Tag Archives: music

Battle of the Bands 2012

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Last night the Coca-Cola Stage came alive with local talent. The first annual Battle of the Bands was a huge, deafening success. Out of 32 bands, eight were selected to compete at the L.A. County Fair’s Battle of the Bands.

The prize?

Only a $1,200 cash prize and a spot at the 2013 Vans Warped Tour!

The chance to perform for the judges panel alone was an envied one. Founder of Warped Tour Kevin Lyman and Skip Page from Goldenvoice (the founders and promoters of famous music festival Coachella) selected these finalists from a handful of others and talent agent Darryl Eaton from Creative Artists Agency was a guest judge. Eaton has fostered talent such as Kelly Clarkson, Blink 182 and Enrique Iglesias.

After all eight bands finished rocking out for their adoring family, friends and fans, the winner was announced as Cogito from Claremont! The band received the cash prize as well as MULTIPLE tour dates. Second place went to Service Interruption and third place winners were Psycho Punx.

In fact, it was a happy ending for everyone. The judges were so wowed by all the bands, they decided all eight should be featured at the Vans Warped Tour dates at Fairplex!

Now that is a crazy ending for the first annual battle.

 

Radio Disney Visits the Fair!

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Bridgit Mendler and Cher Lloyd are performing tonight as part of the End of Summer Concert Series, but the party started earlier this afternoon with Radio Disney.

Next Big Thing, Season 5 artists Jack Skuller and twins Chloe & Halle sang for fans this afternoon at the Coca-Cola Stage. Check out pictures from their performances below:

 

Rock On

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In the words of AC/DC, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock n’ roll.” We experienced the climb for ourselves when we went to visit the new Rock of Ages exhibit which opened at the Fair this Wednesday.

It’s a music lover’s paradise right in the middle of the Fair. When you first walk in you are greeted by rows upon rows of vinyl records available for purchase and viewing for your pleasure. Venture a little farther in and you’ll find electronic drums, guitars, a bass and a giant keyboard you can play around with.

From Queen to Black Sabbath, Katy Perry to Michael Jackson, it’s all here in the form of the Studio Experience, the Concert Experience and the Playing Experience just to name a few features of this massive exhibit. You might be able to find Michael Jackson’s jacket from his “Thriller” music video or you might see the KISS boots Gene Simmons used to rock out in.

And of course, a history of rock–or any music history for that matter–would be incomplete without some form of dedication to The Beatles!

 

Hot Summer Nights: Concert Lineup Announced

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You’ve been waiting patiently – so here it is: the 2012 L.A. County Fair End of Summer Concert Series. Most tickets go on sale Sunday. 

The lineup:
• Friday, Aug. 31 – The Wanted & This is She
• Saturday, Sept. 1 – Carly Rae Jepsen & special guest Shane Harper
• Sunday, Sept. 2 – Grand Funk Railroad & Burton Cummings
• Monday, Sept. 3 – Karmin, Cobra Starship & This is She
• Thursday, Sept. 6 – Monster Truck Madness
• Friday, Sept. 7 – The B-52s & special guest Berlin featuring Teri Nunn
• Saturday, Sept. 8 – Styx
• Sunday, Sept. 9 – TBA
• Thursday, Sept. 13 – George Benson & special guest TBA (tickets on sale July 25)
• Friday, Sept. 14– Tower of Power & very special guest Average White Band
• Saturday, Sept. 15 – Bridgit Mendler  & Cher Lloyd
• Sunday, Sept. 16 – MARIACHI USA® Fiesta
• Thursday, Sept. 20 – Boyz II Men, special guest TBA & En Vogue (tickets on sale Aug. 17)
• Friday, Sept. 21 – WAR
• Saturday, Sept. 22 – Old School Soul Jam featuring Rose Royce, Heatwave, Lenny Williams & Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King
• Sunday, Sept. 23 – Pistol Annies
• Thursday, Sept. 27 – Demolition Derby, presented by Jeffrey Scott® Fine Magnetics
• Friday, Sept. 28 – The Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special & special guest Outlaws
• Saturday, Sept. 29 – ASA World Championships of Freestyle Motocross
• Sunday, Sept. 30 – TBA

As you can see, four major performers will be announced in the next few weeks. Keep checking lacountyfair.com/concerts for updates.

