Aaron Lewis Added to State Fair of West Virginia Concert Series
LEWISBURG W.VA. – The State Fair of West Virginia is happy to announce the addition of Aaron Lewis to the 2017 Concert Series. Lewis with special guest Ray Scott will open the Fair on Thursday, August 10 with an 8 pm show.
Tickets for this show will go on sale Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10 am. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-514-ETIX(3849) or by visiting www.statefairofwv.com.
The State Fair is also excited to announce the list of free grandstand shows for 2017, including country music newcomer Luke Combs (8/14), Jimmy Fortune (8/15) and Home Free (8/16). Each of these shows will be free with paid gate admission and will take place after Twilight Harness Racing at 5:30 pm!
“We are excited to be bringing Aaron Lewis to the 2017 State Fair of West Virginia, as well as a few great free shows,” CEO Kelly Collins stated. “We still have just a few announcements left, but we are expecting to have a great year as we celebrate the 93rd Annual State Fair of West Virginia.”
Aaron Lewis
If it sounds like Aaron Lewis is long past defending his Country music pedigree that would be a correct assessment. Lewis would prefer the music speak for itself and, with the release of SINNER, Lewis’ stunning Dot Records follow-up to his groundbreaking full-length solo debut The Road in 2012, any would-be detractors will be pretty much out of ammo.
Lewis, however, is not. SINNER blasts through today’s Country music doldrums like a shot of 100-proof whiskey, with the singer making zero compromises with either himself or the restrictions of a format that seems to have abandoned its rougher tendencies in favor of pop and ‘70s rock inclinations largely lacking in grit.
“I’d like to think that SINNER is a newer take on classic, traditional Outlaw Country, Waylon and Merle and Willie, and Hank Jr. and Johnny Cash and all that stuff,” says Lewis. “That was the music I heard as a kid, and that’s the Country music that permeated my soul and stuck with me my whole life.”
Lewis admits he “didn’t really pay attention to any of the Country music in between” that early Outlaw exposure and his emergence as a new voice for the genre with the release of “Country Boy” on the Town Line EP in 2011. “I was too busy going down the road of one day ending up being in a rock band, and revolting against the music I was basically force-fed as a kid,” he says. “I finally came around full circle, and this music crept back into my life. My plumber at the time bet me that I wouldn’t write a Country song, so I sat down and wrote ‘Country Boy,’ and the rest is history.”
As the front man for one of modern rock’s most successful bands in Staind, Lewis admits his entree into the Country world has been met with mixed reactions. “I have definitely dealt with some of the old guard questioning my commitment to the genre, questioning how much of this might be a toe-dipping in the water to see what the temperature is,” he says. “I had, and still have, a very established career in the rock world, and as much as that has been a blessing in some ways, it has been a curse in others in trying to be looked at as somebody who is taking this seriously and isn’t just trying to go where the money is. There has been a pretty big misconception I’ve had to battle, but there has also been lots of support. There have been times I’ve been told by a program director that my record was his favorite that came out that year but he couldn’t play it because it’s ‘too Country.’ The landscape of Country radio today doesn’t really leave any room for an artist like myself that has no desire to mix pop music with Country music. Why would I do that?”
Few pop-tinged songs would dare feature lyrics as candid, biting and personal as those on SINNER. If “Country Boy,” with its swaggering bravado, was the opening salvo, the 11 songs on SINNER herald a man who admits—and often deeply regrets—his personal shortcomings, yet offers no excuses. “This is an album of acknowledgement, admittance, moments of self-awareness,” he says. “It has been a pretty trying time in my life over the past few years, and these songs are what have come of it. At the risk of sounding cliché, my music has always been therapeutic for me.”
First Annual WV Craft Brew Festival Set for April at State Fairgrounds
The State Fair of West Virginia and Lewisburg Rotary Club are happy to announce the first-ever West Virginia Craft Brew Festival on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the State Fairgrounds in Lewisburg, WV. The event is set for 2 pm – 10 pm and will feature West Virginia’s finest craft breweries, an assortment of food trucks and all day music featuring Tyler Childers, Larry Keel, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The Jon Stickley Trio and Black King Coal.
“We are very excited to bring this unique event to the Greenbrier Valley,” State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. “The craft beer industry is growing in our state and this event is a chance to showcase the best of West Virginia. Add in the food and music, and it is looking to be a great day!”
