State Fair of WV Announces Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band to Perform
LEWISBURG, WV (01/29/2018) (readMedia)– State Fair Officials have announced the Southern Uprising Tour featuring Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band will take the stage on Friday, August 17, 2018, at the 94th Annual State Fair of West Virginia. Tickets for this show will go on sale Friday, February 2, 2018 at 10 am.
“We are very excited to release the Southern Uprising Tour as the first of many announcements to come,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “To have three legendary acts such as Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band on one stage is going to make for a great evening!”
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will only be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com/fair/tickets/ or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the State Fair Box Office until later in the spring.
Travis Tritt
More than 27 years after Travis Tritt launched his music career, the Southern rock influenced artist continues to display strong sales activity, sell-out shows, and stay true and relevant to country music fans across the globe. Continuously performing shows and withholding a heavy appearance schedule, Tritt is proving to be unstoppable.
The highly abbreviated Tritt timeline started when the young Marietta, Georgia native incorporated his lifelong influences of Southern rock, blues and gospel into his country during a honky-tonk apprenticeship that led him to Warner Bros. in 1989. Over the course of a decade, Travis released seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label. His 1990 debut Country Club and its succession of hits put him in the vanguard of the genre’s early ’90s boom, dubbing him as one of “The Class of ’89,” which included country music superstars Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson; all whom dominated the charts in the early ’90s.
“Country Club,” “Help Me Hold On,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” and “Drift Off to Dream” peaked at numbers two and three on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts; all which led for Tritt to win Top New Male Artist award from Billboard and the CMA Horizon Award (now known as the New Artist Award). Additionally, in 1991, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) marked Tritt’s debut album Country Club as certified platinum.
Two years after his debut, Travis’ sophomore album, It’s All About to Change, was released. Literally speaking, this album changed everything when the album shipped three million copies and all four of its singles reached the top five on the country music charts. Along with his first album, this release became triple-platinum certified by the RIAA.
At the same time, his conspicuous lack of a cowboy hat and musical aggressiveness set him apart. The next series of albums, seven of which are certified platinum or higher, scored him more hit singles and led him to amass more than 25 million in career album sales, two Grammys, three CMA Awards and a devoted fan base that filled venues coast-to-coast.
He’s been a force in sports appearances, having performed at the 1996 Olympics, two Super Bowls, a World Series Game, the opening of the Georgia Dome, the final Braves game at Atlanta-Fulton Country Stadium and, in 2013, the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
In 2012, Tritt formed his own label, Post Oak Recordings and shortly after released his album, The Calm After…. Tritt will release a new project, a special live 2-disc CD and DVD, titled A Man and His Guitar – Live From The Franklin Theatre, on Nov. 18. The much-anticipated release, shot and recorded at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn., spotlights Tritt’s distinctively soulful voice and his exceptional guitar prowess in an intimate theater setting.
More than 25-years after he launched his music career, the Southern-rock influenced artist continues to stay true and relevant to Country music fans across the globe. Last year (2015), Tritt topped the SoundScan Top 200 Catalog Country Albums chart for over 60 consecutive weeks with 15 weeks spent at No. 1 and 35+ weeks notched in a Top 5 position. Tritt’s compilation album, Very Best of Travis Tritt, which was released in 2007, saw a resurgence of sales that started in Nov. 2014. The 20-track album features some of Tritt’s biggest hits, including “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive,” “Here’s A Quarter,” and “Anymore.”
For more information on Travis Tritt, visit his website TravisTritt.com and follow him on and Facebook and Twitter.
Charlie Daniels
From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor to young artists and still a road warrior at age 80, Charlie has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children and others in need.
Raised among the longleaf pines of North Carolina, Charlie began his career playing bluegrass music with the Misty Mountain Boys. After moving to Nashville in 1967, he began making a name for himself as a songwriter, session musician and producer. Elvis Presley recorded a tune Charlie co-wrote titled “It Hurts Me,” which was released on the flip side of “Kissin’ Cousins.” He played on such landmark albums as Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline and tried his hand at producing on the Youngbloods’ Elephant Mountain and Ride the Wind.
