LEWISBURG, WV (03/14/2011)(readMedia)– Six concert events for the 87th annual 2011 State Fair of West Virginia have been announced. Tickets for the following shows will go on sale Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m.
Friday, August 12, 8 pm: Jamey Johnson and Lee Brice. Johnson’s 2009 “In Color” was named Song of the year In April 2009, earning him a Gold Record. During 2009 and 2010, he collected five Grammy Award nominations. His newest landmark project The Guitar Song is a 25-song, double album with thematically linked sets of songs dubbed the “Black Album” and the “White Album.” Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” broke the record for the most weeks spent on the Billboard country songs chart after climbing to No. 3 in its 55th week. The previous record-holder was Eddy Arnold’s 1948 hit, “Bouquet of Roses.”
Saturday, August 13, 8 pm: Mercy Me and Rebecca St. James. Countless listeners first met MercyMe through the account of Bart’s father which inspired the band’s 2001 breakthrough hit, “I Can Only Imagine.” Mercy Me’s current single “Beautiful” sits at #1 on Billboards Contemporary Christian singles chart! Rebecca St. James was the industry’s innovative ‘new voice’ as a teen in the mid-90’s, she blazed a trail in the contemporary Christian genre for many other talented female artists to come. She has received countless industry awards, including the prestigious GRAMMY®, garnered number one singles and has consistently topped both radio and sales charts, with career album sales in the millions of album units.
Sunday, August 14, 6 pm: Big Time Rush. Big Time Rush is living proof of the proverb “good things come to those who wait.” The process of finding Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena and Logan Henderson began three years ago, and now, after an incredibly successful first season on their hit Nickelodeon show of the same name, the band is finally ready to unveil their debut album entitled BTR. Their smash series, which boasts the highest-rated and most-watched live-action premiere in the history of the network, attracted 6.8 million viewers. .
Monday, August 15, 8 pm: The Band Perry. Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry are a trio of siblings raised on Country, Rock and Soul – influences that they blend together as seamlessly as the rare magic of their family three-part harmonies. In April 2010, The Band Perry released a five-song EP on Republic Nashville as their first single, “Hip To My Heart” broke into the Top 20 at Country Radio. Their second single, “If I Die Young” landed the band at #1 atop the Country Radio Charts and “If I Die Young” is now certified as a Platinum single by the RIAA for sales exceeding one million copies. The Band Perry garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, CMA nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, three American Country Award nominations for New/Breakthrough Artist
of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, Video by New/Breakthrough Artist as well as an invitation by the American Music Awards to attend as presenters.
Friday, August 19, 8 pm: Alice Cooper. Before there was Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson or KISS, there was Alice Cooper, the original self-proclaimed “rock villain.” Born Vincent Furnier, Cooper and his mighty band of the same name – lead guitarist Glen Buxton, rhythm guitarist Michael Bruce, bass player Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith – pioneered the dark spectacle of heavy metal with their huge blues-rock sound and extravagant stage show. Drawing from horror movies and vaudeville, Cooper brought a new level of visual theatrics to arenas with guillotines, electric chairs, boa constrictors and fake blood; their 1973 tour broke box office records previously held by the Rolling Stones, and raised the bar for major rock tours. Cooper will be inducted into the
Rock N Roll Hall of Fame on Monday night March 14, 2011!
Saturday, August 20, 7 pm: Buckin B Bull Riding followed by Colt Ford. 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. Colt Ford’s video “Chicken N Biscuits” has helped him garner over 100,000 Facebook Fans! Associated press writer Chris Talbott had this to say about his album by the same name, “He’s built a catalog of humor-laced songs that feature vivid stories of country life with a series of guest singers. The album has songs about country girls, lazy weekends, fishing, hunting, country girls, working on the truck, partying in the honky tonk, trailer parks and country girls, of course.”
State Fair manager, Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, states, “Variety is the key to our 2011 entertainment package with three additional events to be announced in the very near future.” 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 2011 State Fair is themed “It’s All Here” and is scheduled August 12-20, 2011. The State Fair of West Virginia, with an $8.9 million dollar economic impact on Greenbrier County, 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.
