 "This entertainment lineup proves that there truly is something for
everyone at this year's Illinois State Fair," said Gov. Pat Quinn.
"A concert in the state fair Grandstand is a great way to spend a
summer evening."Latin Grammy winner Pitbull, whose single
"Timber" just recently became his second No. 1 hit in the United
States, will perform Aug. 9. Tickets for the show, which range in
price from $40 for a Tier 3 Grandstand seat to $65 for a VIPit track
ticket in front of the stage, will go on sale Saturday, May 3, at 10
a.m. through Ticketmaster.
The cast of "Million Dollar Quartet" will give a free
concert Aug. 11. The hit musical is currently running at the Apollo
Theater in Chicago and Harrah's Showroom in Las Vegas and was
inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together
rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and
Carl Perkins for the first and only time.
"This year's entertainment is going to be something you don't
want to miss," said Amy Bliefnick, state fair manager. "From the
first night to the last, the acts are top-notch. I'm looking forward
to great shows and memorable performances."
The 2014 Grandstand concert series opens Aug. 8, when the "American
Idol Live!" tour rolls into Springfield. The tour will give fans
of the hit TV series a chance to see the top 10 finalists from the
current season: C.J. Harris, Jena Irene, Caleb Johnson, Jessica
Meuse, MK Nobilette, Alex Preston, Dexter Roberts, Majesty Rose,
Malaya Watson and Sam Woolf.
Florida Georgia Line will perform Aug. 10, the day after the
Pitbull concert. The vocal duo has rocketed to stardom since the
first four singles from the platinum-selling debut album "Here's to
the Good Times" shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay
chart, including "Cruise," the best-selling digital country song of
all time and the Country Music Association's 2013 "Single of the
Year."
Aug. 12 will feature a "triple bill" of classic rock. Headlining
the show will be ’70s supergroup Boston, whose hits,
including "More Than A Feeling," "Peace of Mind," "Long Time,"
"Don't Look Back" and "Amanda," remain a staple of classic rock
radio today. Joining Boston will be the Canadian rock group April
Wine, which has released more than 20 albums and performed
together for more than 40 years, and Sweet, a British glam
band best known for songs such as "Ballroom Blitz" and "Little
Willy."
Singer and songwriter Hunter Hayes, the youngest male solo
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.
[to top of second column] |
On Aug. 15, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steely Dan
will perform. The duo released a string of 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."
Country singer Jake Owen, the 2012 American Country Awards
"Breakthrough Artist of the Year," is the featured entertainment
Aug. 16. Owen already has nine top 20 singles on the Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart to his credit, including the No. 1 smash hits
"Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and "Alone with You."
Performers have yet to be booked for Aug. 14 and 17.
In addition to Pitbull tickets, fairgoers also can begin buying
tickets Saturday for the Hunter Hayes and Steely Dan concerts. Those
will be available online at
http://www.ticketmaster.com/, by phone at 800-745-3000 or in
person at all Ticketmaster outlets.
Tickets for the "American Idol Live!" tour can be purchased the
following Saturday, May 10. Tickets for the other announced acts
already are on sale.
The new concert bookings were announced during a preview party on
the fairgrounds to begin the countdown to the fair. The event also
included the unveiling of the 2014 Illinois State Fair theme,
"Making Memories."
"For many Illinoisans, a trip to the fair has become a family
tradition, an annual pilgrimage to celebrate our state's people,
culture and heritage," said Bob Flider, agriculture director. "And
the lifelong memories of those visits have kept families coming back
for generations. I invite your family to make memories of its own
when this tradition known as the Illinois State Fair is renewed 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
news release] |
