Tag: Clay Aiken

Behind the scenes with…Mike Pleasant, concert manager (Part 2)

Three weeks ago, we introduced you to Mike Pleasant, who books and manages all of the Dorton Arena concert entertainers before and during the Fair. Mike told us about some of his favorite performers over the years (Clay Aiken, Brad Paisley, MercyMe, Chris Daughtry and ’09 returning artist Kellie Pickler all made the cut) right before we announced this year’s lineup here on the Deep Fried Blog. (Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, August 3.) This week, we’re back with part two of Mike’s interview, and this one is juicy. Mike took me on a tour of the…

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Behind the scenes with…Mike Pleasant, concert manager (Part 1)

The N.C. State Fair kicks off in a few months, but there’s a ton of preparation already in motion. We’ll bring you behind-the-scenes interviews with fairgrounds employees working to bring you “A Whole Lotta Happy” when the gates open Thursday, Oct. 15. We’re getting really close to announcing our 2009 Dorton Arena concert lineup (check back right here Monday, July 6, for the full scoop), so we wanted to check in with concert manager Mike Pleasant to see how he plans one of the Fair’s most popular attractions. The ’09 Fair will mark Mike’s 30th, and for eight of those…

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Artist Profile: Bucky Covington

For the past couple of years we’ve had plenty of home-grown talent as part of the entertainment line-up in Dorton Arena. In 2007, fans were treated to performances by North Carolina natives Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry. In 2004, Raleigh’s own Clay Aiken performed, followed by High Point’s Fantasia Barrino in 2005. This year, fellow American Idol alum and N.C. native Bucky Covington will bring his country-rock sound to the Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Covington’s performance will draw plenty of family and friends from Rockingham, according to Bucky’s dad, Gene. We caught up with Gene at the family business…

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