His own unique voice as an artist emerged as Charlie recorded his self-titled solo album in 1970 for Capitol Records. Two years later he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and the group scored its first hit with the top ten “Uneasy Rider.” Since then the CDB has populated radio with such memorable hits as “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and of course, his signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.
The CDB performed 100+ concert dates in 2017 including performances on the Grand Ole Opry and will begin touring in March of 2018 for another full schedule of concert appearances.
“I love what I do,” says Charlie of his 60-plus years in the music business. “I look forward to entertaining people. When show time gets here, I’m ready to go, ready to go play for them. It’s a labor of love. I just thank God I make a living at what I enjoy doing.”
The Marshall Tucker Band
In the early fall of 1973, The Marshall Tucker Band was still a young and hungry group out to prove themselves every time they hit the stage. “We were a bunch of young guys who didn’t know any boundaries,” says founding member and longtime lead singer Doug Gray. As it turned out, the collective talents of The Marshall Tucker Band took them very far indeed.
Today, the band records on its own RAMBLIN’ RECORDS Label (distributed by Sony/RED) and continues to release new and previously unreleased material. Still led today by founding member and lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and place in music that will never be duplicated. Gray is quick to credit the band’s current dynamic members with carrying on the timeless essence of The Marshall Tucker Band sound. Current members include the highly respected drummer B.B. Borden, a former member of both Mother’s Finest and The Outlaws, multi-instrumentalist Marcus Henderson of Macon, Georgia, plays flute, saxophone and keyboards in addition to lead and background vocals, Pat Elwood on bass guitar, and Rick Willis on lead guitar and vocals, both of Spartanburg SC, are disciples of the Caldwell Brothers. Acclaimed lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Hicks recently rejoined the band after a two-year absence. Together they present a powerful stage presence as they continue to tour the country and continue to be powerful force in the world of music.
The Marshall Tucker Band got its start in Spartanburg, S.C. when Gray teamed up with Tommy Caldwell and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks, borrowing the name “Marshall Tucker” from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space. In 1972, they signed with Capricorn Records, the same label that guided The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and others to national fame. The MTB opened shows for The Allman Brothers in 1973, and the following year, they began to headline their own shows across America due to the platinum-plus sales of their debut album. They toured constantly playing sheds, stadiums, theaters, fairs, and festivals.
In years to come, The Marshall Tucker Band would wow critics and influence major country acts like Alabama, The Kentucky Headhunters, Confederate Railroad, and Travis Tritt with its definitive blend of rock, rhythm & blues, jazz, country, and gospel. Now, thanks to the expanding scope of today’s music, a new generation of fans is learning what the rest of their fans have known for so long- that good music knows no boundaries. Along the way, the band has recorded 22 studio albums, three DVDs, three live albums and many compilations.
In 1980, Tommy Caldwell died as a result of injuries from an auto accident. In 1984, Toy Caldwell, George McCorkle, and Paul Riddle decided to retire. Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks with the blessings of the other three continued to record and perform as The Marshall Tucker Band. 1n 1993 Toy Caldwell, who wrote the majority of their songs, passed away, as did George McCorkle in 2007. Jerry Eubanks retired in 1996 and Doug Gray continues to lead the current band of fine musicians winning new young fans as well as satisfying the loyal fans of several generations.
Years of rigorous tour schedules earned the band the respect of critics and countless dedicated fans. With hit singles like “Heard It In a Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” “Can’t You See,” and “Take The Highway,” The Marshall Tucker Band earned seven gold and three platinum albums while they were on the Capricorn Records label. During the 90’s, the MTB scored four hit singles on Billboard’s country chart and one on Billboard’s gospel chart. Their music has also been featured on the soundtracks of movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, Blow, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, Shipwrecked, Crank 2, Don’t Mess with Zohan, Stop Loss, Swing Vote, Taking Chance and many others as well as many TV Shows.
“The buying public never really cared whether we were country or rock & roll” says Gray. “They called us a Southern rock band, but we have always played everything from country, jazz, blues, rock & roll and all things in-between. As we’ve become older,” Gray grins, eyes twinkling, “our Southern heritage seems to come out even more. But, no matter how old we get, we can still rock your socks off.” Gray also notes that people have gotten “married and buried” to classic MTB songs like “Desert Skies” and “Can’t You See”. After 40 years, The Marshall Tucker Band continues to be played on classic rock and country radio, and they have never stopped touring.
