REDNOUR: AT THE DU QUOIN FAIR 'ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE

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, 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.

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