Grandstand concerts at fair offer tunes for all tastes

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 26, 2016

MONROE — After canceling their performance at the 2015 Evergreen State Fair, the rocker Pat Benatar and her guitarist husband Neil “Spyder” Giraldo are back, making it up to fans with a concert Aug. 29 at the fair.

The Benatar-Giraldos bowed out last year because of his ill health. Giraldo was recovering from emergency eye surgery.

This year, the rockstar couple are in fine shape and ready to produce an energetic show Monday.

The lineup of the fair’s grandstand concerts also includes country-rock-blues guitarist Hunter Hayes on Tuesday, the British Columbia alternative rock band Theory of a Deadman on Wednesday, new country band Old Dominion and the LOCASH duo Thursday, and, finally, contemporary Christian musicians Jeremy Camp and the band MercyMe on Sept. 2.

In addition, the fair offers a variety of entertainment daily through Sept. 5 on the Courtyard Stage inside the fairgrounds.

Playing off the lyrics of her hit song “Heartbreaker,” Benatar is often described as “a rule-breaker and trail-blazer” who forged a path for other women in the rock ‘n’ roll genre.

It might surprise some fans to know that the Grammy award-winner is a classically trained mezzo soprano who once performed in an Off-Broadway rock musical. Benatar and Giraldo have performed together since 1979, when he joined her band as a guitarist. He soon became her arranger, composer, producer and partner. They have been married for nearly 40 years.

Fans can expect to hear hits such as “Love is a Battlefield,” “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” “Invincible,” “Fire and Ice,” “You Better Run,” “We Live For Love,” “Promises In The Dark” and “We Belong.” They perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29. Ticket prices range from $30 to $50.

Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who already has several hits including “Wanted,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak” and “I Want Crazy.” Hayes will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Tickets are $30 to $48.

The Theory of a Deadman show is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31. The band, originally from Delta, B.C., includes country, acoustic, post-grunge and other genres to its alternative rock base. The band’s hits include “Bad Girlfriend,” “Lowlife” and “Angel.” Tickets are $25 to $40.

Country’s new artists LOCASH and Old Dominion will bring their hits to the stage at 7 p.m. Sept. 1. Expect to hear the duo’s “I Love This Life,” “Keep in Mind” and “The Best Seat in the House.” Blending old-fashioned country charm, lyrical wit and rock ‘n’ roll grit with their radio-friendly music, Old Dominion was nominated this year for two Academy of Country Music awards. Their singles “Break Up With Him” and “Snapback” are popular. Tickets are $25 to $40.

Jeremy Camp and MercyMe perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2. Fans can expect to hear hits such as “I Will Follow,” “He Knows,” “Flawless,” “I Can Only Imagine” and “Welcome to the New.” Tickets are $30 to $48. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $25 each.

All grandstand concert tickets include fair gate admission. More information is available at evergreenfair.org/164/concerts.

On the Courtyard Stage, look for regional bands such as The Marlin James Band at 4:15 p.m. Aug. 26, the Shed Players at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27, Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 28, Marcia Kester’s tribute to Patsy Cline at 11:45 a.m. and the Moonlight Swing Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29. The Pilchuck Mountain String Band plays at 2:30 p.m. and the Cascade Range country band at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 30, and Bethany Ames at 11 a.m. Aug. 31.

And don’t miss the Aztec Indian Dancers who perform throughout the fair, and look for Eric Haines’ one-man-band at various times during the first weekend of the fair.

On Sept. 1, Buck &Elizabeth perform at 1:15 and 4:30 p.m. Banner Days performs at 12:30 p.m., the Army Band at 3:30 p.m. and the Monroe Concert Band at 6 p.m., all on Sept. 2. Listen to Green Hornet at 8 p.m. Sept. 3, Scratch Daddy at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 and the Monroe Tiny Jazz Orchestra at noon on Sept. 5, the last day of the fair.

All of the free Courtyard Stage entertainment is listed at evergreenfair.org/documentcenter/view/2084 or in the fair program visitors receive when they enter the fairgrounds.