Press Release

NEWS
RELEASE
2013 OKLAHOMA
STATE FAIR
September 12-22
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR, INC.
MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
POST OFFICE BOX 74943
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73147
PHONE: (405) 948-6700
FAX: (405) 948-6828
okstatefair.com
June 7, 2013
For Immediate Release:
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR
ANNOUNCES 2013 TALENT LINE-UP
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Fair is proud to present a selection of talented and
entertaining performances at the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage (formerly known as the Chesapeake
Energy Stage) and the Jim Norick Arena this year. Our 2013 talent line-up brings to the stage a wide
range of musical styles, from country to rock, and everything in between. Performances at the
Chickasaw Entertainment Stage are free with outside gate admission. Performances scheduled after
the Xtreme Bulls Tour, being held in the Jim Norick Arena, are included with the purchase of an
admission ticket to the bull riding event.
“This year’s free concerts will greatly enhance the State Fair experience, and we are thrilled to offer
these performances to our fairgoers,” said Tim O’Toole, President and CEO, Oklahoma State Fair, Inc.
“Everyone will have the ability to come and see a show they will truly enjoy.”
The 2013 State Fair is sure to delight fairgoers with a variety of performers, from familiar favorites to
energetic newcomers. In addition to these acts, the Oklahoma State Fair will host a new event, Family,
Fun & Fellowship on Sunday, September 22 as well as the returning, much-anticipated Elvis
Extravaganza on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18.
“Thanks to our sponsor, the Chickasaw Nation, we have the opportunity to bring various genres of talent
to the 2013 State Fair,” said Scott Munz, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.
Mississippi native - Randy Houser will take the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage on Opening Night –
Thursday, September 12. Houser released his debut album, “Anything Goes” in 2008. He has since
released two additional studio albums and can boast eight charting singles on the Billboard Hot Country
Songs charts, including “Boots On,” a top 40 hit. Houser also has been nominated for a variety of
awards in the CMA’s, CMT Music Awards, and the ACM’s. Houser has written singles for other big
country music names including Trace Adkins and the Zac Brown Band.
Outside gate admission to the State Fair, on this day (Opening Day), is only $2.
On Friday, September 13, the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage will be taken over by Canadian rock
group Loverboy. Members Mike Reno, Paul Dean, Doug Johnson, Matt Frenette, and Ken “Spider”
Sinnaeve have been together for over three decades. In 1984, Loverboy wrote the official United States
Team theme for the Summer Olympics titled, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop You Now.” The group has seen a
succession of hits, including “The Kid Is Hot Tonite,” “Turn Me Loose,” “It Don’t Matter,” “When It’s
Over,” and “Lucky One’s.” Their music has been featured in well-known films such as “Crank,”
“Gutterballs” and “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.”
On Saturday afternoon, September 14, country dynamo Kelsey K will take the stage. Kelsey K,
appearing at 2:00 p.m., came into the spot light with her debut album titled “Blue Jean Girl.” Kelsey can
be seen on at the CMA Music Festival prior to the Oklahoma State Fair. Fans will enjoy this country
darling’s true-to-life lyrics both during her afternoon performance and as she opens for Jerrod Niemann
that Saturday night.
Jerrod Niemann will appear on the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday,
September 14. A familiar name in country music, Niemann has released four studio albums and seven
singles to country radio over the course of his career. In 2010, Niemann released a number one hit
“Lover, Lover.” More recently, Niemann released his latest album, “Free The Music” with the newest hit
“Only God Could Love You More.” Kelsey K will be performing prior to Jerrod Niemann taking the stage
on Saturday night.
On Sunday afternoon, September 15, Diana Reyes will spice things up on the Chickasaw Entertainment
State at 3:00 p.m. Diana is a popular duranguense music singer, and has released three gold records
since her beginning in 2004. Duranguense style music is usually dominated by male singers, so Diana
Reyes is something special in music world and she tours and performs all over the globe.
On Monday September 16, Atlanta-formed rock band Sevendust will take over the Chickasaw
Entertainment Stage. Returning to the light, Sevendust is back with a new album. The album is titled
“Black Out The Sun” and is the band’s ninth studio disc. The album starts off with an instrumental intro
titled “Memory,” which features soft guitar riffs that blast into the next track “Faithless,” a cut that follows
the heavy-yet-melodic blueprint that Sevendust fans have come to know and love.
