"Endless Summer Fun" – Above, some of the performers for the 2010 California Mid-State Fair, including America, Stealing Angels, Blue Oyster Cult, Chubby Checker and the Country Rodeo Finals. Courtesy photos.

Performers America, Stealing Angels, Smashmouth, Blue Oyster Cult, Chubby Checker, comedian and ventriloquist

Jeff Dunham the Country Rodeo Finals are among those slated to appear at the 2010 California Mid-State Fair, among other acts announced by fair officials.

Last Friday, the California Mid-State Fair announced a host of performers secured for the fair. According to California Mid-State Fair spokesman Tom Keffury, the fair will be announcing all the acts to fill all the stages over the next few months.

The 2010 California Mid-State Fair runs July 21, 2010, through August 1, 2010. This year's theme is "Endless Summer Fun."

America

* Frontier Stage, Wednesday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.

* Free with paid admission

Rock/pop band America is slated to perform at the 2010 California Mid-State Fair for a special anniversary show that will feature everything from the old classics like "Horse with No Name" and "Ventura Highway" to an acoustic set and some new cuts.

"From anonymous horses to fast-moving trains, America's four-decade musical legacy of consummately crafted pop/rock songs, trademark lush harmonies and evocative lyrical landscapes will never go out of style," a media release stated.

In 1970, teenagers Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, along with early partner, Dan Peek, signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records and started an epic career spanning 40 years "that is still as fresh and timeless in 2010 as their first days opening for bands such as Pink Floyd and The Everly Brothers in the early 70s," a media release stated.

"In the midst of their fourth decade of music making, America continues to evolve while remaining a perennial mainstay on the domestic concert circuit and cornerstones of 70's Top 40 and FM rock radio," the release stated.

In addition to classics such as "A Horse With No Name," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man," "Lonely People," "You Can Do Magic" and "Sister Golden Hair," America is revisiting their roots as writers and artists, fair officials stated.

Anniversary show will feature songs reflecting some of their song-writing inspirations as well as showcasing their first album, platinum-selling AMERICA, with a very special acoustic set featuring standards such as "I Need You" and "Three Roses" as well as some never-before-performed deep cuts.

Stealing Angels

* Thursday, July 29, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Frontier Stage

* Free with paid admission

Pop country, Americana and bluegrass-style musical genres will converge when country trio Stealing Angels performs at the Mid-State Fair in 2010.

Stealing Angels, a band formally introduced to country music fans the week of the Nov. 11 CMA Awards on Robin Roberts' ABC country music television special, will introduce themselves to fans in Paso Robles during their first performance at the California Mid-State Fair this summer.

The trio - Tayla Lynn, Jennifer Wayne and Caroline Cutbirth - is unique because of their families, fair organizers said. Lynn is Loretta Lynn's granddaughter; Wayne is John Wayne's granddaughter; and Cutbirth is a descendent of Daniel Boone.

But Lynn said it isn't their relatives that set their music apart - it's their honesty.

"It does sound clichéd," Lynn stated in a media release. "But that is something unique about us. We do speak out truth all the time. I'm a recovering alcoholic and a divorcee and I talk about that. Caroline is from the perfect family in Texas, and Jen is John Wayne's granddaughter and has been living out in California being a tennis pro. Our lives couldn't be any different but we all come together."

The three live together, eat together, tour in a van together and work out together, according to fair officials.

"We never have any breaks," Wayne stated. "We have to get along."

According to the trio, each member has a different individual sound. Cutbirth described herself as "pop country," Lynn as "Americana" and Wayne as "bluegrassy," according to fair officials.

Blue Oyster Cult

* Monday, July 26 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Frontier Stage

* Free with paid admission

For nearly three decades, Blue Oyster Cult [BOC] has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs.

The band will return to deliver in Paso Robles on Monday, July 26 at the California Mid-State Fair.

"Blue Oyster Cult occupies a unique place in rock history because it's one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success," a media release stated. "The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1's countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time."

BÖC released its self-titled debut album in 1972. Fans and critics praised the band for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song, fair officials stated.

BOC's hits include "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from 1976's Agents of Fortune, the pummeling "Godzilla" from 1977's Spectres and the hypnotically melodic "Burnin' for You" from 1981's Fire of Unknown Origin. Other notable BÖC songs include "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll," "Then Came the Last Days of May," "I Love the Night," "In Thee," "Veteran of the Psychic Wars," "Dominance and Submission," "Astronomy," "Black Blade" and "Shooting Shark."

Chubby Checker

* Tuesday, July 27 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Frontier Stage

* Free with paid admission

Chubby Checker's performances coincide with Senior's Day, where those 62-years-old and older get in for only $4.

Pick up the phone and it's doing the Alexander Graham Bell. Flick on a light and it's doing the Thomas Edison. Ride in your car with its V8 engine and you're doing the Henry Ford. Watch animated cartoons and it's doing the Walt Disney. Like these inspired inventors who are synonymous with their inventions, when you're "dancing apart to the beat," you're doing the Chubby Checker. Fifty-plus years new, touching every segment of our population, we dance apart looking into our partner's eyes - expressing ourselves by rocking, rolling, moving and grooving, shimmying and shaking, doing, in Checker's words, "the dance that we do when we're dancing apart to the beat of anybody's music."

History was in the making in November 1959 when the revolutionary concept of "dancing apart to the beat" was premiered to the vast teen-age audience of American

bandstand. Adolescents jumped on the bandwagon; unselfconsciously imitating

Checker and his freeform, expressive, dancing-without-a-partner movements that let it all hang out. From November 1959 to October 1963 as Checker's moves begot more moves, his Twist, Pony, Fly and Shake became the most popular form of social dancing.