Patrons for the Brew Festival will also have access to special workshops on beer and food pairings and the importance of agriculture in the brewing process. Tickets for the first-ever WV Craft Brew Fest can be purchased March 1 by visiting www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849). Tickets can also be purchased at the State Fair Box Office and other select locations March 20.
The mission of this event is to support and expand the ever-growing craft beer movement in West Virginia, while also supporting the local community. Proceeds from this event will go toward the scholarship and endowment funds for the State Fair of West Virginia and Lewisburg Rotary Club.
For more information including tickets prices, please visit the State Fair of West Virginia Event Center’s website at www.statefairofwv.com
The State Fair Event Center is a 200 acre multi-purpose meeting and exposition facility providing a wide variety of event rental opportunities and hosting over 300 events annually. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.
State Fair of WV Welcomes Old Crow Medicine Show to the 2017 Concert Line Up!
State Fair of WV Welcomes Old Crow Medicine Show to the 2017 Concert Line Up!
LEWISBURG, WV (02/13/2017) (readMedia)– Officials have announced that Old Crow Medicine Show will perform Thursday, August 17, at the 93rd Annual State Fair of West Virginia!
Tickets for Old Crow Medicine Show will go on sale Friday, February 17th, at 10 a.m.
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.
Old Crow Medicine Show
CHANCE MCCOY Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, Vocals
KEVIN HAYES Guitjo, Vocals
CRITTER FUQUA Slide Guitar, Banjo, Guitar, Vocals
MORGAN JAHNIG Upright Bass
CORY YOUNTS Mandolin, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals
KETCH SECOR Fiddle, Harmonica, Banjo, Vocals
Old Crow Medicine Show started busking on street corners in 1998 New York state and up through Canada, winning audiences along the way with their boundless energy and spirit. They eventually found themselves in Boone, North Carolina where they caught the attention of folk icon Doc Watson while playing in front of a pharmacy. He invited the band to play at his festival, MerleFest, helping to launch their career. Shortly thereafter the band was hired to entertain crowds between shows at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN.
It’s been over nineteen years since these humble beginnings. The band has gone on to receive the honor of being inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry, and have won two Grammy Awards: “Best Folk Album” for Remedy (2014) and “Best Long Form Music Video” for Big Easy Express (2013). Additionally, their classic single, “Wagon Wheel”, received the RIAA’s Platinum certification in 2013 for selling over 1,000,000 copies.
Old Crow Medicine Show has toured the world playing renowned festivals and venues such as: Bonnaroo, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Cambridge Folk Festival, Coachella, London’s Roundhouse, The Ryman Auditorium, The Barclays Center, New Orleans Jazz Fest, The Fox Theater Atlanta, The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Summerstage in Central Park NYC, Forecastle, the Newport Folk Festival, and several appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. They’ve toured with artists such as Willie Nelson & Family, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, John Prine, The Avett Brothers and others.
In 2011 Old Crow found themselves embarking on the historic Railroad Revival Tour with Mumford & Sons, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. This tour had the bands riding a vintage train from California to New Orleans, playing shows along the way. The magic of this musical excursion across America’s vast landscape is captured in the Emmet Malloy directed documentary, Big Easy Express.
Old Crow Medicine Show now have five studio albums to their name, three of which were released by Nettwerk Records – O.C.M.S (2004) and Big Iron World (2006) produced by David Rawlings, and Tennessee Pusher (2008) produced by Don Was. In 2012, ATO Records released the Ted Hutt produced, Carry Me Back, on which they continued to craft classic American roots music. The band’s latest album, Remedy (2014), released by ATO Records and also produced by Ted Hutt includes new Old Crow classics like “Sweet Amarillo,” “8 Dogs 8 Banjos,” and “Brushy Mountain Cojugal Trailer”.
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.
2017 Farming Heritage Entries Sought
2017 Farming Heritage Entries Sought
Cosponsored by the State Fair of West Virginia and West Virginia Farm Bureau
LEWISBURG, WV (02/10/2017) (readMedia)– Farming families are being sought as applicants for the 2017 Farming Heritage Award that is being offered by the State Fair of West Virginia and the West Virginia Farm Bureau.
The Farming Heritage award will be presented to a family that has strived to maintain its rural lifestyle by contributing to the community, acting as role models, dedicating time to efficient agricultural production, and maintaining the upkeep of their farm through generations.
