2007 N.C. State Fair Nightly Entertainment

Dorton Arena hosts a Gala of Stars!

July 29, 2007

NORTH CAROLINA STATEWIDE NEWS -- The 2007 N.C. State Fair will showcase an exciting blend of Southern flavor, as Dorton Arena hosts TV cooking celebrity Paula Deen, contemporary Christian acts, an "American Idol" champion, and a gala of country stars with three of the entertainers calling North Carolina home.

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner, Steve Troxler, announced the 2007 nightly entertainment lineup: "We are proud once again to host entertainers who are returning to their home state. Kellie Pickler, Daughtry and Anthony Hamilton all have roots in our state, and I am looking forward to the diverse entertainment that they and the other performers will bring to the State Fair."

The 2007 N.C. State Fair concert series begins Friday, October 12, and continues nightly until October 21, the last day of the Fair. Below is a descriptive list of the nightly entertainment lineup with a short introduction to their achievements.

October 12, Friday night, one of America's hottest praise and worship bands, MercyMe, will kickoff the 2007 N.C. State Fair concert series. MercyMe, has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as in other prime media such as, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and The New York Times. MercyMe, has also successfully launched "The Go Foundation," an organization to aid youth entering the mission field. Tickets are $10.00.

October 13, Saturday night, Sara Evans, the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year winner, will perform on stage. Known as one of the world's most beautiful people who still embraces her Missouri small town values. Tickets are $15.00.

October 14, Sunday night, Ruben Studdard, winner of the 2003 second season of American Idol will perform Sunday night. The performer is so loved by his native state, Alabama, that Governor Bob Riley declared March 11, 2003 as "Ruben Studdard Day." Ruben ‘s "Soulful" album, released in 2003, has sold nearly two million copies. Tickets are $10.00.

October 15, Monday night, top entertainer, Josh Turner, best known for his platinum-selling debut album "Long Black Train," and now "Your Man" which he sang at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville this past June, will take the stage. Tickets are $10.00.

October 16, Tuesday night, Country Music's newest phenomena, Albemarle native, Kellie Pickler will perform. Before she made it to the finals of the fifth season of American Idol, Kellie Pickler had signed a contract with BNA Records for 19 Recordings. Kellie's background is noteworthy and can easily be related to by many Americans. Kellie spent the majority of her childhood with her grandmother, stricken with arthritis, a painfully crippling disease which affects over 40 million Americans. Kellie has expressed many times that the late Mrs. Faye Pickler, her grandmother, was the one person in her childhood she could count on. Kellie is promoting her debut album "Small Town Girl." Tickets are $5.00.

October 17, Wednesday is Military Appreciation Day will be filled with fun activities for the whole family. The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome ceremony and musical entertainment from the 440th Army Band. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy free performances by the 82nd Airborne Chorus and the Heritage of America Blue Aces Rock Band on the Waterfall Stage near Dorton Arena. In the evening, the U.S. Navy Rock Band will also perform on the Waterfall stage at 4 p.m. Wednesday night, Paula Deen, known as the queen of southern cuisine and home cooking, will cook up an evening of delicious food and down-home humor. Paula Deen, a self-made American entrepreneur, who has overcome the trails and tribulations in her life to become adored by housewives across the nation. Tickets to join Paula Deen are $20.00.

October 18, Thursday night, Anthony Hamilton, R&B star and Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton will perform on stage with hits from his album, "Ain't Nobody Worryin'." Last year, Anthony won the BET J "Cool Like That" Award. Furthermore, Anthony tributes the overwhelming positive response to his music to experience he has gained through performing on the road. Tickets are $15.00.

October 19, Friday night, Steven Curtis Chapman, Christian music legend Steven Curtis Chapman will perform a selection of hits from his 20-year career. Chapman, a winner of fifty-one Dove Awards, will appear at the N.C. State Fair as part of his "Live In This Moment Tour" which is visiting more than 55 cities. "This Moment," is Steven's first new project in more than three years, and is his sixteenth studio album. Tickets are $10.00.

Saturday night, October 20, Christian rock band, Day of Fire will open for Daughtry promoting its new hit album "Cut&Move," according Day of Fire's lead singer Josh Brown: "Cut & Move, deals with cutting yourself away from the failures of yesterday, leaving behind the burdens of the past, and moving into the future."
The premier band for the October 20, Saturday night's entertainment will be Daughtry, named after North Carolina native and lead vocalist Chris Daughtry. Daughtry has used their artist site www.daughtryoffical.com to leave an indelible impression on the digital world. The web site has attracted more than one million page views per week with their double-platinum debut album Daughtry since its release. The album, "Daughtry" has become the number one top selling album in the country twice since its debut in November, 2006. Tickets are $20.00.

October 21, Sunday night, the last night for the Fair, Trace Adkins, "Dangerous Man" known for such hits as "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "Ladies Love Country Boys" and "Every Light in the House." Trace Adkins appearance will wrap up the N.C. State Fair concert series. Trace started out by singing in a gospel group, working as a pipefitter, and playing honky-tonks in Texas and Louisiana at night. Eventually, Trace moved to Nashville, worked construction during the day and played bars at night. Finally, Trace got his big break, and has gone on to become one of country music's biggest stars. Now, ten years into his remarkable career, Trace is promoting his new album "Dangerous Man." Tickets are $20.00.

Tickets can only be purchased online at www.ncstatefair.org, and will go on sale Tuesday, September 4, at 8:00 a.m. Prices will range from $5.00 to $20.00, plus Fair admission is required for all concerts. If any tickets remain when the North Carolina Fair starts, they will be sold from the box office at the fairgrounds. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. This year's N.C. State Fair concert series entertainment stands to be the best ever, so be sure to buy your tickets in advance to enjoy a Fair you will never forget!

Published by:
Rob Cross
mailto:editor@357news.com

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