Jeff Dunham

* Thursday, July 22, 7:30 p.m., Main Grandstand Arena

* Tickets for the show will be $30, $37, $47 and $73 and go on sale Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m.

With humor that transcends any and all demographic boundaries, Jeff Dunham is consistently setting and breaking records and conquering every realm he enters.

"Over the last decade, he and his hilarious troupe of comedic sidekicks have risen from the standup comedy clubs to charm the world and become an unprecedented entertainment phenomenon with an astounding international 360-degree reach," a media release stated.

The secret to Dunham's comedic genius and unprecedented success is found in the believably real personalities he has created that are his partners in hilarity: Walter the grumpy retiree; the beer-swilling, NASCAR loving and resolutely redneck Bubba J; the furry and manic Peanut; Jose Jalapeño, the spicy pepper from south of the border; and the bumbling skeletal Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Although Dunham can rightfully be declared one of the funniest humans on the planet, it's his interactions with them as they banter, quip, kid and vie with each other that makes their comedy so distinctive, potent and irresistibly funny. They may have been conceived and crafted by Dunham, but his characters, which are anything but dummies, have now taken on a life of their own and are stars of everything Dunham does.

The California Mid-State Fair has a long history of booking top-name comedians with the likes of Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Cosby all appearing in year's past.

Julianne Hough

* Friday, July 30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Frontier Stage

* Free with paid admission

A "triple threat" as a singer, actress and dancer, Julianne Hough is already known to millions of fans as the two-time professional dance champion on ABC-TV's top-rated Dancing with the Stars television show.

The show, which pairs professional dancers with music, sports, film and television celebrities, has become a "cultural phenomenon," and Julianne its top star, according to fair officials.

"Though Julianne has been winning world dance titles since her early teens, her ultimate goal has always been a career in country music," a media release stated. "Her newly signed deal with Universal Music Group Nashville is providing her the vehicle to realize that dream."

Hough reflected on her country music career.

"I've always wanted to sing country music," the 19 year-old blond stated in a press release. "I've grown up with country music. I love how real everybody is, not just the artists, but the fans."

Fair officials also recognized Hough's youth and bountiful career.

"Julianne Hough's debut is a compelling collection of songs about the joys and challenges of everyday life delivered by an evocative young voice," a press release stated. "It's the perfect vehicle to carry her from her successful day job to the realization of a dream come true."

Kenny Loggins

* Friday, July 30, 7 p.m., sponsored by Mission Community Bank for An Evening of Music & Wine, Main Grandstand Arena

* Tickets for the show will be $55 for Golden Circle seats and $30 for Main Grandstand seats and go on sale Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m. All table seating is currently sold-out, but a waiting list is available by calling the box office.

Legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Kenny Loggins has been booked to perform on Friday, July 30 for An Evening of Music & Wine.

"By any standard, Loggins' commercial impact has been extraordinary; 12 of his albums have gone platinum and beyond," a media release stated. "In a world of one hit wonders and 15-minute sensations, Loggins has enjoyed hit songs in four straight decades - a remarkable testament to his exceptional craftsmanship and stamina."

Some of Loggins' hits include "Whenever I Call You Friend" with Stevie Nicks, "This Is It," "I'm Alright"(from Caddyshack), "Footloose" (from Footloose) and "Danger Zone" (from Top Gun).

An Evening of Music & Wine has featured some of the biggest names in the Smooth Jazz/R&B/Pop world with the likes of Boz Scaggs, Smokey Robinson, Michael Bolton, David Sandborn and Dave Koz all appearing in year's past.

Smashmouth

* Wednesday, July 28, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Frontier Stage

* Free with fair admission

Collectively the band Smashmouth has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. On Wednesday, July 28 fair goers at the California Mid-State Fair will have the chance to hear songs from those albums live in concert.

"Along with their number one hits - Walkin' on the Sun and All Star - [Smashmouth] has consistently impacted radio with other recognizable hits like 'Then the Morning Comes,' 'Can't Get Enough Of You Baby,' and a cover of The Monkees classic 'I'm a Believer,' which was prominently featured on the "Shrek" soundtrack (No. 4, Billboard Adult Top 40).

A quick listen to their music and listeners can realize the multi-platinum Smash Mouth is a 60s influenced garage band with a keen pop sensibility that maintains a timeless quality, a style they have created and that is all their own, fair officials stated.

Having long since established itself as the ultimate true-to-life California party-band the vibe surrounding Smash Mouth is indeed - at its core - about having fun.

Country Rodeo Finals

* Saturday, July 31, 7 p.m., Main Grandstand Arena

* Tickets are $14 and $18, and go on sale Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m.

The Country Rodeo Finals is the culmination of a week and a half of hard work from some of this area's best and brightest cowboys and cowgirls. Featured events of the night include Bronc Riding, Team Penning, Barrel Racing, Match Roping and Bull

Riding.

In addition to the competitive events, fans will be treated to the specialty acts of the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, the Chuckwagon Races, the Wild Horse Races, a Cowboy Clown and the annual Skydiving Flag Carrier.

Purchase tickets

Tickets will be available at the California Mid-State Fair box office, on-line at www.midstatefair.com, any Vallitix outlet, or charge by phone at 1-800-909-FAIR.

Information provided courtesy of the California Mid-State Fair.



For the complete article see the 02-09-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 02-09-2010 paper.

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