More than 40 years after forming, The Marshall Tucker Band continues to tour, performing more than 130 live dates each year.
CMT (Country Music Television) named the MTB’s “Can’t You See” the #4 Greatest Southern Rock Song. The MTB’s debut album, The Marshall Tucker Band, reigns as Gibson Guitar’s #5 Greatest Southern Rock Album. UltimateClassicRock.com crowned the MTB’s “Can’t You See” as the #1 Southern Rock Song and in 2013, GRAMMY® Magazine named the group’s logo as one of the most distinctive and iconic brands in music.
The 2018 State Fair themed “Unforgettable Fun”, is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 9-18, 2018. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
Christmas Coming to the State Fair of West Virginia
LEWISBURG, WV (11/01/2017) (readMedia)– The State Fair of West Virginia is excited to announce “Christmas at the Fair,” to feature a synthetic ice skating rink, Christmas light display and visits from Santa from December 12 – January 1!
Christmas at the Fair will take place in the Ag Pavilion on the North End of the grounds, and will be open Monday-Friday from 4 pm – 10 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm – 10 pm. Admission to skate is $20 for adults (13 and up) and $10 for children (12 and under).
“We are extremely excited to be able to offer Christmas at the Fair to the public this year,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “From ice skating and a Christmas light display, to Santa’s Barn and some of your favorite fair foods, there is something for everyone to enjoy!”
Special pricing and hours are available for groups and private parties. Contact the Fair office or visit www.statefairofwv.com for more information!
The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar statewide economic impact, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. The 94th annual State Fair of West Virginia is a 10-day event scheduled for August 9-18, 2018. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
State Fair of West Virginia Scholarship Now Available Online
News from State Fair of West Virginia
For more information contact: Kelly Collins, 304-645-1090, kellyt@statefairofwv.com
State Fair of West Virginia Scholarship Now Available Online
[button link=”https://gvfoundation.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/CMXAdmin/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=984″ bg_color=”#ed0000″ border=”ed0000″]SFWV Scholarship Application[/button]
LEWISBURG, WV (10/23/2017) (readMedia)– The State Fair of West Virginia Scholarship is now available online through the Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation website. Students from across the state are encouraged to enter before the January 15, 2018 deadline.
In association with corporate, civic and individual contributors, and with support from the State Fair Endowment, five, four-year scholarships for up to $1,000 a year will be awarded to individuals who have participated in one or more of the following areas at the State Fair:
1. State Fair Junior Show – market animals, purebred animals and dairy.
2. Equine Programs – State Fair’s Open Horse Show or Junior Horse and Pony Show.
3. 4-H and FFA Youth Exhibit Program – 4-H and FFA Underwood Youth Center.
“We are excited to announce the scholarship application is now online with the Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “They have a great website for scholarships that will make the application process much easier to navigate and save!”
Applications are available online at https://www.gvfoundation.org/ or by visiting the State Fair’s website www.statefairofwv.com/fair.
The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information visit www.statefairofwv.com.
View Online: http://readme.readmedia.com/State-Fair-of-West-Virginia-Scholarship-Now-Available-Online/15138352
State Fair of West Virginia to Open This Thursday
The 93rd Annual State Fair of West Virginia is set to open this Thursday, August 10, in Lewisburg, WV. The gates will open at 2 pm on Thursday and will feature a discounted $5 admission ticket at the gate and a $20 ride pass from 2 pm – 11 pm.
“We have a very exciting 10-days planned for the 2017 State Fair of West Virginia,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “From the free entertainment and delicious fair food, to the concert lineup and livestock shows, there is truly something for everyone.”
Several ticket specials are available through the week including the Early Bird Special which will feature $1 admission from 9 am – Noon on Wednesday, August 16. Other specials include, First Energy’s Magic Monday (8/14), Senior Citizen’s Day (8/15) and Military Discount Day (8/17). Children ages 12 and under will once again get in free all day, every day.
