Bill DeVille's 2015 State Fair Music Preview
by Bill DeVille
August 26, 2015
The Current's Bill DeVille is a big fan of the Minnesota State Fair, particularly the live music available on the various stages throughout the fairgrounds. Bill recently had a look at the daily rundown of acts around the State Fair, and he's picked some artists you may want to check out during your visit to the Fair.
Note that most bands play a two-day set, which is why the State Fair days are grouped in pairs below. Notable exceptions include MPR booth performances, MPR Day (Friday, Sept. 4) and all Grandstand acts.
Here's what Bill had to say:
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 27 and 28
The first thing I see on the schedule for these days is Davina and the Vagabonds, who are playing at the International Bazaar Stage on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; I just love them. Now that I think of it, I've seen them on that stage more than once over the years; it seems like it's become kind of a tradition. Led by Davina Sowers, they're kind of a hot-jazz, swing, New Orleans-inspired outfit. They're doing some touring now; I think they're worth checking out at the International Bazaar that Thursday.
Reina del Cid plays the Schell's Stage at the West End Market at 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 p.m. She was the guest DJ for the month of August on Local Current, so she's been on every Friday on our local-music stream. She and her band are kind of folk-rock; I don't know quite how to describe them, but they have a really interesting sound. They are worth checking out when they play on that new stage in the West End.
Charlie Parr plays on that same stage, the Schell's Stage at West End Market, at 8 p.m. A Duluth blues legend, Charlie's always a blast; he's playing in support of his new album, Stumpjumper, which might be his best album yet. Charlie Parr will be Mark Wheat's guest at the MPR booth on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.; Reina del Cid drops by to chat with Mark and to play some songs on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday at the Grandstand, you've got Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla — there's a lot of bang for your buck there, with three veteran classic-rock bands playing on the big Grandstand stage. On Friday at the Grandstand, it's country star Keith Urban.
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29 and 30
I'm excited about this: The Pine Leaf Boys — they play some real-deal Louisana music, and they'll be at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell at 3:30 and 4:45 p.m. They're one of American Routes host Nick Spitzer's favorite bands. When Nick brought that show to the Fitzgerald Theater in 2007, they were along. They're fantastic; I just love them. They know all the authentic French songs. And it's notable that August 29 is the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, so checking out some real-deal Louisiana music seems like a great, very positive thing to do.
Looking around at the other stages, I'm noticing the Janie Miller Band; she's a good friend of mine, and her act used to be a total Patsy Cline revue, but now she's throwing in some other things too. She's a dear friend of mine; she even played my wedding. She'll still play some Patsy, but it's not exclusive to Patsy Cline. You can see Janie Miller Band at the Schell's Stage at West End Market at 11 a.m., 12 noon and 1 p.m.
Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders are at the Schell's Stage at 8 p.m. — I love them. Frontman Alex Larson was more bluesy earlier on, but he's going more straight-up garage rock with his next album; I can't wait for it — it's coming later on this year. Alex is really entertaining; he's fun to watch onstage, and all the guys are just a blast.
Alan Jackson is on the Grandstand stage on Sunday; he's a '90s country star.
Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1
The Wright Brothers had some country hits back in the '80s; they're performing at the Leinie Lodge at 3:30 and 4:45 p.m.
And then, Sonny Knight and the Lakers are at the International Bazaar Stage at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. They're just a riot; their last album, Do It Live, was all recorded at their live shows. Sonny is just a blast, and his band is just awesome; they are definitely worth checking out. And Sonny will visit Mark at the MPR booth on Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 2 and 3
The Voice of Foreigner, Lou Gramm, plays the Leinie Lodge at 8:30 p.m.
Haley Bonar plays Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m., on the West End Market Stage. She's great; I'm a big fan of hers. She's got an amazing voice and a great band. That's worth checking out. She'll stop by the MPR booth on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Patti Labelle and the Commodores are on the Grandstand Stage on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Collective Soul share the Grandstand stage. Skynyrd may be down to one original member now. Collective Soul had that '90s hit, "Shine." It's funny the '90s band is now playing with the '60s band; it used to be that acts had to be just a few years apart. Now there's a wider gap, but they're still part of the oldies routine. They're probably going for a little cross-pollination.
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4 and 5
Friday is MPR Day, and Black Diet are playing The Current's stage in Carousel Park at 4 p.m. They're a garage-soul outfit, a great band.
Kenny Neal is a good blues guy, he's playing at the Leinie Lodge at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
And you can hear real-deal reggae from Innocent Reggae Band at the International Bazaar Stage on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m..
Garrison Keillor rounds out MPR Day with A Prairie Home Companion at the Grandstand; the musical guests on the show are the Steep Canyon Rangers — a good bluegrass band, Steve Martin plays banjo with them sometimes — along with singers Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, and Christine DiGiallonardo
On Saturday at the Grandstand, it's The Current's Music on a Stick with the Avett Brothers and Preservation Hall Jazz Band — I'll be there! I'm very excited to see the show. I may be spinning tunes or introducing the bands — we're still working that out — but to me, the Avetts are one of the premier touring bands around.
Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6 and 7
On Sunday, Nora Jane Struthers and the Party Line play the Leinie Lodge at 1 and 2:30 p.m.; she's really good. She's kind of a traditional bluegrassy act, but she's gone more rock/Americana with her latest album, Wake. I've played them a fair amount on my Sunday-morning program, United States of Americana.
The Cactus Blossoms, who just signed to Red House Records, will be with me on Monday at 4:30 at the MPR booth at the Fair during my 3 to 7 p.m. shift there. Great tunes, great harmonies; they'll be playing at the Schell's Stage at West End Market at 8 p.m.
Then Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson, along with Sturgill Simpson, will be at the Grandstand. That's a show I'm very excited about. Haggard is approaching 80; Kristofferson is getting close to that. I saw Kristofferson when he opened for Merle a few years ago and I didn't think I'd enjoy him that much because he doesn't have much of a singing voice, but he's an entertainer and a performer. He's a better musician than I thought he was, and I thought he was stellar. I'm very excited about that show.