* Here it is…
Aug. 8 [To be announced]
Aug. 9 Weird Al Yankovic
Aug. 10 Huey Lewis and the News
Aug. 11 Illinois Symphony
Aug. 15 Toyota Tundra presents ZZ Top/Brooks and Dunn
Aug. 16 Vanessa Hudgens
Aug. 17 Trace Adkins with Trent Tomlinson
…Adding… From the governor…
“Once again, the Illinois State Fair offers something for everyone,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “I encourage everyone to come out and experience all the great entertainers playing the grandstand this year.”
- Truth - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:04 am:
Turn the electricity back off.
- GoBearsss - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:04 am:
Can we have a Question of the Day on who should play on August 8th?
- montrose - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:05 am:
I have to say, of everyone on that list, I am most excited about To Be Announced.
- The Rookie - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:07 am:
re: montrose
HAHAHA!!!!???
I concur!!!
Wow? Does that lineup stink, regardless of your background or musical taste. SHEESH!?
- God's Country - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:13 am:
Doesn’t make REO & Styx look so bad now, does it?
- S. Illinois - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:15 am:
Hudgens will be HUGE. Adkins and Tomlinson will sell well. The rest is UNBELIEVABLY weak. Unfortunately, I think you will see a similar lineup at the fairs in nearby states as well. Let’s hope there is some good harness racing in the grandstand.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:24 am:
The Brooks & Dunn concert will sell well. They’re quite popular.
- Bruno - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:26 am:
August 8th: Blagojevich will fiddle as Illinois burns.
- Crimefighter - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:27 am:
What was complained about heavily last year was several nights with nothing going on at the grandstand. So Aug 12th, 13th, 14th…have nothing to draw people to the fairgrounds midweek. Same mistake as last year.
- b-dogg - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:27 am:
iowa state fair blows this one away. * in the interest of full disclosure this has been posted by a country bumpkin from iowa. it is true though regardless of any bias.
- GoBearsss - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:33 am:
Bruno - I would watch that!
- Reality Check - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:39 am:
The nicest thing I can say about this lineup: That Trent Tomlinson song “One Wing in the Fire” is a good guilty pleasure. Also, a little-known fact: Huey Lewis’s pre-News band, Clover, backed Elvis Costello on his debut album.
- Little Egypt - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:44 am:
August 8 - Elvis, in person or otherwise.
- The Welshman - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:47 am:
What the deuce!? Seriously, year after year? Where does the root of the problem lay? I’m more inclined to go watch a one legged man in an [FROM RICH: Please, don’t swear in your comments in any shape or form] kicking contest than go watch Weird Al!
- Truth - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 11:59 am:
Go Bearsss - you are watching that. We all are.
- zatoichi - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:02 pm:
Huh, neither ZZ Top nor Brooks and Dunn have Illinois State Fair on their web sites. Both have others fairs listed. The rest of the acts ….. beer tents, maybe.
- BehindTheScenes - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:08 pm:
Hey, the Beach Boys are touring again. Is Willie N. available?
- elginite - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:30 pm:
Weird Al Yankovic! That’s great. Too bad it’s so darn far. It’s easier for us to get to Milwaukee for the Wisconsin State Fair…
- Lefty Lefty - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:37 pm:
First Lollapalooza August 1-3, then TBA/Weird Al/Huey Lewis the next weekend! Illinois rocks! (At least the top half does)
- Inquiring Mind - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:49 pm:
All of you nay sayers are missing the boat. I took my kids to see Weird Al at Navy Pier (yes, a sell out) and it was great. I’ll be at the fair this year - and I bet tickets are cheaper!
- Dirt Guy - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 12:54 pm:
Isn’t that the same line-up that was at the Taste of Illiopolis last year?
- PhilCollins - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:12 pm:
Inquiring Mind, I agree about Weird Al. I probably saw him the same time that you did, on July 26, 2003. He’s been my favorite singer since 1985. His best album is “Straight Outta Lynnwood,” which was released in 2006.
- SuperDave - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:24 pm:
“Entertaining”, “Grandstand” — interesting and appropriate choice of words from the Chief Entertainment Officer. Most Governors could realistically refer to themselves as a the CEO of their state — the “E” for Illinois’ Chief Executive has taken on a laughable new meaning in the past 5 years.
- so-called "Austin Mayor" - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:30 pm:
The Missouri State fair is offering the following “Big Name Concerts”:
Air Supply • Thursday, Aug. 7
Charlie Daniels with .38 Special and Shooter Jennings • Friday, Aug. 8
Josh Turner with Pat Green • Saturday, Aug. 9
The Country Gold Tour • Wednesday, Aug. 13
Sara Evans with Trent Thomlinson • Friday, Aug. 15
WARNING: An August 8 show in Springfield would fit right into the Air Supply tour.
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:51 pm:
To: S. Illinois….Hudgens (High School Musical 1,2,3,4,5…et al star) will NOT be a huge draw. The only people going that night will be tweeners from the rhubarbs whose towns are 2 or 3 years behind the rest of the world, and pedophile-looking, creepy old men. TWO YEARS AGO it may have been huge, but just a passing fancy.
