SEMO Fair's marquee teases REO Speedwagon fans, but board won't confirm

The SEMO District Fair marquee that greets visitors at the entrance of Arena Park bears a simple message: "Yes, they are coming to the fair."

Some have speculated the sign alludes to REO Speedwagon's rumored appearance at the fair grandstand on Sept. 14. But SEMO District Fair Board president Pete Poe says that's not the case. Poe said the sign is about a rodeo that will be at the fairgrounds on Sept. 10.

Asked for any confirmation of musical performers at the fair -- country up-and-comer Billy Currington and Texas singer/songwriter Pat Green have also been rumored to be booked at the fair -- Poe responds "not at this point."

Fair entertainment promoter Mike Ford of Ford Entertainment and Productions didn't return calls Thursday.

Local REO Speedwagon fan Andy Livingston is skeptical that the sign at Arena Park is about anything other than REO Speedwagon, the band he's seen "the second-most amount of times" of any band.

Livingston looks at Pollstar.com -- a concert industry Web site -- almost every day, which is where he first saw the information about the fair entertainment. He's confident that REO Speedwagon, Green and Currington will be at the fair since they all have dates posted on Pollstar.

"They don't publish rumors; bands submit schedules to them," Livingston said. If anything, Livingston said the fair board's reluctance to confirm or deny the rumors about fair entertainment have only created more interest.

Chris Cook, program manager and afternoon DJ for classic rock station 100.7 FM KGMO agrees. But Cook, also an REO Speedwagon fan, said the band probably won't even need any extra buzz to fill up the grandstand.

"REO Speedwagon, that would be huge," Cook said. Cook said REO Speedwagon is a frequently requested band on his station.

Pollstar isn't the only site fueling fair entertainment speculation. Both REO Speedwagon's site, www.speedwagon.com, and Green's site, www.patgreen.com, list the performers' fair dates. Currington's site, www.billycurrington.com, does not.

The speculation probably won't last much longer. Poe said the fair should release information on its entertainment soon.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182