Continuing its theme of hosting top country singers, the Hillsdale County Fair announced Monday its 2015 grandstand entertainer will be four-time Grammy-nominated Trace Adkins.
“Trace has such a range. He can tug at your heart strings and then cut loose,” said Scott Dow, Hillsdale County Fair manager. “He’s a perfect fit for our fair.”
Adkins has three Billboard No. 1 hits including “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” and “Ladies Love Country Boys.”
Adkins will perform at 7:30 p.m on Wednesday, Sept. 30., a slightly different time and day than the fair’s headline entertainer usually performs, due to scheduling conflicts.
Despite the many obstacles the committee faces in booking a headline performer, Dow said Adkins is an ideal fit for this year’s entertainment.
“We study Billboard charts and look for an entertainer with a number of hits, and he fits that bill,” Dow said. “He’s well-known, he will appeal to all ages, and he hasn’t played live much in this area.”
In addition to his popularity as an entertainer, Dow said the the Fair Board Entertainment Committee is proud to host someone who’s displayed admirable character as a spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Program and Red Cross, and he participated in seven United Service Organization tours.
Since the Monday announcement, committee chairman Rod Beach said he’s heard good feedback.
“The rumblings are positive,” Beach said. “We get people who come to the fair every year just because they love it, and it’s the icing on the cake when we can get a good name entertainer to come in that gets people a reason to come out.”
Country music fan junior Shannon O’Hearn said she is among those pleased with the committee’s choice and plans to buy tickets for Adkins’s show.
“He is such a classic legend who everyone loves and can sing along with,” O’Hearn said. “Country tends to be easy-going, free-living, relatable songs that everyone can find a connection with. I have no doubt that Trace will bring this entertaining and enjoyable experience to Hillsdale.”
Tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m Tuesday, Feb. 24, and can be purchased from startickets.com, by calling 800-585-3737, or by visiting the Hillsdale County Fair office at 115 S. Broad St.
Tickets will cost $40 for the first 10 rows, $32 for box seats, and $30 for grandstands.
For more information, visit hillsdalecountyfair.org or call 517-437-3622.
