Dorton Arena concerts

Artist Spotlight: Kellie Pickler

Tilt-A-Whirl October 12 July 29

I have to say that I’m generally not a country music person, with a few expectations. Kellie Pickler is one of those exceptions. I was so surprised at how much I liked Kellie Pickler’s music the first time I heard it, and it’s why I have already bought my ticket for her show on Oct. 23. The three-time CMT Music Award winner has a smooth country-pop fusion sound that keeps her catchy songs on constant replay in my head. Perhaps best known for her appearance on season five of American Idol, Pickler has since released two albums, one of which…

Artist Spotlight: Newsboys

Firecracker October 5 October 5

One of contemporary Christian music’s most veteran bands is finally making an appearance at the N.C. State Fair. Newsboys will perform in Dorton Arena on Friday, Oct. 21, with a set list of songs that spans almost 20 years of changing styles and band members. The band originated in Australia in 1985, and made waves in the U.S. in the early ’90s with the album, “Not Ashamed.” I’m not really sure how to describe Newsboys other than fun and upbeat. And with songs like “Shine,” “Breakfast” and “Take me to Your Leader,” it’s hard not to add quirky to the…

Artist Spotlight: Dionne Warwick

Tilt-A-Whirl September 21 September 22

I remember the first time I heard Dionne Warwick sing. I was 8 years old and my entire family was stuck inside our house to escape the cruel Massachusetts winter raging outside. My mom and I were sitting on the couch as near to the fire as we could be, flipping through the channels on TV. At some point we stopped on The First Wives Club. The comedy is a syndication favorite, and it opens with Warwick doing a cover of the Jack Jones song “Wives and Lovers.” I asked my mom who was singing and she said she didn’t…

Artist Spotlight: Tift Merritt

Bearded Lady August 24 August 19

For me, the N.C. State Fair is a constant reminder of the magic and excitement of fall. Occasionally, that magic extends beyond the fairgrounds. Tift Merritt is a perfect example. Submitted for your approval: 1997. Fall semester. UNC-Chapel Hill. Two college students, Tift Merritt and Zeke Hutchins, meet in an American studies class. Soon, they form a little band called The Carbines, which plays local venues The Cave, Cat’s Cradle, the front porch of the General Store in Bynum, among other locations. Fast forward five years. Merritt releases Bramble Rose to critical acclaim, followed two years later by her second…

2 months away: Time to focus

Bearded Lady August 12 August 9

Last week, I heard a great description of my job from a friend of mine. She was trying to explain to some out-of-state friends that in North Carolina, people stay excited about the State Fair all year long. According to her, our job is not about getting people excited about the fair; they already are. Instead, our job is about helping people focus on what they want to do this year at the fair. I really like that description. So, with just two months left between now and the start of the 2011 N.C. State Fair, it’s time to focus….

Artist Spotlight: Craig Campbell

Bearded Lady August 10 August 1

Craig Campbell was a big fan of gospel growing up in Georgia, but car rides with his older brother exposed him to country acts such as Randy Travis, Shenandoah, Mike Reid and Tracy Lawrence. That initial contact led to a love of country, a move to Nashville and eventually the popular single target=”_blank”>”Family Man.” Craig Campbell is one of several rising country stars performing at this year’s N.C. State Fair. Musically, he sounds less like his pop-country contemporaries and more like the traditional country artists he was first exposed to in his brother’s car. You can tell Campbell is a…

Advance tickets available Monday at 10 a.m.

Bearded Lady July 28 July 28

As a first-time homeowner (and subsequently, first-time mortgage payer), I like to save a buck wherever I can. Trust me when I say the best way to save money on admission and ride tickets to the State Fair is buying your tickets early. And, if you’re looking for a front-row seat to one of the target=”_blank”>Dorton Arena concerts, you’re definitely going to want to be in front of a computer when tickets go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. Tickets to grandstand events will also be available on Monday. We want your ticket-buying experience to be as smooth as possible,…

Getting fired up at the fairgrounds

Bearded Lady July 13 July 13

With three-digit temperatures at the State Fairgrounds this week, you might say things are really heating up as we prepare for the 2011 N.C. State Fair. The temperatures have been sweltering in Raleigh recently, but the promise of cooler temperatures and fair-like weather is just three months away. In case you missed it, we launched our new website last week. This is your one-stop shop for all the information about this year’s fair. We’ll continue to update it with the latest information on agricultural exhibits, food, rides, entertainment and competitions as we get closer to the fair. And, speaking of…

Artist Spotlight: Chris Young

SweetCorn October 14 October 12

When it comes to country music, there are few things I like better than a smooth baritone voice (think George Strait and Josh Turner). Lucky for me, one of my favorite baritone artists, Chris Young, will perform at Dorton Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 19. As the 2006 winner of Nashville Star, Young’s rich voice is enough to excite any country music fan. His self-titled debut album and his sophomore album, The Man I Want To Be, are full of chart-topping singles such as “Drinkin’ Me Lonely,” “The Man I Want To Be” and my personal favorite, “Gettin’ You Home (The…

Progress Photos: Wednesday

Flying Bob October 13 October 13

The rapidly approaching opening of the N.C. State Fair tomorrow means a lot of final preparations are taking place today. In Dorton Arena, crews were installing lighting equipment as the building gets ready for 11 nights of concerts. The 2010 concert series kicks off tomorrow with country singer Danny Gokey. (Tickets for the show are $5.) In the Jim Graham Building, livestock were being checked in for the Junior Livestock Shows. Across the fairgrounds, vendors were putting out their products and gussying up their booths. Inspectors with the state Labor Department were busy inspecting rides to make sure they meet…

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