The winning family will be treated to an award ceremony during the State Fair, an award luncheon, overnight accommodations, free admission, preferred parking, and a Natural Stone Sign award with the family’s name that may be displayed indoors or outdoors. A photo and brief biography of the winners will also be displayed in the Gus R. Douglass Annex during the Fair.
The Farming Heritage Award honors an agricultural family, and their multi-generation contributions to their community and to West Virginia. Entry forms may be completed by family members or by someone who wants to nominate a family for consideration. Judging will be conducted by an independent panel of judges.
All entries must be postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2017.
Entry applications are available through the West Virginia Farm Bureau office by calling Joan Harman @ 800-398-4630 x. 306, emailing joanh@wvfarm.org or visiting www.wvfarm.org. Farming Heritage applications are also available through the State Fair by calling Kimberly Dillon @ 304-645-1090, emailing kimd@statefairofwv.com or visiting www.statefairofwv.com/fair/scholarships-awards/
State Fair of WV Welcomes Martina McBride and Josh Turner!
State Fair of WV Welcomes Martina McBride and Josh Turner!
Officials have announced that Martina McBride and Josh Turner will perform Friday, August 11, 2017 at the 93rd Annual State Fair of West Virginia!
Tickets for Martina and Josh will go on sale Friday, February 3rd, at 10 a.m.
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 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.
Martina McBride:
Multiple Grammy® nominee Martina McBride has sold over 18 million albums to date, which includes 20 Top 10 singles and six #1 hits. 2017 marks a milestone in Martina’s illustrious career – it is her 25th year of touring.
In February 2016 she released her first single, “Reckless,” the title track from her new album which is now available. McBride has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association and won three Academy of Country Music for Top Female Vocalist. Martina has been awarded 14 Gold Records. Nine Platinum honors, three Double Platinum Records, and two Triple Platinum Awards. Martina was awarded the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award and Music Business Association’s prestigious 2015 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of domestic violence.
Through her Team Music Is Love charity initiative, Martina partners with non-profit causes to help many of the towns she’s performing in. Martina also invites fans to join her team in making the world a better place through the power of music.
Josh Turner
Multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner, is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than 12 million units, is a disciple of traditional country music and one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry. From his 2003 Platinum-selling debut Long Black Train to his most recent 2012 Billboard No. 1 release Punching Bag, Turner has garnered multiple GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM nominations. Turner’s hits include “Your Man,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Firecracker,” “Would You Go with Me,” “All Over Me,” and “Time Is Love,” the most played country song of 2012.
Turner added author to his list of accomplishments. His first book, Man Stuff: Thoughts on Faith, Family and Fatherhood was released in 2014. The Hannah, S.C. native has been songwriting and performing since he was a young child, and in support of music education, created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund to assist students interested in pursuing a future in arts and music. As a high school student, Turner had very little access to music education, therefore realizes first-hand the importance of arts education in schools.
Turner is currently on the road in support of his latest radio single, “Hometown Girl,” which Rolling Stone Country notes, “pairs the South Carolina native’s unmistakable, country-to-the-core baritone with a modern, rollicking beat.”
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.
Winter Markets Open at State Fairgrounds
The Winter Indoor Flea Market and Farmer’s Market will be open for business at the State Fair of West Virginia, this Saturday, November 19.
The fairground’s weekly flea market moves inside the heated West Virginia building for the winter season and is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 am to 1 pm, until December 20. The indoor flea market provides shoppers an opportunity to “treasure hunt” and local vendors an affordable indoor retail location through the next few weeks! Look for a variety of antiques, collectibles, gently worn clothing, electronics and more.
Vendors interested in participating may phone 304-645-1090 or visit statefairofwv.com to download a vendor application and rules. Applications may also be obtained in the State Fair office, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4 pm.
Fans of locally grown produce and locally produced farm products will have the opportunity to shop every Saturday from 8:00 am – 1 pm at the third annual Winter Indoor Farmer’s Market in the 4,000 square foot, heated, Douglass Annex building. The market is open to any small independent producer in the southeast region of West Virginia, and offers shoppers a wide range of delicious home-grown products.
For more information on either market, visit www.statefairofwv.com or call 304-645-1090.
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 93rd annual State Fair of West Virginia is a 10-day event scheduled for August 10-19, 2017. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com.
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