Reserved seating is available from $18.50 to $25 for grandstand seats, side box seats from $22.50 to $45, center box seats from $25 to $55 and stageside seating from $75 to $125. Limited general admission seating is free with Fair admission and is available on grounds at the ticket kiosk at 3 p.m. concert days, first come first served. Concert tickets do not include Fair admission. Everyone wishing a ticket must be present. Tickets may be purchased at the Fairplex credentials office, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, www.lacountyfair.com/concerts, at Ticketmaster locations and www.ticketmaster.com. The Fairplex credentials office will be open Sunday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., then open weekdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

There are quite a few I am very excited to see. So, see you, too, at the End of Summer Concert Series.

Rock, and Roll, with some Country and Soul

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 It’s finally here! The announcement of the 2008 L.A. County Fair End of Summer Concert Series, presented by Toyota. We’ve added a new moniker to part of the lineup – Adrenaline Nights, which will feature an expanded extreme sports series. Great entertainment for a great price. Check our Web site for full details. So, without further ado, here you go:
• WAR – Friday, Sept. 5
• Sugarland – Saturday, Sept.  6 (totally hot right now!)
• The Doobie Brothers and Grand Funk Railroad – Sunday, Sept. 7 (“South City Midnight Lady, I’m much obliged indeed…” OMG, if they sing this, I’ll faint! Memories of a 9 year old listening to her brother’s albums)
• Monster Truck Madness – Thursday, Sept. 11
• Smokey Robinson – Friday, Sept. 12 (That’s the Legendary Smokey!)
• KC & The Sunshine Band with Village People – Saturday, Sept. 13 (That’s the way, uh huh, uh huh we like it!)
• Jaguares – Sunday, Sept. 14
• American Daredevils-Random Acts of Recklessness – Thursday, Sept. 18
• The Bangles, Berlin featuring Terri Nunn and The Motels featuring Martha Davis – Friday, Sept. 19 (Ah, the ‘80s – I miss ‘em! “Just another Manic Monday, ooowwwo, wish it were Sunday!”)
• Jessica Simpson – Saturday, Sept. 20 (Yes, that Jessica Simpson!)
• MARIACHI USA®FIESTA, Presented by Univision and San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino – Sunday, Sept. 21
• Guilherme Marchi Classic Professional Bull Riders , Presented by Jeffrey Scott®Fine Magnetics – Thursday, Sept. 25
• Charlie Wilson & the Gap Band, Rose Royce and Lakeside – Friday, Sept. 26 (The Gap Band! “You dropped a bomb on me, baby, you dropped a bomb on me” – I’m dancing already!)
• LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross, Presented by ASA Entertainment – Saturday, Sept. 27
• Lifehouse, Gavin Rossdale – Sunday, Sept. 28 (Yes, that Gavin Rossdale! Former front man of Bush, heavenly voice, husband to Gwen, father to Kingston, “Love Remains the Same,” Oh, yes it does, Gavin!)

Don’t miss out. I’ve seen several concerts here and they’re always great. Sound is great, seats are good pretty much anywhere you sit. If you see some brown-haired woman dancing and singing in the audience, that’s me. See you there!

Hot September Nights

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“Ba de ya – say do you remember, ba de ya – dancing in September, ba de ya – never was a cloudy day!” Ah, “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire could almost be our theme song here at the LA County Fair. And both times the legendary R&B band rocked the Fair’s End of Summer Concert Series, the stands were bursting. The series is one of the most anticipated events of the Fair, where you can see some of the finest names in entertainment just for the price of a Fair ticket (reserved, box and stage-side seating are available, too, for an additional cost). The lineup for 2008 will be announced soon, but fans of the End of Summer Concert Series can join the EOSCS Club now. For $15, you’ll get a T-shirt, updates on who is playing and a pre-sale ticket code, allowing you to purchase tickets before the general public.

If you’ve been to one of the concerts, you know they’re fantastic. If you haven’t, go! Our lineup always has something for every musical taste and even some exciting non-musical options like monster trucks and motocross.

All shows are staged in the infield of Fairplex Park, with seating in the box seats and the grandstand. And the sound is really great. Last year the B-52’s totally rocked, playing hits like “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack.” Here’s a fan’s video of “Strobe Light.”

 

Previous acts include Heart, Rihanna, Pat Benatar, Al Green, Toby Keith, Mariachi USA Fiesta. Hall & Oates were here a couple years ago – totally awesome. And guitar virtuoso Peter Frampton majorly rocked the Fair.

 

So, for now, join the club, get your cool T-shirt and updates on our concerts. The lineup will be announced soon. See you in the rockin’ grandstands!