The 2017 Concert Series opens at 8 pm on Thursday, August 10, with Aaron Lewis and special guest Ray Scott. Martina McBride and Josh Turner will take the stage on Friday, August 11, while Brantley Gilbert will perform on Friday, August 18 for what is looking like his second sold out show in a row at the State Fair of WV. Other concerts include, Casting Crowns, Clay Walker and John Michael Montgomery, Old Crow Medicine Show, and the Buckin’ B Bull Ride with Steve Moakler. Free grandstand shows include Luke Combs, Jimmy Fortune and Home Free.
Advanced discounted tickets are available through August 9 at select Walgreens. All concert tickets and details can be found at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX(3849)
The 2017 State Fair themed “Start a Tradition,” is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 10-19, 2017. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
Entries Open for 4th Annual State Fair of WV Car Show
2017 Car show Flyer- Registration Form
LEWISBURG, WV (06/16/2017) (readMedia)– American National, Farm Family Insurance, and the State Fair of West Virginia have teamed up to produce the third annual “State Fair Car Show.” The event is scheduled on Sunday, August 13th from 11 am to 4 pm during the 93rd Annual State Fair.
The show will take place on the main fairgrounds. Pre-registration is required and the first 100 entries will receive two gate admission tickets and a special sponsor gift.
The show is open to 1969 or older Custom Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Classics, Antiques, and Drag Cars. A limited number of 1970 to 1985 hot rods and muscle cars will be accepted. Award categories will include: People’s Choice, The Long Drive Award, Kid’s Choice, Best Paint Job, Sponsor’s Choice, Participant’s Pick and The Best of West Virginia Blue Ribbon!
“The State Fair Car show has been such a wonderful addition to our schedule the past few years,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “We are thrilled that American National and Farm Family Insurances have joined us again this year as we continue another State Fair tradition!”
Details and an entry form can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Deadline for registration will be July 27, 2017. Phone 304-645-1090 for additional fair information.
The 2017 State Fair themed “Start a Tradition,” is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 10-19, 2017. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
Additional Concerts Announced for State Fair of West Virginia
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – State Fair Officials have announced the addition of Clay Walker and John Michael Montgomery and Buckin’B Bull Ride with Steve Moakler to the 2017 State Fair of West Virginia Concert Lineup.
Clay Walker and John Michael Montgomery will take the stage on Sunday, August 13, while Buckin’B Bull Ride with Steve Moakler will end the 10-day event on Saturday, August 19. Tickets for these shows will go on sale Friday, May 19 at 10 AM.
Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will only be available via ETIX at www.statefairofwv.com/fair or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the State Fair Box Office until June 1.
“We are very excited to announce the final additions of Clay Walker, John Michael Montgomery and Steve Moakler to our 2017 State Fair Lineup,” said State Fair CEO Kelly Collins. “With just a few months to go, we are working hard to make sure this is one of the best fairs yet, and we cannot wait to open the gates.”
Clay Walker
Multi-Platinum country music artist and East Texas native, Clay Walker, rocked the country scene in 1993 with his debut album that included the smash hit “What’s it to you.” He continued to make a splash, releasing a string of number one hits including “If I Could Make a Living,” “This Woman and This Man” and “Rumor Has It.” In 1996 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis but Clay did not let that set him back. He has continued touring and recording steadily since the diagnosis and is well known for his high-energy concerts and performance style. He later founded the Band against MS Foundation after realizing the impact the disease has on others. Since its formation in 2003, Clay has helped Band against MS raise upwards of $5,000,000 through charity performances, golf tournaments, bike rides, auctions, etc. Clay has had 4 RIAA Platinum albums, 2 Certified Gold albums, and 11 #1 singles to date. After “She Won’t Be Lonely Long” reached top 5 on the radio, Clay began working on new music with a fresh sound. He recently released his single “Right Now” to The Highway on Sirius XM this past fall, teasing an impending album release. The full album is expected to debut later this year.
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery has turned an uncanny ability to relate to fans into one of country music’s most storied careers. Behind the string of hit records, the roomful of awards and the critical and fan accolades that have defined his phenomenal success lies a connection that goes beyond his undeniable talent and his proven knack for picking hits. Since the days when “Life’s A Dance” turned him from an unknown artist into a national star, John Michael’s rich baritone has carried that most important of assets–believably. Few artists in any genre sing with more heart than this handsome Kentucky-born artist.
