2014 State Fair concerts announced
The 2014 N.C. State Fair Dorton Arena lineup will feature performances by country, gospel, rock and contemporary Christian artists, along with a stand-up comedian.
Vanilla Ice will kick off the series on Thursday, Oct. 16, with a “Throwback Thursday” $5 show. The rapper and reality TV show personality became the first hip hop artist to top the Billboard pop singles chart with his hit “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990.
Friday, Oct. 18, will feature gospel artist, Tamela Mann. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group, Kirk Franklin and the Family, and was the featured soloist on several tracks, including “Don’t Take Your Joy Away,” “Now Behold the Lamb” and “Lean on Me.” Already in 2014, Mann has won Stellar Award’s Best Female Gospel Artist of the Year, as well as Best Gospel Artist at the BET Awards. Tickets are $10.
Country music artist Clay Walker will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 18. Walker has released 11 albums and charted 30 country singles, including six No. 1 hits: “What’s It to You,” “Live Until I Die,” “Dreaming with My Eyes Open,” “If I Could Make a Living,” “This Woman and This Man” and “Rumor Has It.” (Tickets $12)
North Carolina’s own Parmalee will perform Sunday, Oct. 19. Featured as one of Clear Channel’s New Artists to Watch, Parmalee hit No.1 with “Carolina” in December 2013. (Tickets $10)
Country music duo Love and Theft will perform Monday, Oct. 20. The duo is best known for its No. 1 platinum single, “Angel Eyes” and breakout hits “If You Ever Get Lonely,” “Running Out of Air” and “Amen.” (Tickets $10)
James Gregory, the self-proclaimed funniest man in America, will bring his stand-up comedy show to Dorton on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Expect plenty to laugh about thanks to Gregory’s rib-tickling reflections on life from the front porch. (Tickets $5)
Country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark will perform on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Her songs have been recorded by Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker and Kacey Musgraves. Recently named Breakthrough Artist of the Year by Music Row Magazine, Clark is also nominated for 2014 Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for her hit single, “Mama’s Broken Heart,” recorded by Lambert. (Tickets $5)
Christian pop-rock band Newsboys will perform Friday, Oct. 24. Founded in 1985, Newsboys have released 16 studio albums, six of which have been certified gold and are winners of five Dove Awards. In 2014, the band filmed a performance sequence for the critically acclaimed movie, “God’s Not Dead.” (Tickets $10)
Country music superstar Trace Adkins will perform Saturday, Oct. 25. Adkins has powered countless hits to the top of the charts and sold over 10 million albums. The Grammy-nominated artist is best known for his hits “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.” (Tickets $17)
Hard-rocking Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will close out the 2014 N.C. State Fair concert series on Sunday, Oct. 26. Together, the band has eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You” and “Crimson and Clover.” (Tickets $15)
All shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale Aug. 1 online at www.ncstatefair.org.
