MINERAL WELLS - A mixture of rising country stars and classic rock will be featured during the 2012 West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition on July 17-21 at the fairgrounds on Butcher Bend Road at Mineral Wells.
Admission to the fair will be $9 each day, while reserved seating for the entertainment will $5 each night, except Wednesday.
Beginning July 1, tickets can be purchased by calling the fair office at 304-489-1301 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The opening night concert will feature Randy Houser at 8:30 p.m. July 17 on the fair stage.
A native of Lake, Miss., Houser has received multiple nominations for ACM and CMA Awards, a No. 2 single in the song "Boots On," and songwriting credits for major names such as Trace Adkins, Justin Moore and Chris Young. His first two albums were "Anything Goes" in 2008 and "They Call Me Cadillac" in 2010.
His latest album, from independent label Stoney Creek Records, is called XXX. It features songs like "How Country Feels," "We're Just Growing Younger," "Like a Cowboy" and "Along for the Ride."
On July 18, the annual Texaco Country Music Showdown/ Karaoke will be held on the fair stage at 6:30 p.m.
The Davisson Brothers Band will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. July 19. The opening act will be Taylor Sams at 7 p.m.
Based in Clarksburg, W.Va., the band blends country, southern rock and bluegrass to create a distinctive sound captured in their first single, "Big City Hillbilly." The sound, combined with the band's talent and energy, has gained a loyal fan base all over the eastern U.S.
The band features brothers Chris and Donnie Davisson, on lead guitar/slide guitar and lead vocals/rhythm guitar respectively, and their cousin Sammy Davisson, on bass and vocals. They are joined by childhood friend, Aaron Regester, on drums.
On July 20, rising star Hunter Hayes will perform at 8:30 p.m. The opening act will be Matt Enoch at 7 p.m.
Hayes is a multi-talented musician, writer, producer and performer in Nashville. As a child, he appeared on stage with Hank Williams Jr and appeared in the movie "The Apostle with Robert Duvall, among other accomplishments. In recent years, he has signed with Universal Music Publishing Group where he has co-written songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry. At the same time, he was introduced to Atlantic Records' Chairman/CEO and music visionary Craig Kallman, who he signed with at Atlantic Records.
While young, he has shared the stage with the likes of Taylor Swift, Hank Williams Jr., Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. He has also released his album, self-titled, from Atlantic Records, sold out nearly every date on his first ever headlining "Most Wanted" tour and was named a final nominee for the 2012 Academy of Country Music "New Artist of the Year" Award.
The final headliner of this year's fair will be classic rockers the Marshall Tucker Band, who will close out the week at 8:30 p.m. July 21. South of the River Band will be the local opening act at 7 p.m.
The Marshall Tucker Band was formed in 1973 and remains active to this day. Still led today by founding member and lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and place in music that will never be duplicated. Gray is quick to credit the band's current dynamic members with carrying on the timeless essence of the Marshall Tucker Band sound.
Over the years, the band has influenced many with its definitive blend of rock, rhythm & blues, jazz, country and gospel. Along the way, the band has recorded 22 studio albums, three DVDs, three live albums and many compilations.
The band's hits have included "Heard It In a Love Song," "Fire On The Mountain," "Can't You See" and "Take The Highway." It has earned seven gold and three platinum albums. Their music has also been featured on the soundtracks of movies such as "Smokey and the Bandit," "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper," "Shipwrecked," "Crank 2," "Don't Mess with Zohan," "Stop Loss," "Swing Vote," "Taking Chance" and many others as well as many TV Shows.
