Illinois State Fair announces new concert bookings

Steely Dan, Hunter Hayes added to 2014 entertainment lineup

[April 23, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steely Dan will perform at the 2014 Illinois State Fair. The Grammy Award-winning band, which has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, will bring its "Jamalot Ever After" tour to the fair on Aug. 15.

"I'm thrilled Steely Dan is coming to the Illinois State Fair," said Amy Bliefnick, manager of the state fair. "They are on our list of bands that are frequently requested by fairgoers."

Steely Dan released a string of top 20 hit songs in the 1970s, including such classic rock staples as "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Do It Again," "Hey Nineteen," "Reelin' In the Years" and "Deacon Blues." In 2000, "Two Against Nature," the band's first record in 20 years, won a Grammy Award from the recording industry for "Album of the Year."

Tickets for the show, which range in price from $29 for a Tier 3 Grandstand seat to $54 for a VIPit track ticket in front of the stage, will go on sale May 3 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

The fair also announced:

• Singer and songwriter Hunter Hayes, the youngest solo male act ever to reach the top of the Hot Country Songs chart, will take the Grandstand stage for a concert Aug. 13. Hayes already has six hit singles to his credit, including "Wanted," which reached No. 1 just after his 21st birthday in September 2012. His second album, "Storyline," is scheduled to be released in May. The first single from the album, "Invisible," climbed to No. 4 on the country music charts. Tickets for the Hayes concert, which also go on sale May 3, will cost between $29 and $49.

• Track and VIPit tickets for the Aug. 10 performance of Florida Georgia Line are sold out. Reserved seats, however, are still available through Ticketmaster and can be purchased either online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/, by phone at 800-745-3000 or in person at all Ticketmaster outlets.

• Good seats also remain for the Boston, Sweet and April Wine concert Aug. 12 and the Jake Owen concert Aug. 16.

The 2014 Illinois State Fair will run Aug. 7-17. For more information about the Grandstand entertainment lineup, visit the fair's website or call 217-782-1979.

[Text from Illinois State Fair file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]