San Diegans will be crafting musical memories at the county fair this year, thanks to what officials have dubbed A Fair to Remember.
County music star Gary Allan will kick off the year's Toyota Summer Concert Series with a show on the Heineken Grandstand Stage on June 6. Barreling down the pipe will be Grammy winner Peter Frampton, who will be joined by platinum-selling stars Cheap Trick on June 10; pop tart Christina Perri a week later; then San Diego's own Grammy recipients, Switchfoot, on June. 19. Classic-rock gods Kansas blow in on July 3, while Texas’ Norteno act Grupo Intocable are set for June 21, "X-Factor" girl-group Fifth Harmony takes the stage June 23, country quartet Little Big Town are on the next night, Latin-music stars Espinosa Paz is slated for June 28, and Julion Alvaraz will close out the series on July 5.
That's not all, though: the Paddock Series features a fair amount of household names, too, including psychedelic rockers Iron Butterfly of "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" fame on June 17, singer/songwriter Andy Grammer on June 23, as well as the Southern rockers of the Marshall Tucker Band on June 30 and Tanya Tucker -- no relation -- the next night, with the Average White Band, the last musical memory at the Paddock this year, performing on July 2.
The fair runs from June 5 to July 5 this year, and will be closed on Mondays and the first two Tuesdays. All the grandstand shows begin at 7:30 p.m. While most of the concerts are free with admission to the fair ($15 for adults; $8 for ages 6-12, and 62 and older; free for ages 5 and younger), some -- including Frampton and Cheap Trick, and Little Big Town -- will cost music fans extra.
Officials with the fair said grandstand tickets will go on sale March 14, with something new, the Paddock VIP Concert & Cocktail Experience, featuring party tickets to the Red Star Cafe overlooking the Paddock, available March 28.
Fair-goers last year were treated to shows by onetime arena rockers like Huey Lewis & the News, America (on the 4th of July), Hootie & the Blowfish and REO Speedwagon; plus R&B superstar Smokey Robinson; reggae toaster Matisyahu; Latin-music star Voz Demando; and the King of the Accordion, Ramon Ayala.