When I lived in Springfield (’91-’98), I went to more shows at the Sangamon COUNTY Fair than the state fair (although watching the Violent Femmes/B-52s from the Governor’s Box was sweet!).
I too am VERY afraid of that open night on Air Supply’s calendar.
- What planet is he from again? - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:57 pm:
Ok, let me throw some ideas out here in no particular order:
1) This is Springfield. Springfield has a long history of “Why can’t we get decent shows in Springfield?”, followed by a big show which is a dismal failure, followed by no more big shows. Rinse-Repeat.
2) If they sign a big act at the State Fair and the show loses money, the hounds will howling “Why are you wasting our tax money on a the State Fair when we have potholes to fix and Medicaid payments to make and…!” Hence they tend toward less risky bookings.
3) Many of you are far from Springfield. Let’s say they signed your favorite act (whatever that may be.) Would you come all the way down here to see it? (Potential “Question of the Day”…what acts could they sign that would get you to go to Springfield to see?)
4) If the answer to #3 is “No”, then they’re forced to adjust the line-up according to the tastes of the people who do come, which may not agree with yours.
5) The State Fair is a family-oriented event, so acts like Disturbed or Linkon Park or Emminem probably wouldn’t be high on their wish list.
6) Weird Al Rocks. Period. If you don’t believe me, come on down, watch him and prove me wrong.
7) The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is a perinnial visitor. A little bit of “cul-chah” never hurt anyone. And the music is beautiful too.
Thank you, I’m done.
- anon2 - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 1:59 pm:
Didn’t Indiana go to “all country” state fair lineup format a few years ago? Why doesn’t Illinois? Theze geezer acts are almost beyond belief. Jeesh! is right. This lineup is an abomination. Reminds me of a couple of years ago when one-hit wonder Deep Blue Something played here—-and they were tagged with the fitting monicker “Deep Brown Something.” This year’s lineup is deep—and it is brown. Holy Cow, this lineup isn’t worthy of Decatur celebration, it isn’t worthy of Lincolnfest, it isn’t worthy of the Blessed Sacrament Church garden party and strawberry festival. For crying out loud, why don’t they just see if they can book Paul Williams and Mac Davis on a double bill?
- Tony - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:07 pm:
Why not just have seven days of Cheap Trick?
- Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:17 pm:
To bad the power was restored, just cancel the Fair, all you need to do to feel like you are at the Fair is visit Walmart!!!
- jerry 101 - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:23 pm:
Now, that’s the lineup for the DuQuoin State Fair, right?
When do they announce Springfield’s?
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:24 pm:
Any of the following Fair/Street Fest acts appropriate for a steamy August night in Springfield
Molly Hatchet — “Flirtin with Disaster”
Temptations: “Ball of Confusion”
Tony Orlando “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”
Susy Boggus “In the Jailhouse Now”
- Douglas M. - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:27 pm:
I remember Stone Temple Pilots putting on a great show years back, and now they’re reuniting. Maybe they are the TBA? One could only hope for something like that or Van Halen.
- 2for2 - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 2:58 pm:
About as bad as you can get.
- PPHS - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:00 pm:
I wonder how much these acts cost?
- Concerned Voter - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:42 pm:
At first I thought, well beer tent sales will be down during the vanessa hudgens show, but then again, those parents will need somewhere to go to deal with the screaming teens and tweens that will be there.
- Well Give It At Try - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:51 pm:
OK, you are now in charge of booking acts for the fair, but before you start, you have to eliminate the following bands.
1. Bands that are not touring. Lots of people have great bands they want, but they may not be touring.
2. Bands that are not routed. They are not going to play San Diego on a Thursday then Springfield on a Friday.
3. Bands that won’t play an outdoor venue (more than you think).
4. Bands that won’t play a State Fair (many of the really “hot” bands think they are too good for a State Fair).
5. Bands that will not play a venue with seating under 10,000.
6. Bands that have a fee so high the Springfield area market would not support. And don’t even start on the if they are that good people will pay. The Springfield market has proven time after time they won’t.
It sounds really easy, but just try to find “Class A” lineup after you take out any band that falls into one of the above groups.
- S. Illinois - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 3:56 pm:
To Quimby - I stand by my statement. They will all be tweeners, but they will be there in droves.
To Give it a try - I have defended the booking of the fair on this board in the past as it is very hard to get the right mix of affordable entertainment. I just can’t defend this lineup.
- Ahem - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:25 pm:
Any word on what Hudgens will be wearing?
- so-called "Austin Mayor" - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:55 pm:
Rest assured, it could be worse: I saw Vanilla Ice at a state fair.
And, no — I won’t tell you where or when.
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
- annon - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 7:57 pm:
Probably all they could afford. Some big names in there from a decade or so ago.{??} Brooks & Dunn w/ zz Top will be good. Wonder if they’ll have to wait 6 months to get paid like everybody else is ?? Better get one of those M-O-U like everbody else does too.
- Establishment Republican - Thursday, May 1, 08 @ 10:06 pm:
He couldn’t get Hannah Montana?