GARDEN CITY — Western Idaho Fair officials announced Monday the rock and country music acts who will perform at the Fair’s Grandstand concerts this summer.
3 Doors Down kicks off the concert series on Tuesday, August 20. Formed in 1995, multiplatinum Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down has sold 16 million albums globally, received three Grammy nominations, and won two American Music Awards plus others. Their debut album, “The Better Life,” became certified six-times RIAA platinum in 2000, fueled by the success of the juggernaut hit “Kryptonite.” In 2002, their next record, “Away from the Sun,” went triple-platinum with lead songs “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You.” In 2005 and 2008, platinum “Seventeen Days” and “3 Doors Down” both debuted #1 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2011, “Time of My Life” landed at #3. Ignited by the single “In The Dark,” 3 Doors Down unleashed their sixth full-length album, “Us and the Night,” which debuted #10 in 2016.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band takes the stage on Wednesday, August 21. For 53 years and counting, the iconic band and continues to add to their legendary status. Often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in country rock and American roots music, the band has enjoyed multiplatinum and gold records, plus strings of top ten hits like “Fishin’ in the Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles.” Their 1972 groundbreaking album, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” has been inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2016, their concert film airing on PBS, “Circlin’ Back - Celebrating 50 Years,” won an Emmy award for special event coverage. Today, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Faden, and Bob Carpenter -- continue in their fifth decade of nonstop touring.
Dustin Lynch is set to perform Thursday, August 22. With a string of hits stretching back to 2012, Lynch is one of the hottest acts in modern country music. His first two album debuted at #1 and #2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, while his first-ever single -- the tender ballad “Cowboys and Angels” -- earned platinum status. Five consecutive platinum and gold singles followed as “Where It’s At,” “Hell of a Night,” “Mind Reader,” “Seein’ Red,” and “Small Town Boy” all became hard driving #1 hits.
REO Speedwagon will likely bring down the house on Friday, August 23. Formed in 1967, and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon’s platinum albums and radio staples like “Ridin’ The Storm Out” set the stage for 1980’s explosive Hi Infidelity. With millions in sales sparked by massive hit singles including “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run,” the nearly ten-times platinum Hi Infidelity still remains a high-water mark for rock bands. REO rode the top of the charts with 22 million albums sold in the U.S. and 40 million around the globe, plus a string of gold and platinum records and international hit singles.
The Western Idaho Fair runs from Friday, August 16th to Sunday, August 25th.
The shows are free with Fair admission, on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the shows start at 7:30 p.m. each night.
