By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – From corn dogs to car races, an ag tent to a kids’ corner, there will be something for everyone at the Illinois State Fair, set for Aug. 13 to 23 in Springfield. And that is certainly the case when it comes to the musical line up.
“We try to keep the fair family-friendly, obviously, but we would like to have a concert if possible for all ages and all genres,” State Fair Director Kevin Gordon told Illinois Radio Network in a telephone interview.
This year, that means country stars like Toby Keith, Kane Brown and Chris Young; hip-hop legend LL Cool J; alt-rock bands Puddle of Mudd and Fuel; and a tribute to Neil Diamond. Prices range from $57 for Keith to $12 for alt-rock to free for the Diamond tribute on Senior Night.
Gordon likened booking the acts to putting together a jigsaw puzzle: Some of the bigger acts are booked a year in advance, for instance, and it can be hard to predict who will draw crowds far in advance.
“You’re looking at what they have done the previous couple years; you take into consideration how many tickets they have sold, where they played at, are they coming out with new music,” Gordon said.
He emphasized that the grand concerts are only part of the entertainment: the fair also has 13 free stages anybody can listen to once they are on the grounds.
“We do our best to promote Illinois artists” on those stages, he said. “Every year beginning in November we go ahead and throw an application out on our website for free entertainers that are interested in performing here at the fair. We take in hundreds of applications every single year. They send an E.P. (entertainment package); we’ll listen to that and we select the best ones. Most of those bands are from Illinois.”
For information, schedules and activities, see illinois.gov/statefair.
Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected].
