by Emily Schilling,
EditorThere’s no place like the Indiana State Fair to see a concert. After all, you’re outdoors on a summer night. You’ve been well-fed, having enjoyed some of the tastiest and most decadent food ever. You’ve had the chance to see some animals, visit a few booths, and take in the Midway rides. To top it off, you can sit back and watch a first class show under the stars. What could be better?
The 2010 fair entertainment lineup includes acts that run the gamut from KISS (also rocking out at state fairs in Minnesota and North Dakota this summer) to Disney star Selena Gomez. Country superstars Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban are top fan favorites in this year’s crop of singers.
Through the years, the fair has welcomed a “who’s who” (or, as younger folks might ask, a “who’s that?”) list of notables. Perhaps the most celebrated State Fair performance was by the Beatles on Sept. 3, 1964. The group performed two shows that day for fans who paid $3 to $5 to enjoy what turned out to be its only Indiana concert ever. Today, the best seats to see Rascal Flatts at the fair cost $84. My how times have changed!
Acts that incite screaming females seem to be as common at the fair as elephant ears. Jackson 5 performed in 1972, New Kids on the Block (who broke attendance records) in 1989, Jonas Brothers in 2007 and Corbin Bleu in 2008. Heartthrobs Peter Noone (of the 1960s group Herman’s Hermits), Pat Boone and David Cassidy all sang at the fair — however, they did so a generation after they were teen idols. Of course, we ladies know when it comes to our teenage crushes, we don’t have to be 13 years old to act like we are! And though David Cassidy is approaching retirement age, he is still David Cassidy!
Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, the Grateful Dead, and Johnny Cash are among those who made the Grandstand truly grand. Meanwhile, Captain Kangaroo, Art Linkletter, Red Skelton, and Rowan and Martin proved performing can entail more than music.
Though I missed out on seeing the Beatles at the fair, three “American Idol” contestants will be there this year (Kellie Pickler and Kris Allen as Grandstand opening acts and Bucky Covington on the Free Stage). Who knows — maybe someday they’ll be music legends. If not, well, Rick Springfield is going to be at the fair, too! It’s not “Hey Jude” but “Jessie’s Girl” is a classic!