State Fair of West Virginia Announces Additional Concerts

LEWISBURG, WV (03/30/2015)(readMedia)-- State Fair officials have announced the addition of five more shows to the 2015 Concert Series for the State Fair of West Virginia scheduled for August 14-23.

Concerts include The Roots and Boots Tour featuring Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw on Friday, August 21 and the Buckin'B Bull Ride with Craig Wayne Boyd on Saturday, August 22. Other concerts include free shows featuring Phil Dirt Presents Surf's Up a Tribute to the Beach Boys on Sunday, August 16, the Bellamy Brothers on Monday, August 17 and the Marshall Tucker Band on Wednesday, August 19.

Tickets for The Roots and Boots Tour, as well as the Buckin'B Bull Ride with Craig Wayne Boyd will go on sale at 10 am on Friday, April 3. The remaining shows will be free with a paid gate admission.

"The 91st Annual State Fair of West Virginia is quickly approaching and we are excited to announce more acts to our 2015 concert series," State Fair CEO Kelly Collins stated. "Last year, we started the tradition of 'Twilight Harness Racing' and are looking forward to continuing it again this year before the Bellamy Brother and the Marshall Tucker Band concerts."

Friday, August 21, 2015 – 8 pm, The Roots & Boots Tour - A show filled with stories & songs, getting back to the roots of their music featuring Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw.

AARON TIPPIN - Tippin has crusaded for the working man and woman since he ripped country music wide open with his uncompromising single "You've Got To Stand For Something." His voice continued to ring loud and clear with such hits as "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way", "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio", That's As Close As I'll Get To Loving You," "My Blue Angel" and "Kiss This". Five of his albums are certified "Gold" and a sixth CD-Read Between The Lines-stands at the "Platinum" level. Tippin's honest lyrics and direct, impassioned vocals have built a large and devoted audience.

JOE DIFFIE - With the release of Jason Aldean's hit "1994" earlier this year that name-checked many of Joe Diffie's twelve Number One hits, the legendary singer found himself squarely back in the hearts and minds of country fans. The multi-platinum-selling artist who dominated the charts during a hot streak in the '90's may have been absent from the radio charts for the past few years, but Joe-Joe-Joe Diffie has never slowed down – writing, touring and recording a myriad of projects including his critically acclaimed 2010 bluegrass album "Homecoming," and his recent "Roots And Boots" acoustic tour and collaborative CD "All In The Same Boat," with fellow hitmakers Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin. And now he's back at it again, riding shotgun with hick-hop sensations the Jawga Boyz on a brand new single, "Girl Ridin' Shotgun," which was recently released to country radio.

SAMMY KERSHAW - In the course of breaking into the ranks of stardom in country music, Sammy Kershaw has made contributions to more than just the charts. His platinum albums were propelled into the records books by hits such as "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," "I Can't Reach Her Anymore," "National Working Woman's Holiday," "Love Of My Life," "Cadillac Style," "Don't Go Near The Water," "Haunted Heart,"...and many other milestones.

Saturday, August 22 – 7pm, Buckin' B' Bull Ride and Craig Wayne Boyd - Buckin' B Cattle Company brings it's hard-driving, exciting Bull Riding event back to the fair and riders will once again compete for points in their quest to win the SEBRA (Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association) National Finals. Buckin' B Cattle Company, was formed by Waynesburg, PA, native and award-winning bull rider Matt DeJohn, who has won the SEBRA Producer of the Year award in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Texas-born and raised country singer and multi-instrumentalist Craig Wayne Boyd, who came to the public's attention when he was a contestant, and the eventual winner, on the seventh season of the television show The Voice in 2014, showed an affinity for music even as a child. Growing up in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Mesquite, he was drawn to gospel and country, and was active in his church choir, eventually becoming its director. He moved to Nashville to try for his dream of a career in the music business in the early 2000s, and soon had a publishing deal with EMI. Things looked promising. Yet Boyd, after ten years of songwriting, local gigs, national support touring, and trying everything he could to further that dream in Nashville, was on the verge of quitting music because of financial and other pressures. All that changed when he auditioned for the seventh season of The Voice. Ending up on Blake Shelton's team, Boyd's singing voice, playing, and easy musical versatility made him a fan favorite, and eventually made him the overall winner.

"With an already strong lineup, we still have a few additional announcements to make in late April," Collins added.

Ticket prices and details on how to order can be found at www.statefairofwv.com. Tickets will be available via Etix at www.statefairofwv.com or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX (3849) Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm or Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 2015 State Fair themed "It Feels Like Fun. It Feels Like Fair", is a 10-day Fair scheduled August 14-23, 2015. The State Fair of West Virginia, with a $13.8 million dollar economic impact on the state of West Virginia, is a 501 © 3 non-profit corporation committed to the traditions of agriculture, family entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit www.statefairofwv.com, or follow fair events on Facebook and Twitter.