DU QUOIN — Is it possible that four major concerts will be free admission at this year’s Du Quoin State Fair?
With the Illinois Lottery and a handful of local sponsors, including Continental Tire of Mt. Vernon, anything is possible, says John
Rednour, Jr., manager of the Du Quoin State Fair.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Southern Illinois,” Rednour said. “Thanks to these great sponsors, we are not charging $60 a ticket like it would take to attend one of these shows almost anywhere else in this country, but we are offering them for free.”
The free shows include Gretchen Wilson, Darryl Worley, Aaron Tippin, and Uncle Kracker.
“It’s taken some major financial backing to make this happen and I can’t begin tell you how proud we are of the sponsors who stepped up to make this happen,” Rednour said.
Sponsors include the Illinois Lottery (whose motto is ‘Anything’s Possible’), Black Diamond Harley-Davidson, Jackson Pools and Spas, Pass One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Continental Tire, Peoples National Bank, the Cellular Connection, and Republic Services.
Thanks to Black Diamond Harley-Davidson and Jackson Pools and Spas, Uncle Kracker, an American rock musician known for his singles “Follow Me,” “Smile,” and “Drift Away,” will play free in the beer tent on Friday, August 23, beginning at 10 p.m.
“Uncle Kracker is extremely popular in Southern Illinois and the crowd that turned out for this show two years ago proved it,” Rednour said. “We heard from a lot of people who said we should have him back. Black Diamond Harley-Davidson and Jackson Pools and Spas are making this happen.”
On Sunday, August 25, country music sensation Darryl Worley, whose hits include “I Miss My Friend,” “Have You Forgotten?”, and “Awful, Beautiful Life,” will play free in the Illinois Lottery Grandstand during the fair’s second annual Veterans Appreciation Night.
The show includes a fireworks display after the concert.
“Every person in Southern Illinois and all surrounding areas need to be here for this show,” Rednour said. “This is a chance to show your deep appreciation for the freedoms of this great nation of ours and to salute the men and women who have fought and are fighting to keep us free. I cannot emphasize enough that this is a show you don’t want to miss.”
Francis Pass, owner of Pass One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Continental Tire of Mt. Vernon, Peoples National Bank of Southern Illinois, and the Cellular Connection in Du Quoin are sponsors of the Darryl Worley concert.
On Wednesday, August 28, “The Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson is coming to Du Quoin.
“This is a hometown girl, a Southern Illinois born and raised musician who made it big in country music,” Rednour said. “Who hasn’t heard Gretchen’s Grammy Award-winning single ‘Redneck Woman?’ That song became a national sensation. She has followed that up with another 13 singles that made the Billboard country charts.”
The Illinois Lottery is sponsoring the Gretchen Wilson show as part of the Illinois Lottery’s Anything’s Possible Music Series that will be taking place throughout the state.
“When a large group of friends and neighbors in Pocahontas won a million dollars in last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Millionaire Raffle, we had no idea that our relationship with that beautiful community would extend to the star attraction at the Lottery stage,” said Michael Jones, Superintendent of the Illinois Lottery. We’re proud to be ‘here for the party.’ ”
“Everyone knows her as the ‘Redneck Woman,’” Rednour said. “She is a huge favorite in this part of the country, not just because of her music but because of where she is from.”
Wilson, 39, grew up in Pocahontas, a rural Southern Illinois community, with only the support of her mother. She dropped out of school at age 15 and began working as a cook and bartender.
“Gretchen Wilson is an American success story,” Rednour said. “She overcame great odds to become a star.”
Wilson is well-known for her songs “Redneck Woman,” Here For The Party,” and “All Jacked Up.”
On Sunday, Sept. 1, country music great Aaron Tippin will play in the beer tent thanks to a sponsorship from Republic Services.
Tippin is known for his singles “You’ve Got To Stand For Something,” Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” and “Kiss This.”
“This is going to be another great show and a great way to start winding down the fair,” Rednour said. “Aaron Tippin has charted more than 30 singles. Of his nine studio albums, five have gold certifications and one has a platinum certification.”
Republic Services is sponsoring the Tippin concert, a show that will be free in the beer tent starting at 10 p.m.
LIGHTNING MCQUEEN COMING TO DU QUOIN
An 800-horsepower race car will serve as the 2013 parade marshal at the Du Quoin State Fair when it starts up in late August.
Planning for the 2013 Du Quoin State Fair has been in full swing for months, including making the fair’s annual parade a historic one.
“For the first time in the fair’s history, we are going to have something other than a person serve as parade marshal,” said fair organizer Shannon Woodworth. “We are very excited to announce that our parade marshal will be none other than the Lightning McQueen car.”
Lightning McQueen, of course, is a Disney animated character, but animation went to live creation when the Lightning McQueen car was built. The car resides in Illinois at the Volo Auto Museum.
