pm
About as bad as you can get.
Comment by 2for2 Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:58 pm
I wonder how much these acts cost?
Comment by PPHS Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:00 pm
At first I thought, well beer tent sales will be down during the vanessa hudgens show, but then again, those parents will need somewhere to go to deal with the screaming teens and tweens that will be there.
Comment by Concerned Voter Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:42 pm
OK, you are now in charge of booking acts for the fair, but before you start, you have to eliminate the following bands.
1. Bands that are not touring. Lots of people have great bands they want, but they may not be touring.
2. Bands that are not routed. They are not going to play San Diego on a Thursday then Springfield on a Friday.
3. Bands that won’t play an outdoor venue (more than you think).
4. Bands that won’t play a State Fair (many of the really “hot” bands think they are too good for a State Fair).
5. Bands that will not play a venue with seating under 10,000.
6. Bands that have a fee so high the Springfield area market would not support. And don’t even start on the if they are that good people will pay. The Springfield market has proven time after time they won’t.
It sounds really easy, but just try to find “Class A” lineup after you take out any band that falls into one of the above groups.
Comment by Well Give It At Try Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:51 pm
To Quimby - I stand by my statement. They will all be tweeners, but they will be there in droves.
To Give it a try - I have defended the booking of the fair on this board in the past as it is very hard to get the right mix of affordable entertainment. I just can’t defend this lineup.
Comment by S. Illinois Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:56 pm
Any word on what Hudgens will be wearing?
Comment by Ahem Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:25 pm
Rest assured, it could be worse: I saw Vanilla Ice at a state fair.
And, no — I won’t tell you where or when.
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:55 pm
Probably all they could afford. Some big names in there from a decade or so ago.{??} Brooks & Dunn w/ zz Top will be good. Wonder if they’ll have to wait 6 months to get paid like everybody else is ?? Better get one of those M-O-U like everbody else does too.
Comment by annon Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:57 pm
He couldn’t get Hannah Montana?
Comment by Establishment Republican Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 10:06 pm