It is readily apparent in love songs that have helped set the standard for a generation. Songs like “I Swear,” “I Love the Way You Love Me” and “I Can Love You Like That” still resonate across the landscape–pop icon and country newcomer Jessica Simpson cited “I Love the Way You Love Me” as an influence in a recent interview. It is apparent in the 2004 hit “Letters from Home,” one of the most moving tributes to the connection between soldiers and their families ever recorded, and in “The Little Girl,” a tale of redemption that plumbs both the harrowing and the uplifting. It is apparent even in the pure fun that has always found its way into John Michael’s repertoire—songs like “Be My Baby Tonight” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident),” where John Michael’s vocal earnestness takes musical whimsy to another level.
Now, with the release of Time Flies, which he co-produced with Byron Gallimore, John Michael takes another big step forward, strengthening his position as one of the most versatile and compelling vocalists on the country scene. With songs like “Forever” and “If You Ever Went Away,” he proves he is still the master of the power ballad, a man capable of bringing honest emotion to life in song. He brings his ever-present sense of humor to bear on “With My Shirt On” and “Mad Cowboy Disease,” songs with wickedly skewed sensibilities. With songs like “Drunkard’s Prayer” and “All in a Day” he explores two dramatic facets of human existence, and with “Brothers Till the End,” John Michael celebrates the family background that led both him and his brother Eddie, of Montgomery Gentry, from a small-time family band to the top of the charts. The emotional centerpiece for John Michael is “All in a Day,” the song that contains the lyric that gave the album its name.
“That song talks about how time flies,” he says, “and I got to think that it seems like yesterday that ‘Life’s A Dance’ was out and people were asking me, ‘Where would you like to be in 10 or 15 years?’ ‘Still here!’ was my answer and, thankfully, I am still here. Longevity was more important to me than anything else, and to still be able to do something I love so much is wonderful. Still, it’s gone by so quickly that I thought, ‘I’m going to build an album around that.’ That’s where the shape of this album comes from.”
Each song, he says, reminds him of an era in his life and an artist or style of music. “What Did I Do” is reminiscent of “the gritty Hank Jr. stuff we played in our honkytonk days,” while “Loving and Letting Go” “reminds me a bit of Lionel Ritchie and the Eagles, artists that helped mold me into the artist I am today.” Beyond that, he maintains, he selected material the way he always has.
Steve Moakler
Steve Moakler has been making a name for himself in Nashville for 10 years now- and on his new album, he’s returning to his roots in Western Pennsylvania. Steel Town is a country record, but the stories it tells and the characters it elevates are very much rooted in Pittsburgh—the Steel City—and its surrounding areas. For Moakler, this homecoming is paired with liberation, one where his songwriting and his performing are a full reconciliation of who he is. “I’ve had the title Steel Town in my head for a long time. But I’ve been very intimidated; where I’m from means so much to me, and there’s a lot of pride in Pittsburgh and in the Rust Belt. I wanted to honor that.
“This is my fourth album, but it feels like in a lot of ways, it’s the first time I’m ever going back and talking about the earlier chapters of my life and where I’m from.”
With songs like the easygoing country-radio hit “Suitcase,” which revels in love’s ability to open up one’s appreciation of life’s simpler pleasures, and the crackling barroom singalong “Love Drunk,” Steel Town represents a performer and songwriter who are coming into his own.
Moakler moved to Nashville in the mid-2000s and has released three albums on his own. But it was penning songs for other artists—Dierks Bentley’s “Riser,” as well as tracks for Ashley Monroe and Kellie Pickler—that got him energized to create the songs that would make up Steel Town.
“There was a period of time when I was making my own independent records where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to really pursue what we call in Nashville ‘the artist route,'” he recalled. “So I said, ‘I think I just want to write songs. I need to just take that pressure off and just fall back in love with writing music, because that’s what’s got me into this whole thing in the first place.’ When I did that, I feel like all of a sudden, I started to love the songs I was writing more than ever before. I started to recognize my voice and realize what was unique about my style and my story.”
The 2017 State Fair themed “Start a Tradition,” is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 10-19, 2017. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