“Lightning McQueen is a red blooded race car,” said Volo Museum Director Brian Grams. “Built to NASCAR specs, it is a full-blown, ready to race muscle machine with an 800-horsepower Chevy V8 engine and four-speed transmission. It has a fully caged chassis, special race seats, radio communications, four-wheel disc brakes, adjustable suspension and much more. In fact, everything you would expect to see on Dale (Earnhardt) Jr.’s car.”
Following the parade, the car will be placed on display at the fair from Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25. Weeks of West Frankfort is sponsoring Lightning McQueen.
“I think there will be a lot of children and other fair visitors who will want to have their picture taken with this car,” Rednour said. “It’s one of a kind and, as many people know, Lightning McQueen has world-wide popularity.”
WHEELS AND DEALS
While the arrival of the Lightning McQueen car will be the first exciting event at the fair that has wheels there are many other events already booked and being planned, Rednour said.
That includes Tony Petersen’s Hell Drivers featuring the greatest names in Hollywood stunt driving who will demonstrate 25 high-speed stunts featuring cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
“This is a show you will have to see to believe,” Rednour said. “These professional drivers can do things on wheels that you probably have only seen in the movies.”
Also coming to the fair is extreme freestyle motocross jumping. “You will see the biggest tricks in motocross jumping during this show,” Rednour said. “They don’t call it extreme for nothing.”
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT AT THIS YEAR’S FAIR?
So who else is coming to the fair? How about Billy Currington, Sawyer Brown, Matt Maher, Theory Of A Deadman, Montgomery Gentry, and Kansas?
Ticket sales for these shows started June 17 by calling the fair at 618-542-1535.
The fair opens Friday, August 23. On Saturday, Currington, who has six number one country hits, takes the stage at the Illinois Lottery Grandstand performing the chart topping songs “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer,” “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “People Are Crazy,” “Don’t,” “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” and “Good Directions.”
Currington has sold millions of albums and has toured with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Sugarland.
“I believe Billy Currington will bring a lot of energy to the stage,” Rednour said. “The title of his new album is ‘Enjoy Yourself,’ and from what I hear about Billy Currington’s performances, he wants everyone to have a good time.”
Tickets for Currington’s show are $35/$30.
On Monday, August 26, Sawyer Brown, who has had more than 50 of its singles enter the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, will take the grandstand stage playing hits like “Some Girls Do,” “Six Days On The Road,” and “The Walk.”
Legendary country musician Lee Roy Parnell, “What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?,” and Grace Askew, a finalist on The Voice, will open for Sawyer Brown.
Tickets for Sawyer Brown are $25/$20.
“These guys are always a fan favorite,” Rednour said. “They energize a crowd with songs we can all relate to. Plus, the addition of Lee Roy Parnell and Grace Askew from The Voice make this show an opportunity to see some tremendous talent.”
On Tuesday, August 27, gospel music will reign at the grandstand led by music from Matt Maher and his new album, “All The People Said Amen.” Brittany Loyd, a 15-year-old singer from Carmi, will open for Maher. She has been singing professionally since age 5. Tickets for the show are $10.
“This is going to be a neat show having a young, local gospel artist open for a nationally known performer,” Rednour said.
On Thursday, August 29, Theory Of A Deadman takes the stage. The platinum-selling Vancouver band’s hard rocking songs are based on stories of good times, bad times, and everything in between. “Bad Girlfriend,” “Hate My Life,” and “Not Meant To Be” are just some of the hits.
Opening for Theory Of A Deadman are the American rockers, Trapt.
Tickets for Theory Of A Deadman are $25/$20.
“When you look at You Tube and see three, four, and five million views on their videos, you realize just how popular a band this is,” Rednour said.
On Friday, August 30, Montgomery Gentry and hits like “What Do Ya Think About That,” “Where I Come From,” and “Something To Be Proud Of” will electrify the stage. Montgomery Gentry arrives in Du Quoin with a new label, a new album, and a renewed sense of musical purpose. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry say they are poised to stake their claim as one of country music’s all-time greatest duos.
“This is one show country fans will not want to miss,” Rednour said. “These guys have 14 Top 10 singles, including five number ones.”
Drew Baldridge is opening for Montgomery Gentry.
Tickets for Montgomery Gentry are $35/$30.
Closing out the concert series will be Kansas on Saturday, August 31.
“Every classic rock fan has heard it, ‘Carry On My Wayward Son,’” Rednour said of one of the band’s and rock music’s most popular songs. “You’ve been listening and enjoying the music of this band for years.”
Kansas is currently celebrating its 40th year as a band. The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-platinum albums, one platinum live album, and a million-selling gold single, “Dust in the Wind.”
The Fabulous Thunderbirds is opening for Kansas. The Fabulous Thunderbirds is an American, Grammy-nominated blues rock band formed in 1974.
Tickets for Kansas are $35/$30.
“Between our free shows and shows that require a ticket, there will not be a single night when something isn’t happening in the grandstand,” Rednour said. “This fair makes something incredible possible every night.”
