Fair's stage adds Maroon 5, ZZ Top

Two-time Grammy award winner Maroon 5 and classic rockers ZZ Top and Mick Fleetwood Blues Band are slated to play during the 2010 Kansas State Fair.

Fair Manager Denny Stoecklein also announced three country acts that will grace the Sprint Grandstand stage: Rodney Atkins and Blake Shelton. Opening for Shelton is James Otto.

"We have some great variety," Stoecklein said Thursday morning. "And we still have two more nights left to announce that will add to that variety."

He said fair officials are excited about signing on Maroon 5, which will have a new album released in the next month and just announced a major U.S. tour.

The R&B-influenced Maroon 5 is scheduled for Sept. 16. Their first album, "Songs About Jane," contained four hit singles - "Harder to Breathe," "This Love," "She Will Be Loved" and "Sunday Morning." Ticket price for the Thursday concert is $39.

Country music star Atkins - best known for his No. 1 hit, "Watching You" - will perform Sept. 12. Atkins has had five No. 1 singles in all, including "It's America" and "Cleaning This Gun." Ticket price for the Sunday concert is $25.

Shelton, whose song "Hillbilly Bone" is currently No. 1 on the charts, will be appearing at the Sprint Grandstand on Sept. 17. Overall, Shelton has had 17 singles on the country charts, including "The Baby" and "Some Beach." Newcomer Otto is recognizable for his single "Since You Brought It Up." Ticket price for the Friday concert is $28.

Closing the 10-day fair will be performances by ZZ Top and Mick Fleetwood Blues Band on Sept. 19. American blues/rock group ZZ Top played at the fair in 2005, drawing 6,850 people to the more-than-9,500-seat grandstand. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Opening for ZZ Top is Fleetwood's band - a tribute to the 1967 Fleetwood Mac. The group includes veteran bluesman and former Fleetwood Mac vocalist and lead guitarist Rick Vito and legendary Mick Fleetwood, the drummer.

These acts join the previously announced classic rock group Foreigner, performing Saturday, Sept. 11, and comedian ventriloquist Terry Fator, who takes the stage on Monday, Sept. 13.

ZZ Top tribute at the Square and Compass

FANS of stadium rock will not want to miss the ZZ Top when they perform at the Square and Compass, near Ashill, on Friday, April 2.

The Devon-based tribute act formed in 2007 to celebrate the music of legendary rock band ZZ Top.

Band members Franks Weird, Dusty Thrills and the Rev Billy F. Buggins strive to recreate the look, sound and overall vibe of the hairy Texan trio, with the beards, fuzzy guitars, outfits and all the moves.

The dynamic stage show will feature hits including Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Legs

ZZ Top Plot Spring, Summer Road Plans

ZZ Top will get back on the road this spring and summer, with plans including several festival appearances, as the band continues to work sporadically on a new studio album.

The iconic Texas trio's spring schedule kicks off with an April 29 show at West Palm Beach, FL's Sun Fest, and continues through a May 14 show in Belton, TX, before scattered dates in June and July.

The group has also lined up several South American appearances, along with a July 24 slot at London's High Voltage Festival.

International dates can be found at the band's website and North American dates are shown at this location.

In the studio, the Texas trio continues to work with producer Rick Rubin on a long-awaited follow-up to 2003's "Mescalero." The band inked a deal in 2008 with Rubin's American Records label.

Weezer, ZZ Top, Shinedown, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Patti LaBelle, The B-52's, and The Charlie Da

SunFest, Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, announces several national acts scheduled to appear at the 28th annual event being held April 28-May 2, along one of the most scenic sections of Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. National acts scheduled to perform include Weezer, ZZ Top, Shinedown, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Patti LaBelle, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Flaming Lips, Rise Against, B-52's, Damian Marley, Nas, Five For Fighting, Flogging Molly, Sister Hazel, Better than Ezra, Marcus Miller, Classic Albums Live, and The Charlie Daniels Band. Additional entertainment announcements will be made as they are confirmed.
"We've put together a diverse and exciting line up," said Paul Jamieson, executive director of SunFest. "We know our fans feel the setting is as important as the music. One of the magic ingredients that makes SunFest unique is the waterfront setting. We are looking forward to bringing festivalgoers out to experience the festival in a whole new way. I don't believe there is a more spectacular place to enjoy a music festival than the new West Palm Beach waterfront."
Alternative Rock group Weezer will perform Opening Night, Wednesday evening April 28. The band is best known for their successful singles "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, " "Buddy Holly," "Undone - The Sweater Song," "Island in the Sun," "Beverly Hills," "Say It Ain't So," and "Pork and Beans."
Blues-rock group ZZ Top will perform Thursday evening, April 29. This hard-guitar-sounding blues group has been together and playing for almost 40 years and in 2004 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band's hit list includes "Rough Boy," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Sharp-Dressed Man" and "Legs."

