Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 – Day Four
Well, folks, we have had “good times” with Alan Jackson and Jamey Johnson at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand stage. Blake Shelton is set to go on stage any minute now Saturday night, and Sunday looks to be a another fun day at the fair. Elizabeth Cook returns for her second of two days at the fair this year, performing two FREE sets at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell (1 and 2:30 p.m.). Cook mixes Americana, Old-school Country, Bluegrass and Folk all into her own style. She has been on the road all summer long playing old favorites and new tunes from “Gospel Plow.”
We also would recommend checking out The Cactus Blossoms (City Pages best country band of 2012) Sunday with three performances on the Heritage Square Stage (10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.). Country music has a long-held appreciation for sibling bands, and it seems there’s no sweeter sound than two brothers harmonizing over a sad country tune. Brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey have capitalized on this tried-and-true formula with their band The Cactus Blossoms, most recently pulling together a backup band of music veterans: Mike “Razz” Russell on fiddle, Liz Draper on upright bass, and Randy Broughten on pedal steel guitar and dobro.Last year, the five-piece
joined together for a day of live in-studio recording with Brent Sigmeth at Cannon Falls’ LittleBig Studio, and released their first self-titled album. Made up of eight original tunes and a couple of covers, it has since caught the attention of scores of Minnesota listeners as well as Country Music Television’s music blog, which named it among the top overlooked albums of last year. Pretty high praise for a band you can see every Monday night at the Turf Club, but it’s praise well deserved.
Back at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell Sunday will be the chance to see Jeffery Broussard and The Creole Cowboys, which features the accordion mastery and soulful vocals of front man Jeffery Broussard. The band delivers great, pack-the-floor renditions of Creole classics. Early Creole music, as played by legends Canray Fontenot on fiddle and Jeffery’s father, accordion player Delton Broussard, is experiencing a well-deserved resurgence of interest in Louisiana today.
Also to watch for Sunday:
• Greene and Hurst will be rocking country-style in the Gardens from 7 to 11 p.m. G&H hit the country music scene in October 2011 and is a little bit of rock n roll and a whole lot of country.
• The county fair talent contest at the Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park at 7 p.m.
• The Sunday night Grandstand headliner is Anita Baker, who is promoting her new single “Lately.” Baker will perform at 8 p.m. and tickets are $38.
• Looking ahead, the big show of the week will be when Rascal Flatts rolls into town Thursday, Aug. 30 for a Grandstand show. The opening acts in themselves are enough to come out and see – Little Big Town (rockin’ the country airwaves with the fun summer hit “Pontoon), Edens Edge, and the Eli Young Band, which has also had its last two offerings top the country charts. Watch for more on this great lineup next week!
Also, don’t forget to stop by your favorite country radio station booths at the fair – K102 is located on Nelson Street (O26 on your official Minnesota State Fair map), and BUZ’N Country is located on Judson Avenue (V30 on your official Minnesota State Fair map). Both radio stations will be doing prize giveaways, contests, and broadcasting live from the fair! Stop by and see your favorite radio personalities and try to win some cool country gear!
STATE FAIR TRIVIA: Each day in this update, we will be doing state fair country trivia! The person who gets the most correct answers over the course of the fair will receive a prize from Minnesotacountry.com. Submit your answer via e-mail to info@minnesotacountry.com and we’ll announce the winner after the fair!
TODAY’S QUESTION: Saturday night’s headliner Blake Shelton recently did a remake of what popular 1980s movie soundtrack hit?
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER: On The Andy Griffith Show, Jim Nabors portrayed the loveable mechanic Gomer Pyle. His character also had a spinoff from The Andy Griffith Show called Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
If you have some additional tips on keeping it country at the fair, e-mail them to info@minnesotacountry.com and we will be happy to pass them along to our fans.
Ryan Gueningsman is at ryan.gueningsman@minnesotacountry.com or can be found on Facebook.