Lynyrd Skynrd and Heart at Springfield Illinois State Fair Aug 14-23

Headliners at this summer's 2009 Illinois State Fair grandstand include Lynyrd Skinyrd, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Bankles, Montgomery Gentry, and Josh Turner.

The state fair runs from August 14 to 23 at the state fairgrounds in Springfield. The theme for the state fair is An All American Fair. It will include horse racing, agricultural judging, truck and tractor pulls, motocross, demo derby, USAC and ARCA auto races, a twuilight parade at 6pm August 7, as well as free entertainment offered at stages on the grounds.

But one of the big draws is unquestionably the grandstand entertatinement. That schedule opens with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bo Bice on Friday, August 14. The southern rock band Leonard Skynyrd notably released the classics Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Bo Bice was a fourth season runner-up on American Idol who recorded the hits Inside Your Heaven and Witness.

Saturday, August 15th, Kelly Clarkson and Eric Hutchinson will be at the grandstand. Clarkson was the first American Idol winner and has since been pounding out hits like Miss Independent, A Moment Like This, and Since U Been Gone. Opening for Clarkson is Eric Hutchinson, a singer-songwriter who has been featured on such national television shows as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Sunday, Auguist 16, Josh Turner appears with Jamey Johnson and Chuck Wicks. Country artists Turner has scored with back-to-back hits, Long Black Train and Your Man. Jamey Johnson is a singer songwriter who turned out hits for Trace Adkins and George Strait as well as his own latest album, That Lonesome Song, which has gone gold. Chucks Wicks is an upward bound country star whose latest hit, Stealing Cinderella, was the biggest debut single for any country artist in 2007.

Montgoemery Gentry is on stage with Kellie Pickler and James Otto Friday, August 21. Together, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Genrty have recorded such hits as Daddy Won't Sell the Farm, She Couldn't Change Me, and What Do Ya Think About That.  Kelly Pickley has released two albums since the fifth season of American Idol, with hits like Red High Heels and Don't You Know You're Beautiful while James Otto's hits include the number one Billboard country single for 2009, Just Got Started Lovin' You.

Classic female rock groups share the stage Saturday, August 22d with Hheart and The Bangles.  Heart has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide while The Bangles produced such 19080's hits as Walk Like an Egyptian and Manic Monday.  Nat and Alex Wolff appear at the grandstand Sunday, August 23.  The Wolffs are actors and musicians, best known as stars of Nickelodeon's TV series, The Naked Brothers Band.  15-year-old Tiffany Giardina is a singer/songwriter with a single, Hurry Up and Save Me, on the soundtrack to the movie, Another Cinderlla Story.

All concerts start at 8pm except for the Nat and Alex Wolff concert at 6:30pm.  Grandstand reserve seats and track tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster now.  Tockes can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet.  Ticket order forms are available at the Illinois State Fair website.

All adults and children 3-year-old or older must have a ticket for both concerts and tractor pulls.

The state fair webasite is at www.illinoistatefair.info.