Fair officials confirm music lineup

~ The fair board president said there have been months of speculation and well-founded rumors.

SEMO District Fair officials formally announced the entertainment schedule for this year's fair Monday, ending weeks of speculation about the musicians who will be playing the fair in its 152nd year.

Most of the speculation has centered around classic rock band REO Speedwagon. The band has now been confirmed to appear as the fair's grandstand entertainment Sept. 14.

Fair board president Gary Kight acknowledged the anticipation of the fair's entertainment being leaked early in a news release, saying the fair is announcing its line-up "after months of speculation and some well-founded rumors."

Other musical acts performing will be country artists Billy Currington on Sept. 13 and Pat Green on Sept. 15.

Currington entered the country music scene in 2003 with his debut self-titled CD, which contained the top 10 hit "Walk a Little Straighter" and a top 5 single, "I Got a Feelin'." His latest CD, "Doin' Something Right," contains the hit single "Good Directions." The song is currently No. 12 on the Billboard "hot country songs" chart.

Three-time Grammy nominee Green is a Texas singer/songwriter who built a large cult following on the independent music circuit over several years before signing with a major label. Green's first major label effort, "Three Days," was released in 2001. The album was followed by his breakout album, 2003's "Wave on Wave." Green's most recent release is "Cannonball" from 2006, which includes a duet with Missouri-born country star Sara Evans.

Other grandstand events this year include the debut of the Heartland Regional Rodeo on Sept. 10, the return of Heartland Idol on Sept. 12, antique tractor and truck pulls Sept. 8, the horse show Sept. 9 and a demolition derby Sept. 11.

Ticket sales begin July 11.

For more information, call 334-9250 or visit www.semofair.com.