by Brooke Wagner | Photos courtesy of MetraPark

“It was Labor Day weekend; I was seventeen. I bought a Coke and some gasoline…and I drove out to the county fair.” This opening line from a well-known country song paints a picture of how countless small-town memories begin. MontanaFair kicks off on August 9 through the 17.

Boston-based alternative rock band Boys Like Girls will open the entertainment with a concert on Friday, August 9, including openers like 30H!3 (Denver area code) and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The musical offerings continue throughout the week and show no sign of quieting down. Saturday, August 10, brings rock legend Stephen Pearcy to the stage with 1980s heavy metal band RATT and LA’s Quiet Riot rounding out the evening. Things look a little more western on Sunday, August 11, with Kip Moore, opened by Canada’s own Dallas Smith. Smith is a solo country music artist and the lead singer in a hard rock band, so the concert is sure to offer something for everyone. Moore croons the more traditional country tunes, with hits like “Something ‘Bout A Truck” and “Beer Money”.

At the thought of a county fair, most people envision a dizzying swirl of cotton candy and the constant clamor of carnival games. More than an evening spent riding the Ferris Wheel or cooling off with a Snow Cone, the fair is also an incredible live music venue. Nationally recognized names share a stage with local favorites, seeking to draw in listeners while competing with the cacophony of fairground chaos. These are the bands of the state fair, past and current warriors of rock, country, and every genre in between.

For these musicians, MontanaFair is more than just another gig; it's about connecting with an audience that might otherwise never hear their music and seizing a moment of fleeting attention in a world that often overlooks the unsung artists. But it’s not just musicians that will provide entertainment at this year’s fair. Performers include Trevor and Lorena Watters, a magic and comedy duo who combine to form Barrel O’ Fun. With their characters “Charles Chesterfield” and “Delilah Davenport,” the pair showcases an interactive, family-friendly display of music, fun, and a little bit of magic. What began with a whiskey barrel and a dream has become a harmonious fusion of classic humor and innovative magic. The two have earned over 20 international awards, including the prestigious Siegfried and Roy “Golden Lions Head” from the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. When you hear the old-time saloon music, you know a Barrel O’ Fun is headed your way on the concourse!

A side stage might find an audience gathered around another innovative group of entertainers. Professional touring band, The Rock Bottom Boys serenade audiences of all ages with tight three-part harmonies and hillbilly interpretations of modern hits. Imagine iconic hits with a hilarious country bumpkin spin, like “Play That Funky Music White Boy” strummed on the banjo or “Billy Jean” with a driving accompaniment on the mandolin. The driving rhythms draw in a crowd, while the showmanship and unexpected belly laughs keep them returning for more.

Entertainment and fun seem to be found on every corner of the concourse during this year’s fair. Additional performers include the Wagon of Whimsey, a juggling jester whose antics will keep you laughing. The Junebugs, a high-energy, folksy trio, provide toe-tapping rhythms while Jeremiah Johnson, the Matt Baker Comedy and Stunt show, and the All-Star Stunt Dogs (the world’s largest, longest-running original stunt dog show) amaze the crowd with their expertise. Rising above the crowd, circus artist and stilt walker Rebecca Fireplug takes her act to new heights as she walks the midway. Finally, singer-songwriter Scotty Rich brings his one-man show to the crowds with a drum set and his guitar.

The week ends with a bang (literally!) as Octane Addictions takes the stage on Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 pm. This display of extreme motorsports brings some of the world’s best freestyle riders to the Metra, thrilling audiences young and old. August 16-17 will find a bit of the old West coming to town with the Yellowstone River Roundup Rodeo, a PRCA event featuring cowboys and cowgirls competing in events like bareback and saddle bronc, bull riding, and timed events such as tie-down roping, team roping, and barrel racing.

The entertainment lineup at this year’s MontanaFair promises to be one for the record books. The entertainers of the state fair pour their hearts into each performance, knowing that they may never grace a larger stage or find themselves immortalized on streaming playlists. So, the next time you wander past a modest stage at your local state fair, take a moment to listen. You might just discover a hidden gem: a band whose music, however fleeting, speaks to the shared experiences of joy, heartache, and the undying spirit of rock 'n' roll against all odds.

Originally printed in the August 2024 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

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