Spiritual, country, pop top Grandstand shows

The Evergreen State Fair’s concert schedule kicks off Sunday and continues through Thursday night, offering local music fans a mix of spiritual and country music, a little pop and a dash of classic rock thrown in for good measure.

Some of the names that jump out include “American Idol” finalist Josh Gracin, country star Joe Nichols, up-and-coming singer/actor Jesse McCartney and the iconic rock band Steppenwolf.

Jeremy Camp: 7:30 p.m. Sunday: It all gets started Sunday night, when Jeremy Camp headlines Spirit 105.3’s Christian concert at the fair.

Camp, whose new album is entitled “Beyond Measure,” scored big hits and award recognition on the Christian music scene with his first two albums, “Stay” and “Restored.” His song “Open Up Your Eyes” was featured on the 2005 soundtrack album “Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Josh Gracin and Joe Nichols: 7:30 p.m. Monday: A night of rising country music stars is in store when Josh Gracin opens for Joe Nichols on Monday. Gracin, who introduced America to his country influence on the second season of “American Idol,” grew up near Detroit and was a rock music fan before his favorite station switched to a country format.

“At first, they literally played (Garth Brooks’) ‘Friends in Low Places’ over and over, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’ he says in his record company bio. “In the weeks and months after that, I really fell in love with country music. Listening to Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie, George Strait and Randy Travis, I really started getting into it.”

Nichols scored big country hits with “The Impossible,” “Brokenheartsville” and “What’s a Guy Gotta Do?” on his first two major-label albums, and is still touring behind his third, appropriately entitled, “III.” The fun-loving collection includes the hits “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Size Matters (Someday).”

Jesse McCartney: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: At 19, McCartney has assembled quite a career in music and acting. The former member of the short-lived boy band Dream Street is touring behind his second solo album, “Right Where You Want Me.” The singer and actor, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role on “All My Children” and for a Teen Choice Award for his part on the TV show “Summerland,” took on his new album with a greater sense of inspiration after traveling the world and experiencing other cultures.

“I became more aware of people, the world and how it works,” he says in his record label bio. “It was a challenge and ultimately satisfying to put that to a melody.”

John Kay and Steppenwolf, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Steppenwolf churned out a string of hits in the late 1960s and early ’70s, including the iconic “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride,” which is still heard on Coors commercials. The band’s album sales total more than 25 million and, with 2007 marking its 40th anniversary, there’s talk about this being the band’s final year heading out on the highway.

Keith Anderson and Josh Turner, 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Capping off the fair’s concert series are country up-and-comers Josh Turner and Keith Anderson. Anderson, who had a shoulder injury that sidelined a promising baseball career, worked his way up in the music industry, winning band search contests and performing at amusement parks before being discovered. He’s scored top 10 country hits with “Pickin’ Wildflowers” and “Every Time I Hear Your Name.”

Turner is touring behind his sophomore release, “Your Man,” which follows his 2003 debut, “Long Black Train,” which sold more than a million copies and garnered prestigious award nominations from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Reporter Victor Balta: victor.a.balta@gmail.com.