About half of the bands playing at the Washington County Fair this year are new, continuing a trend for area festivals, as the 145th annual event begins its five-day run on Wednesday, Aug. 3, in Lake Elmo.
These are the bands at the fair, which has enough music going to delineate having a main stage. This is what you’ll find there:
— One of those new to the fair is a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday performance by Shermin Linton, a true veteran of the biz who has played country music since the days when it was first getting going. Linton’s music has spanned several states and various demographic groups. Known as a mid-America champion when it comes to country, he transcends audience members from the traditional to the hipster.
— At 8:30 p.m. Thursday is a dance and entertainment show, complete with games, that is geared largely to teens.
— Friday afternoon brings a 3 p.m. Elvis tribute show, bringing Graceland to the St. Croix Valley.
— Then at 8 p.m. Friday is Coyote Wild, a band of five men and two women. They played a recent local show as a recurring gig, and had some different takes on the country format. The dreadlocked lead guitarist really rocked through Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith, doing the vocals as well, as part of their format where these duties are exchanged. To wrap up the night, there was the combination of introductory plinky guitar and power chords to a Journey song.
— Saturday kicks off with some jigs, provided by the O’Shea Irish Dancers at 3 and 5 p.m.
— At 3:30 p.m. Saturday is another “big band,” the nine-member Dirty Shorts Brass Band. They are a New Orleans style brass group, and according to their online bio, play everything from jazz to Dixie to funk to blues to rock n’ roll to gospel to swing. That’s a mouthful and the band even has sousaphone and mellophone players, to boot.
— The Rockin’ Hollywoods, who have rolled on for decades, bring their classic Old School pop and light rock sounds to the stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The guys still look cool in their deep purple vests and not-really-graying hair.
— Cottage Grove’s own Darlene & the Boys, also new to the fair, will put on their country and variety music show at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. They look the part of traditional country, with their manner of dress, with the exception of the occasional stocking cap, and the lovely Darlene is shown all over the web page with her Old School attire.
— The last act new to the fair are The Fairlanes, on Friday at 2 and 4 p.m. at the Park Pavillion, who specialize in doo-wop music from the ’50s to the present. The repertoire includes gospel, pop and jazz standards, plus original songs written by quartet members.
— Closing out the set, (or should I say the fair music lineup), is the South Washington Community Band at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Park Pavillion.