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* More 20th Century entertainment hired more than two decades into the 21st Century. Press release…
The Illinois State Fair will be rocking when Bret Michaels with special guests Dee Snider and Dokken (featuring special guest appearance by George Lynch) take the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on Saturday night, August 21.
After over a year removed due to the pandemic, music icon and humanitarian of the year award recipient Bret Michaels makes his triumphant return to the stage and is bringing the biggest party of the summer to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand. Michaels’ “Nothin’ But A Good Vibe” Summer Concert Tour will, as always, showcase the global superstar’s high octane live show providing the ultimate summer party soundtrack.
“I am without a doubt fired up and ready to bring an insane party and night of real, live good music combined with the great outdoors,” said Michaels. “It has been too long since live shows were a thing. We are bringing the big show back on the road and make that connection with 3 generations of amazing friends and fans whom I am sure are ready to party just as much as I am.”
In addition to a successful solo career, Michaels emerged as a reality TV star with the record breaking, VH1 franchise, Rock of Love, following up with Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It and Rock My RV, and was voted fan favorite of his winning season of The Celebrity Apprentice.
While perhaps best known as the lead singer of rock band, Twisted Sister, there is much more to Dee Snider. He has starred in several reality TV shows including appearances in three seasons of Celebrity Apprentice; Gone Country with John Rich; MTV’s Rock The Cradle with his son Jesse; Growing Up Twisted, an A&E series featuring the entire Snider family and their Long Island lifestyle; ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap, and Celebrity Holiday Homes. He is also a frequent host on MTV Networks and his own long running nationally syndicated radio show House Of Hair is heard on more than 200 stations in North America.
Dokken exploded out of the hard rock/heavy metal scene in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. 1983’s “Breaking the Chains” with its catchy title track, set the stage for Dokken becoming the most dominant creative and commercial force in the world of melodic hard rock for the following years. Classic albums as “Tooth and Nail”, “Under Lock and Key” and “Back for the Attack” all became Multi-Platinum selling smashes and the live “Beast from the East” went gold in Europe and Japan. Songs like “Alone Again”, “Just Got Lucky”, “Into the Fire”, “In My Dreams”, “Unchain the Night”, “Dream Warriors”, “Burning like a Flame” and “Heaven Sent” are still regarded among the genre’s finest. […]
There are changes being made to track (SRO) admission for the 2021 grandstand. The track will be open for General Admission, but the exclusive VIP gated area on the track is no longer being offered. The Illinois State Fair is continuing to offer the Stage Side Pre-Show Parties for all nights of paid concert events. While attendees of the Stage Side Party are required to have both a concert ticket and a party ticket to enter the party tent, all party attendees are allowed entrance into the venue prior to other ticketholders. Stage Side Party tickets are only $30 each and include a parking pass if purchased prior to July 15. There are a limited number of party tickets available for each concert.
All respect to Dee Snider, though. He stood up to the would-be congressional censors back in the day.
* The lineup, in case you’ve lost track…
Thursday, August 12: Sammy Hagar & The Circle
Friday, August 13: Kane Brown with Restless Road
Saturday, August 14: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias
Sunday, August 15: Toby Keith with Craig Morgan
Monday, August 16: The Traveling Salvation Show – A Tribute to Neil Diamond
Tuesday, August 17: Chris Young with Ingrid Andress and Payton Smith
Wednesday, August 18: I Love the 90’s Tour
Thursday, August 19: Badflower with Dorothy and Dead Poets Society
Friday, August 20: Brett Young with Russell Dickerson
Saturday, August 21: Bret Michaels with special guests Dee Snider and Dokken (featuring special guest appearance by George Lynch)
Sunday, August 22: George Thorogood with 38 Special
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 10:51 am
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Poison and Ratt.
The Walmart of hair bands.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 10:55 am
Perhaps a couple of the bands listed that I don’t know are my cup of tea, but I yearn for the day the state fair books a band I would be excited to see.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:03 am
No thanks. I’ll be seeing Jason Isbell at the Normal Corncrib instead.
Comment by Rayne of Terror Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:05 am
Rokken with Dokken
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:10 am
Grandpa is gonna love this
Comment by SWIL_Voter Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:13 am
“You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:14 am
Who do you really expect to play a state fair in 100+ degree heat? Chris Young definitely is not a 20th century act. I’ve seen him live and met him in person and he’s very good and a great person.
Comment by Steve in Spfld Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:23 am
Seems to me it should be Dee Snider with special guest Brett Michaels. But whatever.
They’re all still awesome.
Comment by Mr K Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:24 am
This is not aimed at Rich.
I know some people like to toss bombs at the State Fair staff who book or work with the booking agents. But before you do, consider the following that has to occur before the ISF can even consider tendering a contract to an act.
1. Is the band or act currently touring, just because you want to see them does not mean they are currently on tour.
2. If they are touring, are they routed? They typically are not going to play San Diego on Thursday and Springfield Friday. Tours are routed, often coupled with other acts that will play the same venue around the same date.
3. Will the band/act play an outdoor venue? Some will not no matter what they are offered.
4. Will the band/act play a State Fair? Some welcome it others view it as below their level.
5. Will the band/act be creative in how are they paid. Will they do revenue split of the tickets sold or do they require a flat fee.
6. Can the ISF afford them? Don’t expect the top pop acts to be cheap. The ISF typically grabs pop acts on the way or down the charts, not at the top of the charts as they are too expensive. Some country acts at the top will work with ISF, pop acts not so much.
7. Will the Springfield market support the required asking price. You go above the $60.00 level and the Springfield area will think they are being robbed.
