LEWISBURG, WV (04/12/2012)(readMedia)– Four additional concert event have been confirmed for the 88th annual 2012 State Fair of West Virginia. Tickets for the following shows will go on sale Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Sunday, August 12 – 7 pm: LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY, JR. – sponsored by The West Virginia Lottery – One cold November day in 2010, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. of Logan, W. Va. and his wife Jennifer stood among thousands of people lined up to audition for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” After several hours, he was the last one sitting in a huge rehearsal hall. “I knew that was a good sign,” remembers Jennifer. Almost a year to the day later, Syco/Columbia Records is proudly releasing Landau’s first album, That’s Life. After receiving standing ovations from judges Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and Howie Mandel, a singing duet with the iconic Patti LaBelle, and a rousing rendition of “My Way,” Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. was finally named the winner of AGT’s sixth season on Sept.
14, 2011. Many have compared Landau’s smooth vocals and phrasing to that of Frank Sinatra, a singer he’s always admired. That’s why all of the tracks from “That’s Life” are Sinatra standards, but Landau does them his way. “I put my own voice and my own soul into this album.” He decided to honor Sinatra as a salute to the fans who voted for him. “I want to give back as much as possible and stay true to the people who supported me,” he says. The West Virginia Lottery is planning a “Dream Big” promotion where five winners and their guest will win tickets to the concert, a meet and greet with Landau, and be part of a cash prize drawing during the show!
Wednesday, August 15 – 8 pm: BRANTLEY GILBERT DRAKE WHITE – Stop and listen to any of Brantley Gilbert’s lyrics and you know a little about him. Listen to his albums and you will feel like family. Brantley Gilbert was born and raised in the small town of Jefferson, Georgia, just outside of Athens city limits. It is that upbringing and small town influence that Gilbert credits toward allowing him to cultivate his unique sound. Gilbert’s taste in music always swayed toward a southern country rock feel, but his true-to-life testimony of heartache, trials, triumph, and success found a home in country music. While on the road the past five years, Gilbert has built his brand through his compelling lyrics and dynamic live show – a combination that attracted a
strong underground band of believers who shared Gilbert’s passion for life and music; pretty soon his following had taken on a life of its own. As Gilbert tells it, “[W]e don’t have fans, we have friends. I like to think that those people in the crowd are just like me. They listen to the songs, they get the meaning and get the purpose and they get something out of it.” It is this rabid fan base that became the first members of what is now known as the BG Nation. As tour dates multiply throughout the South, Gilbert’s fan base continues to expand. The rising star’s Facebook post see views of 7 million a month and his MySpace page has garnered more than 16 million total song plays- a number that has brought him to the #1 spot on MySpace Music Charts for both Country and Southern Rock. He also
continues to sell out venues throughout the country – proof that the BG Nation is relentlessly growing.
Thursday, August 16 – 8 pm: THE NEWSBOYS AND BUILDING 429 – Genesis, Petra, Van Halen. They all did it. Many legendary acts have introduced a new lead singer amidst their career without missing a beat. So when Newsboys announced that dc Talk vocalist Michael Tait would take over for exiting front man Peter Furler-after a natural period of surprise-the band and its fans alike began to relish the positives and possibilities of this fresh start. And all signs would point to a phrase loaded with creative and spiritual significance that has become the title of newsboys’ next album, Born Again, releasing this summer on June 8th. Of course, Tait hardly needs an introduction. While Newsboys charted 25 No. 1 pop hits, sold six million records, and helped Christian music
gain mainstream acceptance, dc Talk was doing the same with GRAMMY-winning sets like Free at Last and Jesus Freak. Combining the strengths of these two groups now is clearly good reason for excitement. In all, Newsboys collectively view Born Again as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year-standing at a crossroads where human reason might suggest closing up shop, but bold faith would compel these four men to trust in God’s plan for them and their listeners through the power of music.
Quite often the gifts that God gives believers take on an added potency when simmered in the sauce of experience. Such is the case with Building 429, the talented pop/rock outfit that topped the charts in 2004 with “Glory Defined” and proceeded to build one of the Christian music community’s most impactful ministries. Now after nearly a decade in the national spotlight, Building 429 has teamed with Provident Music Group for their fifth album, Listen To The Sound. “It really is the overflow of the life that we’ve lived over the last two or three years, especially this past year,” says lead vocalist Jason Roy. “I’m a worship pastor now and that has been a huge part of the lyrical content of this record. It’s about the lives that I’ve been involved with. This really does come from a much more
honest place.” Experienced, mature, and as dedicated as ever to sharing God’s truth, the members of Building 429 are excited about this new season in the band’s ministry. “This is where God has put me right now and I hate to quote my own song, but it really is about just ‘one foot in front of the other,'” Jason says with a smile, citing the uptempo anthem “One Foot.” “We just have to focus on this moment. It’s time for us to value every second that we have and use it all for the glory of God.”
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17: Buckin B’ Bull Riding Special Guest – Featuring some of the country’s top professional bull riders, Buckin’ B Cattle returns to the State Fair of West Virginia with the bull riders competing for the SEBRA National Finals. Bull riders voted the fair’s 2011 Buckin B’ Bull Ride Event at the #1 event in the South East Bull Ride Association! Look for an April 28th announcement about the new country artist who will perform following the Bull Ride event!
State Fair CEO, Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, states, “Following on the success of our first group of events that were announced, we’re once again focusing on giving our fairgoers a variety of entertainment!” Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will 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.
The 2012 State Fair is themed “Memories that grow…year after year.” and is scheduled August 10-18. 2012. 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.
