Fair features Nashville trio
By LAUREN L. DILLARD
Of The News-Register
The Yamhill County Fair & Rodeo will feature local favorite Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts, along with three nationally recognized country music performers from Nashville.
The fair runs Wednesday through Saturday. It will feature musical entertainment every evening.
"Johnny Limbo comes every year on Wednesday night," said Fair Manager Allan Westhoff. It is set to take the stage at 8 p.m.
The band, which performs mostly in Oregon and Washington, was founded in 1978 as a party gag. It specializes in classic hits from the 50s and 60s.
The other three acts are all from Nashville.
To lure them to venues this far west, Westhoff joint-books them with other events in Oregon and Washington. That enables them to play three venues in five days, helping them justify their travel costs.
"Our biggest problem out here is that we are so far from Nashville," he explained.
Steve Holy, known for "Brand New Girlfriend," "Men Buy the Drinks" and "Good Morning Beautiful," will perform Thursday night. Coyote Creek will open for him.
Holy blends 50s rock and roll with pop and country. He will be playing the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home on Friday night.
Coyote Creek is a Northwest band that has played the state fair. It will take the stage at 9 p.m., and Holy will follow its set.
"Steve Holy is a young, up-and-coming guy," Westhoff said.
Friday night's doings will feature South Carolina's Aaron Tippin, who closed a gun shop two years ago to sign with a recording studio. "Ready to Rock," "Kiss This" and "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" are some of his better-known songs.
Tippin will go on at 9 p.m. He will be playing Saturday night in Sweet Home.
Headliner Neal McCoy, a Texan who has sold 5 million albums and logged five number-one singles, will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday. His hits include "No Doubt About it," "Wink" and "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On."
Westhoff is expecting a crowd of 6,000 to 7,000 for McCoy.
General fair admission, $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, covers all rodeo and entertainment events.
Golden Circle seats for Holy, Tippin and McCoy run $6 extra. They can be purchased in advance at www.co.yamhill.or.us/fair/index.asp, but will also be available at the gate as long as they hold out.