ZZ Top, Godsmack set to rock Oklahoma

ZZ Top and Godsmack are among the rock bands scheduled to perform at the revamped " Rocklahoma" festival, set for Memorial Day Weekend (5/28-30) in Pryor, OK.
"Rocklahoma," which was established in 2007 as a classic-rock festival, has broadened its focus and this year, will feature a mix of rock bands from the '80s and '90s as well as current recording artists, according to a press release.

In addition to ZZ Top and Godsmack, the festival will feature performances by Tesla, Buckcherry, Cinderella, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman, Saliva and Saving Abel. The fest also has booked Stone Sour, Janus, Burn Halo, The Glitter Boys, Within Reason, Adelitas Way, Aranda, Firstryke and Year Long Disaster, among others.
Three-day passes will go on-sale Feb. 27 at the event website.

Shooting Star ZZ Top coming

Mahnomen’s Shooting Star Casino hosts rockers ZZ Top on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m., performing hits such as “Sharp-Dressed Man” and “Gimme All Your Lovin”.
One night later, on Friday, Nov. 13, one of the country’s most recognized music and dance revues, Chippendales, will perform at 8 p.m. The all male lineup is one of the top acts in women’s entertainment.
As the month winds down, on Saturday, Nov. 21, the Shooting Star will host a speciaparticular Native American Music Festival, starting at 4 p.m. Hosted by Williams & Ree, this jam packed festival will feature performances by native performers including “Big Kenny” Alpin (of Big & Rich), Indigenous, Crystal Shawanda and Derek Miller.
Saturday, Nov. 7
MUSIC
• Live at the Lodge: 7:30-10:30 p.m., Lodge on Lake Detroit, 1200 East Shore Drive, Detroit Lakes. Jason Weissman, sax, and Dan Musselman, piano, perform original jazz compositions and arrangements.

• Still on the Hill: 7:30 p.m., New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. The Ozarkian duo of Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Sterjna will play bluegrass favorites and their own “folkgrass” compositions. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the evening of the concert.

• ‘West Side Story’: 7:30 p.m., George Simson Auditorium, Detroit Lakes Middle School. Tickets $8 for adults, $6 for students, available at Central Market.
• ‘In The Mood’: The 1940s musical revue “In The Mood,” featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Benny Goodman, The Andrews Sisters and other big band/swing-era icons, comes to Detroit Lakes’ Historic Holmes Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show.
• ‘Godspell’: 7:30 p.m., Waage Fine Arts Theatre, M-State campus, Fergus Falls. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door for adults; $6 in advance, $7 at the door for youth ages 18 and under; children age 5 and under admitted free. All seats reserved.
•‘Rags to Riches’ Fashion Show: 4 to 6 p.m., ITOW Veterans Museum, 805 West Main, Perham. Fund-raiser tickets are $15, including appetizers and wine, and may be purchased from board members or by calling 218-346-7678 218-346-7678. Raffle to win a sapphire and diamond ring will also take place during the event.
• Chocolate Fantasy Extravaganza: 2 to 4 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes. For $5 get a plate to fill with chocolate delights; theme basket silent auction also planned. Money raised will go to the Lakes Crisis & Resource Center building project.
• Church Bazaar: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., United Methodist Church, corner of Pembina & Corbett, Detroit Lakes. Lunch will be served. There will be knives, crafts, gift baskets, plants and more.
• Family Float Night: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center.

Tuesday, Nov. 10
LITERARY EVENTS
• Teen book discussion: 4 p.m., Detroit Lakes Public Library. Discussion topic is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Snacks will be served.

MISCELLANEOUS
• Sons of Norway 40th Anniversary: 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes. Sit-down dinner will be followed by entertainment from Eric Bergeson. Admission $12.50 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and under.

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The Entertainment Calendar appears weekly in the Becker County Record. Submissions, questions and corrections (labeled “Entertainment Calendar”) may be sent by fax, 218-847-9409, by mail to Detroit Lakes Newspapers, 511 Washington Ave., P.O. Box 826, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502, or by e-mail to Vicki Gerdes at vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.

TUBE EXPERIENCE ZZ TOP STAR'S

ZZ TOP guitarist BILLY GIBBONS shunned a chauffeur driven car ahead of the band's current gig in London deciding to test out the city's public transport network instead. The rocker wanted to experience the British capital as a tourist and joined the hordes of ZZ Top fans on the London Underground to make his way to Wembley Arena for last week's show (28Oct09). He explains, "To the disbelief of many I decided to take the Tube. Being the consummate tourist, I wanted to ride the Tube. Someone said, 'You know it may not be that bad of an idea because travel in London has not been known for its expedient way to get from A to B.' And off I went - it's only a block from the hotel down to the station." But the star hit problems when one of the train lines broke down, so he took the bus instead. He adds, "No sooner had I bought the ticket the agent informed me that the Circle Line had broken down. There was a guy on the (bus) route that was checking me out and it was getting a little edgy, and then I realised that he was looking at a ZZ Top concert ticket for the Wembley show. (But) I beat my partners by 45 minutes."