So, there ya go, go book a week’s worth of acts.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:24 am
===Chris Young definitely is not a 20th century act===
And?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:25 am
See you at the crossroads on August 18.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 11:35 am
This line up looks like a study session the music category in trivial pursuit.
===Will the Springfield market support the required asking price. ===
Ke&ha performed in the summer of 2013 and had a single chart at No 2 in the fall of 2012 with two other singles also charting from the same album she released. The concert drew people to the state fair grounds that had never been there before, and the result was following the concert local establishments were packed with people who had attended the concert.
If you bought timely, you could have seen The Weeknd this summer in St. Louis for $45.
Pretending like the only draw that the state fair has for musical acts only live in Springfield isn’t accurate, and a ticket price is justified by the performer and how many people want to see them.
Especially with streaming music younger people tend to have very diverse musical interests across a broad range of time, but I can’t be the only person who would prefer to hear Dee Snider talk about his role in fighting censorship than perform an entire set.
The Illinois State Fair also offers an — out door — venue during a pandemic. The fact that it isn’t booked every weekend with musical acts this summer might be a sign that the State of Illinois lost an opportunity by not actively soliciting acts to come and play at their venue outside of standard fair programing.
Though I don’t follow “the scene” much, so maybe there’s a big following for Neil Diamond tribute bands I am unaware of since that’s the kind of thing one is usually subjected to at a bar without having to have to pay a cover.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:11 pm
=== were packed with people who had attended the concert. ===
For those who might wonder how someone could know this: Glitter. There was glitter everywhere.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:13 pm
Bret Michaels was diagnosed with type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes when he was 6 and has done a TON for research and financing low income diabetic kids to attend camp where they can learn how to manage their condition.
Well done, Sir.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:27 pm
Gladys Knight performed at the Tavern on La Grange a few weeks ago. She may not do outdoor venues, understandably, but I wonder if there was an effort made to be a bit more inclusive with the variety of performers? Maybe I am presuming things I shouldn’t but this line up appears to heavily favor a demographic.
Comment by Vincent Vega Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:32 pm
Not surprising considering what some of the most popular music radio stations in Springfield seem to be (although I haven’t seen station ratings for a while). Not counting sports, talk radio and religious. Three country stations (the legendary WFMB 104.5, country since their day 1 on the air in 1965, 101.9 the Wolf, and a low-powered classic country station at 101.1–plus you can get country stations from Litchfield, Taylorville and Decatur clearly in Springfield); lots of classic and modern rock (WYMG, Bob 96.7, QLZ), and the legendary Top 40 WDBR (Top 40 about 50 years now). Plus there’s Lite Rock 98.7 which is probably still the #1 choice of offices where FM music is still played.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:35 pm
Think I saw 38 Special at the Sangamon County Fair in the late 80’s very early 90’s. I was visiting my now wife and then girlfriend.
Used to take Amtrak down to see her during the summer.
Decent sized crowd if I remember correctly.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:49 pm
I haven’t been to the fair in 6 years (and even when I went, it was for one day to help in my agency’s info tent), and don’t plan to return this year (if ever after COVID). But each beer tent has their own bands playing as an alternative or in addition to the grandstand acts. I’m sure Captain Geech is one of them and they’ll be playing multiple nights. Plus some of the other bar bands of the area (e.g., New City Road, etc.).
Then again, having 80s bands at the Fair in 2021 is the equivalent of having the remnants of the Glenn Miller Orchestra and other big band acts of the 40s at the State Fair in 1981–in the think of the Thompson years and Willie Nelson being a State Fair concert staple during the Big Jim era.
==George Thorogood with 38 Special==
Believe it or not, I actually used to think that 38 Special was also from Rockford, in addition to Cheap Trick. Then I was shocked to learn they were from Florida.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 12:58 pm
==Though I don’t follow “the scene” much, so maybe there’s a big following for Neil Diamond tribute bands I am unaware of since that’s the kind of thing one is usually subjected to at a bar without having to have to pay a cover.==
Neither do I, since I am introverted, don’t go to bars, and listen to much music anymore. However, I just easily picture what you described about Neil Diamond tribute bands at a bar. A bunch of inebriated Gen Xers and millienials singing Sweet Caroline with special druken emphasis on the “whomp, whomp, whomp” and “So Good, So Good, So Good.” As if they were at Fenway.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 1:03 pm
^^ A bunch of inebriated Gen Xers and millienials singing Sweet Caroline with special druken emphasis==
OK Boomer. The millennials maybe. Not the GenX crowd.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 2:29 pm
Rod might have to come back to do a hair contest with this lineup.
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 2:48 pm
==Rod might have to come back to do a hair contest with this lineup.==
Or a night full of Elvis impersenators headlined by Springfield’s own Elvis Himselvis.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 3:07 pm
Gladys Knight is not a good draw for the Grandstand stage. That said, she is the most overlooked and underappreciated artists of her day. She could really bring it. Great performer.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 4:04 pm
Hair bands were my growing up years. My father had several albums of Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire and so much of the Mo Town. Gladys is definitely overlooked for her talent.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 5:11 pm
Why not give me something to drive down to Springfield for? We are starved for good shows; get Gladys Knight, REO Speedwagon, and or Earth, Wind, and Fire. It doesn’t have to be Summerfest but give people in the state, not just those who live near Springfield, a reason to come together. The fair is fun but so few outside of locals head down for it.
Comment by Vincent Vega Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 10:47 pm
(or head up for it).
Comment by Vincent Vega Thursday, Jul 8, 21 @ 10:48 pm
==OK Boomer. The millennials maybe. Not the GenX crowd.==
I actually am a later GenX but has appreciation for Boomer-era music, TV shows, etc.
Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Jul 9, 21 @ 4:57 am