Tuesday, September 17, Christian rock band Building 429 will perform for fairgoers. Their 2012 single,
“Where I Belong” was considered the anthem for today’s believers. The single topped the Billboard
Magazine’s No. 1 Christian song for 2012 and set an impressive record, holding the number one spot for
15 weeks. Building 429’s newest album, “We Won’t Be Shaken,” is a showcase of their three newest
songs, “We Won’t Be Shaken,” “Bonfire,” and “Get Up.”
In addition, Elvis fans will be all shook up when the Oklahoma State Fair plays host to the National Elvis
Extravaganza. What usually happens in Vegas will take the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage with this
national Elvis impersonator contest on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19. This
is a regional qualifier for the national “Elvis Idol” contest that will be held early next year in Florida.
Fairgoers will be transported “back in time” on Friday, September 20 when street funk and underground
R&B ensemble, The Ohio Players, comes to the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage. The group landed
three consecutive platinum albums in the mid-to-late 70’s. The group made many national television
appearances on programs such as Dick Clark, Don Kushner and David Letterman. Since then, other
artists such as Snoop Dogg, Sean Combs, and Salt-n-Pepa have sampled or re-recorded their material.
The spirit of the ‘60s will take over on Saturday, September 21 as America lights up the Chickasaw
Entertainment Stage. Starting out as three members to different bands, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bynnell
and Dan Peek signed with a Warner Brothers London scout. Their first album, self-titled “America”, was
released in 1972 and featured the group’s first single, “I Need You.” They followed with a single called,
“A Horse With No Name.” This single rose to the top of both the U.K. charts and the U.S. charts.
New this year will be Family, Fun & Fellowship on the last day of the 2013 Oklahoma State Fair. The
day will consist of fun & fellowship with worship leaders tentatively scheduled from Church of the
Harvest, Lifechurch, Victory Church and High Pointe Church. Each group will present a short, fun, and
upbeat musical program to the audience. Between sessions, there will be an awesome kids game show
type event that will give away cash prizes up to $500. What a great way to spend some quality time with
your family and friends at the Oklahoma State Fair. All of these activities will take place on the
Chickasaw Entertainment Stage.
2012 Breakthrough Artist of the Year, the Eli Young Band will be performing on Friday, September 20
following the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour stop. The band’s four members met during their college days in
Texas - Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones, and Chris Thompson are now 11 years into their career
without a single lineup change. They are currently enjoying a crazy amount of success as their song
“Crazy Girl”, from their most recent album “Life at Best”, is on the verge of becoming their first Gold
single. Fair Fans may remember recent Eli Young Band performances on the free stage in 2010 and
2011; this is the band’s first time performing in the Jim Norick Arena.
Clay Walker never gives less than one hundred percent during his shows and that’s why he’s the perfect
artist to wrap up the bull riding extravaganza in the Jim Norick Arena on Saturday, September 21.
Walker is one of the most successful country acts of the past decade and first popped up on the charts
in 1993 with the single “What’s it to You” followed by “Live Until I Die.” Since those early days he’s had
31 titles on the Billboard charts including “Dreaming With My Eyes Open,” “This Woman and This Man,”
and “Rumor Has It.” He has four platinum-selling albums and two gold albums. His latest album, “She
Won’t Be Lonely Long” was released in 2010.
“We are excited about our entire talent line-up for 2013” said O’Toole. “This year’s Chickasaw
Entertainment Stage and Xtreme Bulls Stage will provide excellent concerts for every type of musical
taste.”
FREE Concerts on the Chickasaw Entertainment Stage
Thursday, September 12 • Randy Houser – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 13 • Loverboy – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 14 • Kelsey K - 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 14 • Jerrod Niemann – with opening act Kelsey K - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 15 • Diana Reyes - 3:00 p.m.
Monday, September 16 • Sevendust – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 17 • Building 429 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 18 • Elvis Extravaganza – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 19 • Elvis Extravaganza – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 20 • The Ohio Players – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 21 • America – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 22 • Family, Fun & Fellowship – 3:00 p.m.
XTREME Bulls Stage (Jim Norick Arena)
Friday, September 20 • Eli Young Band – Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m.; concert to follow
Saturday, September 21 • Clay Walker - Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m.; concert to follow
Event tickets for the 2013 Oklahoma State Fair, including those for the Xtreme Bulls, go on sale on
Saturday, July 6. The Oklahoma State Fair runs Thursday, September 12 through Sunday, September
22. Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, visit us at okstatefair.com or, read about us on
fairslice.net – the official blog of State Fair Park.
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Contact: Jenny Grigsby at (405) 948-6708 or [email protected] or
J. Scott Munz at (405) 948-6737 or [email protected]