STANWOOD — Musical entertainment at the 85th annual Stanwood-Camano Community Fair, through Aug. 2, includes a good mix of local groups and regional bands.
The largest community fair in the state, Stanwood-Camano has earned its moniker, “The Best Li’l Fair in the West.”
The stars of the fair, of course, are the kids who bring their animals to show. You’ll also find hundreds of exhibitors, carnival rides for the children, hands-on events for the family and lots of fair food.
But if all you did this weekend was watch the performances on the Viking Main Stage, it’s worth the price of admission.
The fair has made a point to focus on local musicians including country crooner Jesse Taylor, the classic rock tribute band Strutz, the South End String Band, hypnotist Ron Stubbs and a new group called Beneath The Spin Light.
Arlington’s Toby Strotz (pronounced like his band Strutz) likes his annual gig at the fair. Having grown up in the Silvana area, Strotz feels right at home. Some of his band mates — Dave Pettigrew, Deanne Hansen, Carol Harvey, Paul Christie and Mike Brandvold — were school mates at Arlington High School. The place is packed with longtime fans when Strutz takes the stage.
Taylor, also from Arlington, has a rodeo background and his poetic lyrics and haunting melodies capture the flavor of rodeo life. With a soulful authenticity, Taylor writes songs about the American West and its values and virtues. Taylor recorded his first studio album, “Out Here In The Country,” at Blackbird Studio in Nashville.
The beloved South End String Band from Camano Island includes Erich Schweiger on fiddle, Don Mailloux on bass, Ryan Foxley on mandolin, Monika Denasha on guitar and Jack Archibald on banjo. One of the most generous groups around, the band is known for their benefit shows.
Beneath The Spin Light is three-piece alternative pop-punk band from Camano Island.
Ron Stubbs, a self-described “rock ‘n’ roll hypnotist” brings his popular show to the stage several times this weekend. Stubbs has appeared in major motion pictures with such stars as River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, been featured in numerous national and international newspapers and magazines, on television and radio, and is a certified clinical hypnotherapist on Camano Island.
Other bands on the schedule include Sonic Funk from Seattle, Aces Up from Enumclaw, Problem Child from Bellingham, Lobo del Mar from the Olympic Peninsula and El Loco, which had its start in London, England.
Sonic Funk Orchestra is a 1970s-’80s disco and funk dance party band. Problem Child is an AC/DC tribute band. El Loco is a ZZ Top tribute band.
Aces Up features a blend of blue collar country and the energy of the plaid-shirt Seattle rock scene. In addition to receiving some national airplay, Aces Up has shared the stage with country music artists such as The Band Perry.
Lobo del Mar plays a variety of music including bluegrass, Western swing, Celtic, Latin fusion, Middle Eastern, Polynesian and a selection of other global flavors.
And, Danny Vernon, a well-known Elvis impersonator from Seattle, performs songs from all three decades of Elvis’ career.
If you go
Stanwood-Camano Community Fair, through Aug. 2, 6431 Pioneer Highway, Stanwood, www.stanwoodcamanofair.org. Admission: adults for $10, or $20 for the weekend; seniors and children for $7; preschoolers are free. Music on the Viking Main Stage, Friday: Beneath The Spin Light, 2 p.m.; Ron Stubbs, 3 p.m.; Danny Vernon, 5:30 p.m.; Sonic Funk, 7 p.m.; Strutz, 8 p.m. Saturday: Camano Dance Academy, 1 p.m.; Jesse Taylor, 2 p.m.; Ron Stubbs, 3 p.m.; Aces Up, 5:30 p.m.; El Loco, 7 p.m.; Problem Child, 9 p.m. Sunday: Lobo del Mar, noon; Ron Stubbs, 2 p.m.; South End String Band, 3:30 p.m.
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