SEMO District Fair officials say ticket sales 'steady'

~ This year the grandstand will feature two acts that appeal mainly to younger listeners.

With less than three weeks left before the SEMO District Fair begins, organizers say ticket sales are meeting expectations for the fair's blend of old and new on the entertainment grandstand.

This year's headliners on the grandstand include country legend Ronnie Milsap on Sept. 14 and two acts likely to draw young audiences -- former "American Idol" contestants Josh Gracin Sept. 15 and Bo Bice Sept. 16.

The fair will also host its Heartland Idol competition on Sept. 13.

Fair board president Pete Poe called ticket sales "steady" and said about 60 percent of tickets for all three shows have been sold so far.

The grandstand at the fair seats a maximum of 4,300 people.

Both Bice and Gracin, who appeal mainly to younger listeners, represent a change from the usual fair entertainment. Last year audiences saw veteran country acts Randy Travis and Tracy Byrd perform along with the Renegades of Southern Rock -- a band made up of members from classic Southern rock acts.

Local musician and music fan Doug Rees said he likes the way the fair books entertainment. He went to the fair two years ago to see Phil Vassar.

"I think the fair has done a very good job of bringing entertainment here. It's very high quality," Rees said.

Rees enjoys the country and Southern rock acts that have been the mainstay of fair entertainment. But he also said bringing in acts like Bice and Gracin that appeal to a younger audience is a step in the right direction for the future.

Poe said the acts that usually do the best at the fair are classic or Southern rock acts and country acts. Some of the most successful have been Kentucky Headhunters 10 years ago, Willie Nelson six years ago and Randy Travis last year, Poe said.

Poe said he would have liked to have booked a Southern rock act this year as well.

"We've had a lot of success with Southern rock acts in the last couple of years," Poe said.

The past few years have seen Three Dog Night and .38 Special grace the fair stage.

If ticket sales continue as Poe hopes, this year's shows could be more lively than some in previous years. Already this year's three concerts are on pace to surpass the 1,200 in attendance for Vassar in 2003 and the 1,900 for Leroy van Dyke and the Country Gold Show in 2004.

Poe said he also expects fair attendance to be up from the 85,000 who went last year. In 2004, more than 97,000 attended the fair.

For more information on the fair or for tickets, call 334-9250 or visit www.semofair.com.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

Fair grandstand schedule

Sept. 9 -- Antique tractor pull and Outlaw truck and tractor pull

Sept. 10 -- SEMO District Fair Horse Show

Sept. 11 -- Outlaw tractor pull

Sept. 12 -- Demolition derby

Sept. 13 -- Sixth annual Heartland Idol finals

Sept. 14 -- Ronnie Milsap

Sept. 15 -- Josh Gracin

Sept. 16 -- Bo Bice