 Dave Irwin, chairman of the event, is excited about the concert this
year. The logistics of landing top-flight entertainment for a fair
are complicated. Who will be in the area, who can make the date and
how much it will cost are all factors that have to be considered
before an entertainment package can be lined up for the fair.
Thanks to some hard work by Irwin and great financial support
from area businesses, this year's concert night will offer fairgoers
the best night of live entertainment in a very long time.
Craig Morgan, a U.S. Army veteran, began his musical career in
2000 on Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album for
that label before the closure of its Nashville division in 2000. In
2002, Morgan signed to the independent Broken Bow Records, on which
he released three studio albums: 2003's "I Love It," 2005's "My Kind
of Livin'" and 2006's "Little Bit of Life." These produced several
chart hits, including "That's What I Love About Sunday," which spent
four weeks at the top of the Billboard country charts and was that
publication's No. 1 country hit of 2005. A greatest hits package
followed in mid-2008 before Morgan left the label for BNA Records,
on which he released "That's Why" later that same year. "My Kind of
Livin'" is also his highest-selling album, having been certified
gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Morgan has charted 17 times on the Billboard country charts.
Besides "That's What I Love About Sunday," six more of his singles
have reached that chart's Top Ten: "Almost Home," "Redneck Yacht
Club," "Little Bit of Life," "International Harvester," "Love
Remembers" and "Bonfire." He signed with Black River Entertainment
in 2011 and released "This Ole Boy" that same year.
Brushfire, the opening act, isn't a typical stand-behind-the-mic-and-sing
band. Brushfire members are Brett Gillan, Dustin Reynolds, Marc
Broomby, Darin Holthaus and Lincoln native Kirk Ellis. They are
described as a young and energetic band that plays upbeat, rockin'
country a la Jason Aldean and Bon Jovi. According to publicity,
Brushfire blends five extremely talented musicians, with incredible
harmonies, an explosive stage show and a fresh, dynamic sound
produced by an array of instruments to create an unforgettable
experience for the audience.
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They have played throughout the Midwest, from Chicago down to the
legendary Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tenn. In early 2012 the
band went up against over 300 national bands that entered a battle
of the bands at Wildhorse. Brushfire came out on top and was
selected the winner by a panel of top industry professionals
including Michael Knox, the man credited with "discovering" talents
such as Jason Aldean, John Rich and Gretchen Wilson.
Irwin said that despite this top-tier entertainment, tickets will
still be only $20 per person. They can be purchased at State Bank or
at the Logan County Fair office. Irwin said bringing this type of
talent to the fair is possible only because of the sponsors who help
absorb the costs.
This year's sponsors include:
-
State Bank of Lincoln
-
Town & Country Bank
-
Midwest Technical
Institute
-
Lincoln Chrysler
Dodge & Jeep
-
Graue Inc.
-
Jim Xamis Ford
-
John Olson / Rick
Freed families
-
Hartsburg Grain Co.
-
Cross Implement
-
Central Illinois Ag
-
Rohlfs Implement
-
Ashley Farms
-
Frontier Mutual
-
Remington Hybrids
-
Ron Merritt Chemical
-- Lincoln Ag -- BASF
-
Dekalb/Asgrow
-
Channel Seed
-
CAMS -- Greg Lumsden
-
New Holland Banking
Center
-
Gieseke Farms
-
Bedolli Excavating & Tiling
[Text from file received]
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