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Country acts dominate U.P. State Fair entertainment

Ilsa Matthes | Daily Press Guests wait patiently for the announcement of the 2017 Upper Peninsula State Fair grandstand lineup during a media reception at the Island Resort and Casino Wednesday. This year’s entertainment includes a regional talent competition, The Oak Ridge Boys, LoCash, The Prince Experience, and Sawyer Brown.

ESCANABA — A wide variety of performers and events have been featured in the U.P. State Fair’s grandstand, and 2017 promises to be no exception. This year’s U.P. State Fair grandstand entertainment lineup was announced Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15, grandstand entertainment at the 2017 U.P. State Fair will kick off with the finale of “906 Got Talent.” In this event, solo performers will have a chance to compete for a first-place prize of $2,000. Preliminary rounds for the competition will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays from July 11 to August 8 in Club Four One at the Island Resort and Casino.

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, legendary country and gospel quartet The Oak Ridge Boys will take the grandstand stage. With a current lineup consisting of lead singer Duane Allen, bass Richard Sterban, tenor Joe Bonsall, and baritone William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys are known for hit singles such as “Elvira,” “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” and “Come On In.” Along with multiple Grammys and many other honors, The Oak Ridge Boys won “Single of the Year” for “Elvira” at both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Awards

in 1981. They have also been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame.

A different era of country music will be represented on Thursday, Aug. 17, when country pop duo LoCash will perform. The band, which was previously known as The LoCash Cowboys, consists of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas. Their biggest hit, “I Know Somebody” from their 2016 album “The Fighters,” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Country Airplay chart. Other LoCash singles include “I Love This Life,” “Ring on Every Finger,” and “Keep In Mind.” LoCash has been nominated for “New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year” at the 2017 ACM Awards and “Duo Video of the Year” at the 2017 CMT Music Awards.

A Prince tribute band, The Prince Experience, will perform at the grandstand on Friday, Aug. 18. Led by Gabriel Sanchez, The Prince Experience performs a selection of Prince’s greatest hits, including tracks from his iconic 1984 album “Purple Rain.”

The final concert at this year’s U.P. State Fair will be performed by country band Sawyer Brown on Saturday, Aug. 19. After winning a $100,000 grand prize and record contract in the first season of “Star Search,” Sawyer Brown went on to become known for their hit singles such as “Thank God For You,” “Some Girls Do,” and “Step That Step.” Among other honors, they won the “Horizon Award” at the 1985 Country Music Association Awards and “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 1997 Academy of Country Music Awards. Sawyer Brown’s current lineup consists of Mark Miller, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard, Shayne Hill, Jim Scholten, and Joe Smyth.

On the last day of the fair, Sunday, August 20, UPIR Racing will be held at the grandstand. A fireworks display will also take place that evening.

Vickie Micheau said she believes that U.P. State Fair attendees will enjoy these concerts and events.

“We think that fairgoers are going to be extremely satisfied with the quality of the entertainment that we’re offering at the grandstand this year,” she said.

She also noted that, as has been the case in the past, this year’s grandstand events are free with admission to the fair.

“We just continue to find great entertainment that adds value for fairgoers once they pass through the turnstiles,” Micheau said.

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